, 1905-11-08


Swearengen Jones was concerned, he
prepared for what was to be his one
and only venture on the Stock Ex-
change before the ODD of the following
September. With all the cunning and
craftiness of a general he laid his plans
for the attack. Gardeners face was the
picture of despair when Brewster ask
ed him to buy heavily in Lumber and
Fuel.
Good heavens, Montyr" cried the
broker. you're joking. Lumber IS
away up now. 1t can't possibly go a
fraction of a point higher. Take my
advice and don't touch it. 1t opened
today at 11134 and closed at 100. Why,
man, you're crazy to think about it for
an instant.'
II know my business, Gardner"
said Brewster quietly, and his con-
science smote him when he saw the
flush of modification creep into the
face of his friend. The rebuke nae cut
Gardner to the quick.
but, Monty, l know what I'm talk
ing about. At least let me tell you
something about this stock" pleaded
Elon loyalty despite the wound.
"Gnrdy, I've gone into this thing
carefully, and if ever a man felt sure
about anything l do about this said
Monty decidedly, but affectionately.
Take my word for it, Lumber can't
go any higher. Think of the situation.
The lumbermen in the north and west
are overstocked, and there is a strike
ready to go into effect. When that
comes, the stock will go for a song.
The slump is liable to begin any day"
MY mind is made up" said the other
firmly, and Gardner was in despair.
evil you or will you not execute an
order for me at the opening tomorrow?
I'll start with 10000 shares. What
will it cost me to margin it for ten
points?"
AT least a hundred thousand, exclu-
sive of commission, which would be
twelve and a half a hundred shares"
Despite the most strenuous opposition
from Gardner. Brewster adhered to his
design, and the broker executed the or
der the mex morning. He knew that
Brewster had but one chance to win,
and that was to buy the stock in a
lump instead of distributing it among
several brokers and throughout the
session. This was a point that Monty
had overlooked.
There had beer little to excite the
Stock Exchange for some weeks; moth
ing was active, and the slightest furry
was hailed as an event. Every one
knew that the calm would be disturbed
at some near day, but nobody looked
for a sensation in Lumber and Fuel.
1t was a foregone conclusion that a
slump was coming, and there was
scarcely any trading in the stock.
When Elon Gardner, acting for Mont
gomery Brewster, took 10000 shares at
1881 there was a mighty gasp on the
exchange, then a rubbing of eyes, then
commotlon. Astonishment was follow
ed by nervousness, and then came the
struggle.
Brewster, confident that the stock
could go no higher and that sooner or
later it must drop, calmly ordered his
horse for a ride in the snow covered
park. Even though he knew the ven
ture was to be Il failure in the ordinary
sense, he found joy in the knowledge
that he was doing something. He might
be n fool; he was at least no longer in
active. The feel of the air was good
to him. He was exhilarated by the
glitter of the snow, the answering ex-
element of his horse, the gayety and
sparkle of life about him.
Somewhere far back in his inner self
there seemed to be the Sound of cheer
ing and the clapping of hands. Short
ly before noon he reached his club,
where he was to lunch with Colonel
Drew. In the reading room he OBJ
served that men were looking at him
in Il manner less casual tina was GUS
tomary. Some of them went so far
as to smile encoura gingly, and others
waved their hands in the most cordial
fashion. Three or our very young
members looked Upon him with adj
tiers seemed more obsequious. There
was something strangely oppressive in
all this show of Difference.
Colonel Drew's dignity relaxed amaz-
ingly when he caught sight of the
young man. He came forward to meet
him, and his greeting almost carried
Monty off his feet.
"How did you do it, my boyF" cried
the colonel. 'She's off a point or two
now, | believe, but half an hour ago
she was booming. Cad, l never heard
of anything more spectacular
MONTHS heart was in his mouth as