Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1906-10-25

III seems too bad that Pishy can't pull
out something with her bit, when it's
to- be had so easy. From what that
spangle-faced beau of hers tells me
there's got to be some expensive
plumbing done in that castle he gets
sawed off on to him"
We'll let sis in, too" exclaimed her
brother, generously, "and ma could
use a little more in her business.
She's sitting up nights to corner all
the Amalgamated Hard-luck on the
island. Well pool issue, and say, well
make those Federal Oil pikers think
we've gnawed a corner off the sub
treasury. I'll put an order in for
10000 more shares Tomorrow among
the three stocks. And then we'll have
to see about getting all our capital
here. Well need every cent of 1t
that's loose; and maybe we'd better
sell of some Of those dead-wood
stocks"
The 10000 shares were bought by
the following week, 5000 of them be-
ing Consolidated Copper. 10000 West
ern Trolley and 5000 Union Cordage.
Consolidated Copper fell off two points
upon rumors, traceable to no source,
that the company had on hand a large
secret supply of copper, and was pro-
duclng largely in excess OF the de-
mand every month,
Percival told Uncle Peter of these
rumors, and chuckled with the easy
confidence of q man who knows Sc
crets.
you see, it's coming the way Rel
pin said. The insiders are hammer
ing down the stock with those reports,
hammering with one hand, and buying
up small lots quietly with the other.
But you'll notice the price Of copper
doesn't go down any. They keep It,
at IL cents all right. Now, the mo-
ment they get control of the European
supply they'll hold the stuff, force up
the selling price to awful figures, and
squeeze out dividends that will make
you wear blue glasses to look at
them"
"You certainly do know your busi-
ness, son." said Uncle Peter, fervently.
you certainly got your pas head on
you. You remind me more and more
of DanI ]. Blnes every day. I'd rath-
er trust your judgment now than lots
of older men down there. You know
their tricks all right. Get in good
and hard so long as you got a sure
thing. I'd hate to have you come
meachin' around after that stock has
kited, and be kickin' because you
hadn't bet what your hand was worth"
Trust me for that, Uncle Peter.
GARNER tried to steer me off this line
of stocks the other night. He'd heard
| these rumors about a slump, and he's
so years old at that. / thanked him
for his tip and coppered it with an
other 1000 shares all around next day.
The way GARNER can tell when you're
playing a busted flush makes you
nervous; but haven't looked over his
license to know everything down in
the street yet"
The moral gain to Percival from his
new devotion to the stock market was
commented upon approvingly both by
Uncle Peter and by his mother. 1t
was quite as tangible as his money
profits promised to be. He ceased to
frequent the temple of chance in
Forty-fourth street, to the proprietor's
genuine regret. The poker games at
the hotel he abandoned as being triv-
ial. And the cabmen along upper
Broadway had seldom now the oppor-
tunity to compete for his early morn
ing patronage. He began to keep
early hours and to do less casual
drinking during the day. After three
weeks of this comparatively regular
living his mother rejoiced to note
signs that his breakfast appetite was
returning.
"You see," he explained earnestly to
Uncle Peter, "a man to make anything
at this game mus keep his head clear,
and he must have good health to do
that. meet a lot of those fellows
down there that queer themselves
by drink. 1t doesn't do so much hurt
when a man isn't needing his brains
but no more of it for me just now!"
That's right, son. l knew 1 could
make something more than a polite
sosh out Of you. knew you'd pull up
If you got into business like you been
dOin'."
Come downtown with me this aft
ernoon and see me make a play, Uncle
Peter. l think I'll begin now to buy
on margin. The rise can't hold on
much longer"
"Id like to, son, but I'd laid out to
take a walk up to the park this after
noon and look in at the monkeys
awhile. need the outdoors, and any
way you don't need me down there.
You know your part all right. My!
but I'd begin to feel nervous with all
that money up, If 1t was anybody but
you, now"
In pursuance Of his pronounced plan.
Uncle Peter walked up Fifth avenue
that afternoon. But he stopped short
of tha mark At the imnosin0 an