Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-25

well knew. A million as against his son.
in-law's honori After all, was 1t worth iii
And yet he had promised ed to s save reoa him; ,,,
ton Of his desire to be remembered al
ways for his consummate handling Of the
Kenawha deal. The street would never un.
derstand his sudden change of front. II
would think he had lost his nerve. And
yet he had promised to save him.
Then, too, what would his own office say1
How would Weymouth take tt-Weymoutn'
whom 1t was true he had admitted to the
firm to serve merely as fgurehead, ana
to save his chief by seeing troublesome
callers What would they all think of their
leader in whom they were wont to believe
so implicitly? He had never realized be-
fore how much his clerks hero-worship had
meant to him. And yet he had promised
to save him.
He summoned his broker by private wire,
and gave, in person, the order to sell.
His instructions were terse and to the
point. Let the crowd know who's selling.
Suggest II you can that the extra dividend
was only declared to facilitate the voting
of the bond issue. And give up my name
direct on every lot"
He stood watching to catch the record Of
his first sale. He had not long to wait.
Two hundred Kenawha and Western at
1OS%. He smiled as If 1t hurt him.
For the next two hours he scarcely left
the ticker, save now and then to give a
hurried order to one or another or MS
clerks. He saw his stock being gobbled up
dropping, dropping steadily. A hundred
and six, a hundred and five, hundred and
four. 1t was an avalanche.
At o'clock 1t was at par. At quarter
past II was ninety-nine and an eighth; at
half past 1t was ninety-eight and quarter;
at fifteen minutes to three 1t was ninety
eight fiat. And Devlins work was done:
Let him cover now and be hanged!' he
bite Of lunch.
Late that afternoon, Devlin was sitting
in his office writing. Outside he could hear,
now and then. a ledger being slammed shut
as bookkeeper finished his work for the
day.
I've been a fool" he kept repeating to
himself AN awful fool
The office boy put his head in the door
"a lady to see you, sir-the same lady that
here this morning"
The brokers' face lost its hard LOOK.
Show her in he said.
But his daughter was in the room before
he had finished speaking, and running up
to him. embraced him girlishly, to the
amazement of the office boy. who discreet
ly withdrew.
ooh, how happy you have made me-" she
cried joyfuly. How very, very happy
And how l love you for 1t allr'
IT'S like old times to see you again. he
said gravely. "To think that you have
been away four years.
-Four long years." she echoed. Have
You missed me very much?"
Il might as well admit It, l suppose. l
have missed you very much. What does
your husband have to say?" he inquired
abruptly.
"Jim?" For the moment she looked con-
fused. "Oh. Jim says he knew the market
was bound to drop all along"
And your"
II didn't contradict him. but IL your
daughter. l knew you did it, And she
kissed him again upon his wrinkled cheek.
Next morning, affairs of the day before
were discussed with bated breath IN the
office of Devlin & Co.
The old man must have been crazy yes
terday," remarked the cashier to the Oldest
bookkeeper.
Hes lost his grip" returned. the Oldest
bookkeeEer sententously.
Hes getting in life. It's beginning
to tell" asserted the head of the bond de-
partment.
'He played too high. 1t took his nerve"
was the opinion of the transfer CLERK.
He threw away a cool Million thought
the junior partner gloomily.
But anyway concluded the office boy
who. after all. is the real facto.un in any
banking house. 1.-The old gent seems happier
now than l ever seen him before"