The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-06-18
A Board Of Trade Broker
STORY OF A LITTLE BIT OF
HEART.

specially was filling orders for n
brokerage, had felt the dulness Keen
ly. For a long time no Injuries had
been possible in his little home; in
deed, IL took him all his time TO pro-
vide ii with the necessities Of life,
| The wheat market which had been
| declining hopeiessly for many weeks.
| smashed two cents the previous day.
! He thought he saw evidences OF a
rally II might not advance more than
cent or two and 1t might not last.
but his intuition told him that an adj
vance was probable that day He
went to customer and advised him
/ to buy. The customer declined, but
authorized him to buy some calls"
good for the day-l0000 at Tla, the
market for wheat being 77A.
The usual sellers of puts and calls"
being absent from their posts at tho
moment, Dick thought he would await
their return. So he sat down beside
white-haired old man well along in
the 70s The old man was a trader in
small way. as thin as a match.
nervous and weak, for he had been
out of a hospital only a few days after
two months sickness The board was
no place for him. He had no home
and no income except the pittance
made from time to time through his
petty transactions.
Dick asked him idly what he
thought of the market.
4 -
We'll said Dick. Il want TO buy
1900 calls for to-day al 77l2,"
Sold" said the old man
DICK handed him ten dollars, and
the transaction to that extent was
completed
A moment later there was terrible
clamor Traders rushed at one another
like madmen A hundred hands were
in the air a hundred voices shrieked
and implored The great mass of fran
TIC men swayed hiiher and thither
Some one shreked: There's no
wheat for sale" The din increased.
Suddenly new figure appeared at
the edge Of the pit and raised his hand.
Almost instantly the clamor ceased. In
cool, clear voice, he said: I'll sell
100000 wheat at 49,"
There was a momentary gasp and
then a rush which almost carried him
eff his feet The clamor was renewed.
Scores OF voices shrieked 'T'll take
$1,000! "IH take 00000!" I'm take
25,00O!"
The price rose to 1914. 1919 The
frantic demand was still unsatished.
Their the gong rang and the session
was over
Dick looked for the Old nan and
found him in the same seat But how
changed! His head was sunk on his
breast, his poor fps were trembling,
his moist eyes were fixed on vacancy,
and his long, thin white hair struggled
pathetically over his coat collar Dick
souched his shoulder gently. The old
man started and stared at him and
made pitiful attempt at smile
MIR. Clair" he said, Il did not use
the 10000 calls bought from you;
only wanted 10000, an order from a
customer. and | find | got them on an
offer from another party, so if you i
give me back the ten dollars. wei
| cross the deal and call it square
| The old man Strengthened himself
| he was "A Grand Army man-and said:
You could use them yourself and
make 5000"
NO said Dick; Il haven't been
specializing lately and don't propose
| beginning now. / can't speculate and
do my brokerage customers justice
IAN right, said the old man, and
his look of relief warmed Dicks heart
That night, with his two-year-old
child on his lap. Dick related the cir
cumstances to his wife, of whose
/ tongue he was slightly afraid. When
he got through she exclaimed: DO YOU
mean TO say that, had you held the
o,G man 10 his contract you would
have made for yourself $500 without
running any risk"
YES said Dick, genIally.
Her face hardened and then she
said. coldly: Il hate a fool"
What do you mean?" asked Dick.
Don't you sympathize with the old
| NAM"
What DO 7 care for him. haven't
had a new dress Tor a year Winter
is coming on, baby needs a warm
cloak and YOU need an oyercoat That
s20c would have supplied al our wants.
end now you have fooled 10 away.
sympathy, ! believe in looking out
tor myself"
Al bedtime Dick bent over the little
/ girls crib. put his face close 10 hers
and whispered. Baby darling / could
not take the old mans money. his
poor face would have haunted me on.
rab, dear. his feeble hands. his whre
bair. his tremulous mouth. his pow
srry' Had ycu seen him. even you
would have understood But baby
daring. Won shall have your cloak
and shall be- warm
she opened her eyes. put her hand
oa his face and said. drowsiiv- kiss
me- papa, turning her soft lips toward
him
when his wife came in he said:
My dear. III sleep on the side of the
led next baby's crib"