Charlevoix county herald., 1906-12-22


was going to be worth a great deal
more than it was then quoted at, he
would buy outright in large quanti-
/ Siss; when that same sagacity and
foresight of the fellow who has HIM
self marked the cards warned him
that stock was about to fall, he sold
| outright But gamble-never. And
felt that, If he should learn that had
staked large part of my entire for.
tune on a single gambling operation,
he would straightway cut me off from
his confidence, would look on me as
too deeply tainted by my long career
as a "bucket-shop" man to be worthy
of full rank and power as a financier.
Financiers do not gamble. Their only
vice is grand larceny.
All this was flashing through my
mind while | was thanking him.
Il am glad to have such a long fore
warming" 1 was saying. Can | be OF
use to you? You know my machinery
is perfect can buy anything and in
any quantity without starting rumors
and drawing the crowd
mo, thank you, Matthew" was his
answer. 'I'have all of those stocks
wish-at present"
Whether it is peculiar to me, don't
know-probably not-but my memory
is so constituted that it takes an in
delible and complete impression Of
whatever is sent it by my eyes and
ears; and just as by looking closely
you can find in a Photographic plate
@ hundred details that escape your
glance, so on those memory plates OF
mine / often find long afterward many
and many a detail that escaped me
when my eyes and ears were taking
the impression. On my memory plate
of that moment in my interview with
Roebuck, | find details so significant
that my failing to note them at the
time shows how unfit l then was to
guard my interests. For instance, |
find that just before he spoke those
words declining my assistance and
implying that he had already in
creased his holdings, he opened and
closed his hands several times, finally
closed and clinched them-a sure sign
of energetic nervous action, and in
that particular instance a sign of de-
ception, because there was no energy
in his remark and no reason for en-
ergy. / am not superstitious, but be-
lieve in palmistry to certain extent.
Even more than the face are the
hands a sensitive recorder Of what is
passing in the mind.
But | was then too intent upon my
dilemma carefully to study man who
had already lulled me into absolute
confidence in him. left him as soon
as he would let me go. His last words
were, "No gambling, Matthew! No
abuse of the opportunity God is giving
us. Be content with the just profits
from investment. / have seen gam
blers come and go, many Of them able
men-very able men. But they have
melted away, and where are they?
And | have remained and have in
creased. l feel that | can trust you.
You began as Spectator, but success
has steadied you, and you have put
yourself on the firm ground where we
God has given the development Of the
Astounding resources of this beloved
country of ours
Do you wonder that | went away
with a heart full of shame for the
gambling projects my head was plan
ming upon the information that good
man had given me?
you've gone back to gambling
lately, Matt" said to myself. you've
been on a bender, with your head
afire. You must get out of this tex
tile business as soon as possible. But
it's good sound sense to plunge on the
coal stocks. In fact, your profits there
would save you If by some mischance
textile should rise instead of fall. Act
ing on Roebuck's tip isn't gambling,
it's insurance"
| emerged to issue orders that soon
threw into the National coal venture
all had not staked on falling mar
ket for textiles. I was not content
as the pious gambling-hater, Roebuck,
had begged me to be-with buying
only what stock | could pay for,
went plunging on, contracting for
many times the amount | could have
bought outright.
The next time saw Langdon | was
full of enthusiasm for Roebuck. | can
see his smile as he listened.
Il had no idea you were an expert
on the trumpets of praise, Blackjack"
said he finally. "a very SNOWY ac-
complshment," he added. but INther
dangerous, don't you think? The
player may become enchanted by his
own music"
Il try to look on the bright side of
things" said |, even of human ma
ture."
Since when?" drawled he.
laughed-a good, hearty laugh,
for this shy reference to my affair OF
the heart tickled me. | enjoyed to
the full only in long retrospect tho
look he gave me.
"As soon as a man falls in love-"
said he, trustees should be appointed
to take charge of his estate"
You're wrong there, old man"
replied. 'Ive never worked harder
or with q clearer head than since [