Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-04-17
DAILY STORK
TWO SIDES OF A STOCK
JOBBlNG OPERATION.
[Original.1

one afternoon gentleman leTt MS
Office near the New York Stock EX-
change, stepped into a cab and directed
the cabman TO drive to his home up
town. Having started, he pulled down
the curtains, took q revolver from his
pocket and placed the muZZle against
his temple.
Albert Mesereau had followed a con
tinued "bulling' of the n. Y. and z.
railway and had thereby been ruined.
The published statements of the road
showed that their earnings would en-
able them TO pay 10 per cent annual
dividend on their common stock,
| though they paid nothing. They We're
| spending their profits on the better
ment Of the road. Mesereau had kept
long" on the stock with a view To
| reaplng a rich harvest when the di-
rectorS should cease this outlay and
begin to give the surplus earnings To
the stockholders. But year after year
passed with no change in the financial
policy of the company. Mesereau's mar
gins were finally absorbed. and on the
afternoon mentioned IL slump in the
market had placed him heavily in debt
As he was about to pull the trigger
the face of his wife came up before
his mental viSion-a face that had al
ways been CHEEKY, helping him to bear
his continued disappointment, his per
petual sinking TO ruin. Now it was i'll
eXpressibly sad. His BRAIN Temporal
rily unbalanced. righted itself. and he
| ~.
woman who loved him and whom he
| loved.
Nevertheless that night some OF his
clothes We're found on the deck of Il
Hudson river ferryboat, and Mesereau
had disappeared.
| Meanwhile there were rumOrS in the
street that y. Y. and L. railway COM
mon stock was shortly to be put on Il
dividend basis; but. since these rumors
had been rife for several years. no one
paid any attention To them. The stock
fluctuated as usual and, though rather
high for a nondividend paying stock,
was considerably below par.
, One DAY director of the road called
his valet into his private room at home
and said TO him:
Dennis. some one has been opening
my letters"
Il hope We don't name to accuse me
O. dom SIGH a thing SIR replied the
man.
q do, and I'm going to hand you
over to the officers of the law ON .
charge of theft"
, 81 steal, sir.''
1T is to my interest TO shut You VI
for week. If you will consent to be
made a prisoner in my house under
lock and key for that time, will make
} no charge. Otherwise l will put yor
behind bars perhaps for years"
81 am innocent Of anything the law
will punish in that way"
THE law is money. l. having money
am the law. Which do you choose, ;
t voluntary imprisonment for week o.
to go to jaiI:"
The gentleman stepped to the tele
phone and took down the receiver.
Don't call the police. You may shu
me up here"
VERY well. Follow me"
He led the way to back room in al
|
: dows, but they were small and nea
the ceiling. The valet entered. ant
his master, locking the door, took tn
| key.
Several days later maid in the hal
made sufficient noise with her bucket
and broomS for the prisoner to hea
her.
Kate" he called, "is that you?"
Good gracious! Where do the voic
be comm from?'
Come here, Kate-to the door II
Dennis. l want to speak with yoy
Don't make fuss"
The girl approached the door. an
Dennis whispered to her through til
keyhole. Then she went away.
Mrs. Mesereau, lying awake 1870 sh
slept but little since her husbands di:
appearance - thought she heard tn
telephone bell ringing on the floor bc
low. She listened and heard it again
this time surely. Getting out of be
and pulling on wrapper, she WEI
. down and answered the call.
as that you. sweetheart?'
Great heavens, it's Bert's voicer'
81 must be quick. Go to Bunker
Office in the morning. Tell him Il
alive; have been in the service {
director of the y. Y. and =. raj
road. At the stockholders meetiu
in few days a Z per cent divideu
will be declared. First make contra
for half his profits, then give the i
formation. Goodby."
l The next morning the supposed wi
Ow was in the Office of her husband
former broker, was closeted with hi
. and when she emerged had a write
CIV contract signed by him that he shou
form a syndicate to buy 100000 shar
of n. Y. and Z. common stock to
>, held at least sixty days, half the Pre-
6 its ION condition the information pro
x ed correct and the stock advanced)
s go to Albert Mesereau. Within II
x hours the syndicate had been forme
Is and during the afternoon and the ne
x morning 100000 shares had been pic