Mexico Missouri message., 1906-11-08

weird inconsequence OF the people wo
see IN dreams. Yet presently IL had
gone too far to be amusing. He must
arouse himself and turn over on his
SIDE. In Ave minutes, according to the
dream he had lost IS 600, 900 as near
ly as he could calculate Losing
million a minute, even In sleep, he
thought, was disQuieting.
Then upon the tape he read another
chapter Of disaster. Western Trolley
had gone into the hands OF receiver
"a fine, fat, promising stock ruined
without word Of warning; and while
he tried to master this news the hor-
rible clicking thing declared that
Union Cordage was selling down to
5s-a drop Of exactly IS points since
morning.
Fouts, with q slip Of paper in his
hand, beckoned him from the door Of
his private Office. He went dazedly IN
to him-and was awakened from the
dream that he had been losing a for
tune in his sleep.
Coming out after few moments, he
went up to Uncle Peter, who had been
sitting, watchful but unconcerned, In
one Of the armchairs along the wall.
The old man looked up inquiringly.
Come inside, Uncle Peter!"
They went into the private office Of
Fouts. Percival shut the door and
they were alone.
uncle Peter, Burman's been sus-
pended on the board of trade; Fouts
just had this over his private wire.
Corn broke to-day"
THAT so? Oh, well, maybe it was
worth a couple of million to find out
Burman plays corn like he plays
poker; twas If you couldn't get It fur
any less"
Uncle Peter, we're wiped out"
"How, wiped out? What do you
mean, SOM"
We're done, l tell you. We needn't
care a damn now where copper goes to.
We're out Of it-and-Uncle. Peter,
we're broke"
"Out Of copper? Broke? But you
said" He seemed to be making an
effort to comprehend. His lack of
grasp was pltiful
"Out Of copper, but there's Western
Trolley and that Cordage stock"
Everything wiped out, tell you
Union Cordage gone down IS points,
somebody let out the inside secrets
and God only knows how far Western
Trolley's gone down."
Are you all in?"
Every dollar-you knew that. But
say" he frightened out of his despair,
there's the One Glrl-a good pro-
ducer-Shepler knows the properly
| Shepler's in this block" and he was
gone.
The old man strolled out into the
traAing-room again. A curious grim
smile softened his square jaw for a
moment. He resumed his comfortable
chair and took up newspaper, glanc,
ing incidentally at the crowd OF ex.
cited men about the tickers. He had
about him that mir Of repose which
comes to big men who have stayed
much in big out-of-door solitudes.
Amt he nervy old guy?" said q
crisp little money broker to Fouts
They're wiped out, but you wouldn't
think he cared any more about it than
Mike, the porter, with his brass polish
out there"
The old man held his paper up, but
did not read.
Percival rushed in by him, beckon
ing him to the inner room.
"Shepler's all right about the One
Girl. He'll take a mortgage on it fol
two hundred thousand if you'll recon-
mend It-only he can't get the money
before tomorrow. There's bound tc
be a rally In this stock, and we'll &C
right back for some of the hair Of the
-why-what's the matter-Uncle Pc
teri"
The old man had reeled, and ther
weakly caught at the top Of the desl
with both hands for support.
Ruined" he cried, hoarsely, as Il
the extent of the calamity had just
borne IN upon him. MY God! Ruined
and at my time Of life!" He seemed
about to collapse. Percival quickly
helped him into a chair, where he be
came limp.
There, I'm all right. oh, it's ter
rible! and we all trusted you so.
thought you had your pas brains. II
a trusted you soon's l would Shep
Ter, and now look what you led us intC
fortune gone-broke-and all YOU
fault"
Don't. Uncle Peter-don't, fol
Gods sake-not when I'm down!
can't stand it,"
Gamble away your own money
no, that wasn't enough-take you
poor mas share and your sisters, anC
take what little l had to keep me il
my old age-robbed us all-that
what comes of thinkin' a damned tea
drinlin' fop could have thimblefu
of brains!"
Don't, please-not just now-givt