Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-11-15
CHAPTER XIII.
THE AMATEUR NAPOLEON OF WALL
STREET


STREET.
At the beginning of April, the sit
uation in the three stocks Percival had
bought so heavily grew undeniably
tense Consolidated Copper went from
l09 to 103 in a week. But Percivals
enthusiasm suffered little abatement
from the drop.
"You see," he reminded Uncle Peter,
at isn't exactly what | expected, but
it's right in line with it, SO 1t doesn't
alarm me. I knew those fellows inside
were bound to hammer it down if they
could. 1t wouldn't phase me bit if
! it sagged to 95."
"My! My!" Uncle Peter exclaimed,
with warm approval, "the way you
master this business certainly does
win me. l tell you, it's a mighty good
thing we got your brains to depend
on. I'm all right the other side Of
Council Bluffs, but I'm tenderfoot
here, sure, where everybody's tryin' to
get the best of you. You see, out there
everybody tries to make the best of it.
told that to one of them smarties
last night. But you'll pull them in
their place all right. You know both
ends of the game and the middle. We
certainly got right to be proud of
you, son. Dan1 J. liked big PROPOSE
tions himself-but, well, I'd just like
to have him see the nerve you've
showed, that's ALL"
Uncle Peters professions Of conf
dence were unfailing, and Percival
took new hope and faith in his judy
ment from them daily.
Nevertheless, as the weeks passed,
and the mysterious insiders succeeded
In their design of keeping the stock
from rising, he came to feel touch
of anxiety. More, indeed, than he was
able to communicate to Uncle Peter,
without confessing outright that he
had lost faith In himself. That he
was unable to do, even IL 1t were true,
which he doubted. The Bines fortune
was now hanging, as to all but some
of the western properties, on the turn
ing of the three stocks. Yet the old
mans confidence in the young mans
acumen was invulnerable. No shaft
that Percival was able to fashion had
point enough to pierce it. And he
was 10th to batter it down, for he still
had the gamblers faith in his luck.
You got your fathers head in bust
ness matters" was Uncle Peters in
variable response to any suggestion Of
failure. II know that much-spite of
what all these gossips say-and that's
all l want to know. And of course
you can't ever be no Shepler less you
take your share of chances. Only don't
ask my advice. You're master of the
game, and we're all layin' right smack
down on your genius fur It,"
Whereupon the young man, with
confidence in himself newly inflated,
would hurry off to the stock tickers.
He had ceased to buy the stocks out
right, and for several weeks had
bought only on margins.
"There was one rule in poker your
pa had" said Uncle Peter. IF hand
Is worth calling on, it's worth raising
on. He Jest never would CALL If he
I
didn't think hand was worth raising,
he'd bunch 1t in with the discards, and
wait fur another deal. | don't know
much about the game, but he said it
was a sound rule, and if 1t is sound
In poker, why it's got to be sound in
this game. That's all can tell you.
You know what you hold, and II faint
hand to lay down, 1t must be hand
to raise on. OF course, il you'd been
brash and ignorant in your first cal
culations-if you'd made fool Of
yourself at the start-but shucks!
you're the son of Daniel J. Bines, amt
your"
The rule and the clever provocation
had their effect.
"I'll raise as long as I have chip
left, Uncle Peter. Why. only to-day
II had tip that came straight from