Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-21
CHAPTER K.
The End of the Day.

IIldThcu the lTeHC VI VALUES, tHdt iiistA u
ment showed a slightly reactionary move
ment. Whence came it? What new UNI
dercurrent was moving? The young man
first looked surprised; then frowned and
turned to watch the swaying throng. the
frenzied faces. The strain he had been
under at the beginning OF the day was
renewed: became an unnatural tension
He strove to throw it off.
"Pshaw! It's nothing. A point or two
what's that?"
But when emphasized by another! He
stood as man in dream; he seemed I'M
like himself; moved hither and thither in
chaos of thoughts Could it be possible
was it possible that the clique had be
gun to lose its grip? Again he felt the need
of more adequate instructions from head
quarters. What was the matter with the
controlling spirits? Apparently he was
forgotten; lost sight of in the
swirl At a loss, he began once
''Sell!-one-thirty!' came from his left,
while at almost the same time, Buy
one-sixty! shrieked the piercing voice of
a Fisk broker from the other side Of the
room.
A feeling of CONSERVATION assailed Dali
ton. What sort of chaos was this? The
gold crowd made overcontident by their
early triumphs. seemed now to be light
ing without plan organization. He saw
! hfS profits-the fortune he coveted, vanish
ing like IA puff of smoke.
With a confused consciousness he en-
deavored to cover his own holdings. They
were absorbed. but to his dismay. at wide
ly-varying prices. as the adverse move
ment n1adexitsef more manifest. Charlie
again paused leaned against the wall, and.
taking a pad from his pocket began to
figure, his usually lucid brain experiencing
unwonted difficulty in the simplest calcu-
lations. Oblivious OF his surroundings-the
sound of strife, the clamorous multitude
new hope sprang into his breast; renewed
confidence in his leaders
The check was but temporary. Certainly
there had been no federal interference; the
clique had been left to its own devices; I'M
der the circumstances. they must prevail
in the end. With the assurance, came an
other thought. What did Richard Strong
think of his President now? An honest
man? Perhaps, but a tool
All at once great shout resolved itself
into a chorus of voices that spread far
and wide
THE government is selling gold!'
Like a thunderbolt the news struck the
street.
1.-The government is selling!-sellng-
The gold coterie stood aghast. Grant in
tervening to thwart their plans? lmpossl-
BILE. The eXultant voices of the opposition
dissipated any uncertainty or lingering
doubts
Down with the traitors
Many of the victims of the raid recov-
cred their strength: those who had been
crippled forgot their wounds and sprang
into the lines, animated by but one pur-
pose
Death to the wreckers!"
Like the terrible recol of a bursting
wave propelled by storm and tide. the wa
tiers of vengeance and fury swept back
upon the conspirators They saw Their
doom coming; felt themselves being swat
lowed up: carried out beyond their depth.
Yet feebly they struggled.
.Rogues! Rascals.'
Around Charlie men seemed fighting IN
a cloud.
Curse you, Dalton"' said an angry
voice at his elbow. What do you mean?'
The distorted face, looking into his.
Jim Jubilee; but the young man, like
one who has exhausted emotion. felt
alike Indifferent to that gentle
mans condemnation or approval. He did
the strangest thing possible for him to do
the thing he least felt like dong-and
smiled.
II beg your pardon he said.
oh l don't suppose you knew that Rich
ard Strong saw Grant here in New York,
and that when we thought the President
was all right Strong managed to reach him
with a telegram! You didn't know that
Charlie started. So Richard Strong had
turned the tide of the days battle after all!
BY what power or influence with the Presi
dent? 1t did not occur TO Dalton to ques-
ton the veracity of Fisk's statement, or to
ask regarding the source OF TINS uneX-
pected information.
You stood by us to a certain point and
then-d-n you.-you sold out to Richard
Strong" resumed Fisk.
Would you believe me If denied knowl-
edge of the telegram or of any meeting
with Grant,
The other responded with brusque and
emphatic negative.
''Then | won't deny it, And Dalton
turned from the angry tool of the Erie CO.
terie
His throat felt on a sudden dry and sore;
he looked for a moment upon the sea of
faces, the moving arms; a tumult of eX-
ri ed voices seemed draw him toward a
vortex.
"One million at hirtyhve-thirty-'
1t was Mr.. Strong himself who spoke.
Dalton did not even start as he regarded
him. He, too, was pale; between his brows
was deep furrow.
Two million al thirty-three million"
Money was now loaning at 80 per cent,
Charlie Dalton glanced up a the clock.
How slowly the pointers moved! He
breathed deeply; certain exhilaration
seemed wearing off; he awakening
to the after-effects of an opiate.
Brooks & Brown have failed" Burton,
Jones & Co. have gone under!'
Amid the uproar he felt an unnatural
numbness, a deeper consciousness of the
perversion of things. Methodically he acted
now, almost against his will
Alden Marks & Belden are swamped!'
Marsh & Burton engulfed.'
Other eyes than his were furtvey regard
ing the clock. Never before had the iron
indicators so Jagged in their task of mark
ing off the minutes. common longing
seemed to fill the minds of all-the desire
for relief from the tension-to witness the
close of the day! No matter what the end
might show waste or havoc; disruption or
dsOrganization-it would be welcomed as a
lull in the storm. Suddenly
Trinity bells. with their hollow lungs
And their vibrant lips and brazen tongues
began to ring. Clear, penetrating notes
amid the tempest, the reverberations were
carried far and wide.
"One-two-three-"
The day was over! The exchange closed
until tomorrow. Men wiped the perspiration
from their brows. AT last they could look
around, take their bearings, and bury their
dead!
Like a man daZed. Dalton made his way
from the room. Occasionally he lifted his
hand to his brow and pressed it there; his
fingers were icy-cold, but something hot
seemed burning into his brain. The day
what had it brought for him? The whole
affair had been a miserable, tremendous
fiasco. Still he walked toward the Office of
the clique; possibly some one there could
hold out straw for the morrow. Four
stalwart policemen guarded the door;
hooting, jeering mob circulated about the
building.
II should like to go in" said Charlie
Cant" replied one of the quartet of
burly SantinelS.