Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-02-27


 "Everything wiped out, tell you Union Cordage gone down 35 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 Girl-a good pro- ducer-Shepler knows the property Shepler's in this block" and he was gone. .-
 The old man strolled out into the trading-room again. A curious grim smile softened his square jaw for moment He resumed his comfortable chair and took up a newspaper, glanc- ing incidentally at the crowd of ex- cited men about the tickers. He had about him that air of repose which comes to big men who have stayed much in big out-of-door solitudes.
 "Ain't 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.' .%5
 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 mortgage on it for two hundred thousand if you'll recom- mend it-only he cant get the money before tomorrow. There's bound to be a rally in this stock, and we'll go right back for some of the hair of the -why-what's the matter-Uncle Pe- teri"
 The old man had reeled, and then weakly caught at the top of the desk with both hands for support.
 "Ruined!" he cried, hoarsely, as if 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. I'd "a trusted you soon's I would Shep- Ter, and now look what you led us into fortune gone-broke-and all your fault"
 Don't, Uncle Peter-don't, for Gods sake-not when Pm down! I can't stand it!"
 Gamble away your own money no, that wasn't enough-take your poor mas share and your sisters, and take what little I had to keep me in my old age-robbed us all-that's what comes of thinkin' damned tea drinkin' flop could have thimbleful of brains!"
 Don't, please-not just now-give it to me good later-to-morrow-all you want to!"
 And here I'm come to want in my last days when I'm too feeble to work. I'll die in bitter privation because l was an old fool, and trusted a young one." .-,- aD-Please don't, Uncle Peter" ',s"
 You led us in-robbed your poor ma and your sister. told you I didn't know anything about it and you talked me into trusting you-I might "a known better"
 Cant you stop awhile-just a mo- ment?"
 "Of course don't matter. Maybe I | can hold a drill, or tram ore, or some thing, but can't support your ma and Pishy like they ought to be, with my rheumatiz comin' on again, too. And your mall have to take in board. CTS. and do washin' like as not, and think of poor Pishy-probly she'll have to teach school or clerk in a store-poor Pish-she'll be lucky now , if she can marry some common scrub ] American out in them hills-like as not one of them shoe-clerks in the 1 Boston Cash Store at Montana City! And jest when l was lookin' forward to luxury and palaces in England, and everything so grand! How much you lost?"
 That's right, no use whining! Nearly as I can get the round figures of 1t, about twelve million"
 "Awful-awful! By Cripes! that man Blythe that done himself up the other nigh. had the right of it. Whats the use of living if you got to so to the poorhouse?"
 1 Come, come." said Percival, alarm over Uncle Peter crowding out his other emotions. Be game loser. just as you said pa would be. Sit up straight and make 'eul bring on an- other deck"
 He slapped the old man on the back with simulated eheeTfulness; but the despairing enc only covered weakly under the blow.
 We cant-we ain't got the stake for a new deck. Oh. dear! think oi your ma and me not knovin' where to turn fur a meal of victuals at our time of life"
 Perctval was being forced to cneer' fulness in spite of himself. Come. 1t isn't as bad as that, Uncle Peter. We've got properties left, and good ones. too"
 Uncle Peter weakly waved the hand ! of finished Encouragement Hush don't speak of that Then prpopsriis' need a manager to make iem pay-s plain business mana man to stay on the ground and watch 'em and develop 'em with his brains-a young man with his healthI What good am T.