The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-09-15


parcntly harmless taunt and Mrs.
Dams open criticism told plainly
enough how the wind was blowing. but
1t was Peggy's gentle questions that
cut the deepest. There was such hon
! est concern In her voice that he could
see how his profiigacy was troubling
her and Mrs. Gray In their eyes more
than In the others he felt ashamed and
humiliated. Finally. goadcd by the re-
mark of bank director which he over
heard, "Edwin z. Brewster is turning
handsprings in his grave over the way
he Is going it," Monty resolved to re-
deem himself in the eyes of his critics.
He would show them that his brain
was not wholly given over to frivoiity.
With this project in mind he decided
10 cause Il little excitement in Wall
street For some days he stcalthily
watched the stock market and piled his
friends with questions about values.
constant reading and observation
finally convinced him that Lumber and
Fuel Common was the one stock in
which hc could safely plunge. Cast
ing aside all apprehension, so far as
Swcarcngen Jones was concerned, he
prepared for what was to he his one
and only venture OH the Stock En-
change before the 23d Of the following
September. With all the cunning and
I craftincss OF Il general he laid his plans
for the attack. Gardner's face was the
picture of despair when Brewster ask
ell him to buy heavily in Lumber and
Fuel.
fx-fs IL
broker. "You'rerjoking. Lumber Is
away up now. 1t can't possibly go q
fraction Of point higher. Take my
advice and don't touch It. 1t opened
today at 111M and closed at 100. Why,
man, you're crazy to think about it for
an instantn'
II know my business, Gardner"
said Brewster quietly, and his con-
science smote him when lie saw the
flush Of modification creep into the
face Of his friend. The rebuke had cut
Gardner to the quick
But, Monty, 1 know what I'm talk
ing about. At least let me tell YOU
something about this STOCK" pleaded
Elon loyalty despite the wound.
"Gardy, I've gone into this thing
carefully, and if ever man felt sure
about anything 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 I'm the north and west
are Overstocked, and there is a strike
ready to go into effect. When that
comes, the stock will go for song.
The slump is liable to begin any day"
"NIy mind is made up" said the other
firmly, and Gardner was in despair.
"Will you or will you not execute an
order for meat the opening tomorrow?
I'll start with 10000 shares. What
will 1t cost me to margin it for ten
pointsT'
"At least n hundred thousand, eXclu-
sive of commission, which would be
twelve and a half hundred shares"
Despite the most strenuous opposition
from Gardner, Brewster adhered to his
design, and the broker executed the or
der the next morning. He knew that
Brewster had but one chance to win,
and that was to buy the stock in
lump instead Of distributing it among
several brokers and throughout the
had overlooked.
There had been 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 foreSone conclusion that
slump was coming, and there was
scarcely any trading in the stock.
When EDn Gardner, acting for Mont
, gomery Brewster, took 10000 shares at
10Sai there was mighty gasp on the
exchange, then a rubbing of eyes, then
commotion. Astonshment 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 failure in the ordinary
sense, he found joy in the knowledge
that he was doing something. He might
be fool: he was at least no longer in
active. The feel Of the air was good
to him. lie was eXhilarated by the
glitter Of the snow, the answering ex-
citcment Of his horse. the gayety and
sparkle Of life about him.
Somewhere far back in his inner self
there seemed to be tho 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 manner less casual than was GUS
tomary. Some of them went so far
as to. smile encouragingly, and others
L q. L.. L. IL L. IL