The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-10

out of him. On the other hand 1t writhed
money was being piled up on his own origi-
nal $500. Every day he fairly groaned 10
get mis- hands on some of that money, but
he didn't dare do any sleight -of-hand tricks
such as buying in at 4 and reporting the
deal at Si1z. Whenever the colonel turned
to leave his office two big bumps appeared
on the back of his Prince Albert coat, right
over the pistol pockets!
MIR. Cook even omitted his own COM
missions in his terror lest he should not
close deals in time to take advantage OF
the 2-cent movement. Once or twice this
very fraction of cent difference saved the
colonels pile from melting, and on those
occasions Mr.. Cook was as near the verge
of involuntary suicide as he cared to be-
1t was rather a new experience for broker
to do all the worrying while the lamb got
all the profits, and somehow or other it
didn't seem right. AS the winnings still
kept piing up, though. he saw a great
light, and one day when the colonel came
in he made him a proposition.
Colonel said he, rubbing his hands to-
gether. you are becoming the Napoleon of
the wheat pit
'Thanky, said the colonel. I was just
thinking myself that it was about time to
cash in Napoleon got licked, you know.
He didn't get cold feet quick enough. Now
me, | feel quite a chill along the floor to-
day
Don't quit now. colonel Mr.. Cook
eagerly advised him. why, man, you've
got the market on the run. Now. what 1
propose is this: You've got million-odd
dollars piled up here-about a hundred
thousand dollars over the mark to be
more exact-and I can get three or four
good men to chip in as strong If not
stronger, than that. Well jump in and
corner the whole market. Wheat is now
ninety-four cents. Within a week we can
run it up to a dollar fifty, or even higher,
break every speculator the street and
pull out with enough money to hire Rookie
Teller for an Office boy. Bad, 1 guess, Ell p
" None in mine!' exclaimed the colonel.
I'd rather go out and stick up a stage
coach or a railroad train. l like a game
| of chance. but this looks too much like
sure thing to suit me. L amt so dad
| tangled honest, but L never handled cold
| deck in my life, and. from all I've heard of
| corners since / bought chips in this play,
| it's nothing but brace game. Another
| thing, don't like this pool business. L
| never heard of one where somebody didn't
| get the double cross and have TO quit.
| off. These big financiers are just like
bunch of cheap prize. fighters
They FIX it all up which one, is
| to lay down, and then nearly rip their
| trousers getting away to fix up their lit
! tie double-cross deal to throw the harpoon
into the other thug and all his hackers.
! The more l see of Wall street the more L
want to go back where they hang horse
| thief the minute they catch him with the
goods on him. And still one more point,
| Shorty. I've noticed that when a man in
| this game fixes up real, genuine corner
| and gets ii all whitfield off to a nice, sharp
! point, in about one hundred cases out of
|
runs it so far through his own gizzard that
you could hang up your hat on the point
where it sticks out through his back
| Shorty, l cash i'm
a. But you're not going to draw out of the
market altogether? protested Mr.. Cook
| q L sure ann the colonel assured him.
! You say I've got a million odd dollars.
! Just fork over the million and keep the odd
| to set 'em UP to the house. Do you know
what I'm going to do I'm going TO take
this little Mr.. Million Dollars over to the
/ hot have oil d.Olo Of,
sound mind, have my old friend Bat Owens
appointed my guardian, and put in the rest
of my days spending the interest on the
money. I'll just wait here till you call up a
| dray and load on my million dollars And
the colonel laid both his guns on the table
| in front of him.
"Mr. Cook sighed and wrote out a check,
then he walked over to the bank with the
| colonel and had the transfer made. AS
they parted on the steps Mr.. Cook turned
| TO the colonel with his most oily smile.
| And now, colonel said he. since you
are going TO quit the market / hope you
won't mind telling me how you got your
| marvellous information wheat
1 Information" exploded the colonel, with
a few additional remarks that would
| scorch the paper if they were written.
| You don't suppose that played this game
on any thing tips, do you? I've seen
| too many smart men go broke for that.
| No. just went up to my room at the hotel,
| shuffed a pack of cards, cut it twice, and
! dealt off three cards. If the third one was
red l bought wheat and If IL was black l
sold. And 1 win fifteen straight bets.
| Great jumping tarantulas" gasped Mr..
Cook. and he has never been the same man
| since.
mo, my son. concluded the judge, II
| can't conscientiously recommend corners,
brokers or Wall street. / feel a great deal
about them as old Jim Hunter used TO feel
about serpents. He loved every other living
| thing in the woods, but he couldn't seem to
| work up any warm affection for rattle
| snakes AS have said, Colonel killem was
| the only L ever knew TO come out
ahead the margin proposition, and
| don't think il can be done again. The
| winning of fifteen straight bets is a very
rare occurance, to say nothing OF the nerve
| required to play them 10 the limit. and.
besides, you must remember that the
colonel had the goods on his broker