The Nevada County picayune., 1907-10-10
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CHAPTER III.-Continued.
Author of "Frenzied Finance"
Copyright, 1907, Doubleday, Page Co)

CHAPTER IIi.-Continued.
 While every other man in the crowd was at a high tension of excitement, Barry COnant was as calm as though standing in the center of ten-acre daisy field cutting off the helpless flow CTS heads with every swing of his arm. Switching stock gamblers into eternity had grown to be pastime to Barry Conant. Here was Bob thunder ing with terrific emphasis ITS for B., OO0." "77 for 5000, "75 for 5000, "A for 5000" "73 for 5000 "72 for 5000 seemingly expecting through sheer power of voice to crush his opponent into silence. But with the regularity of trip-hammer Barry Conants right hand, raised in unhurried gesture, and his clear calm Sold met Bob's every retreating bid. It was battle royal a king on one side, a Richelieu on the other Though there was frantic buy ing and selling all around these two generals, the trading was gauged by the trend of their battle. All knew that if Bob should be beaten down by this concentrated modern finance devil a panic would ensue and Sugar would go none could say how low. But if Bob should play him to stand still by exhaHsting his selling power Sugar would quickly scar to even higher figures than before. It was known that Barry Conants usual order from his clients the system mas ters, for such an occasion as the pres ent was Break the price al any cost. On the other hand every one knew that Randolph X Randolph were usual ly behind Bob's big operations, this was evidently one of his biggest, and every man there knew that Randolph X Randolph were seldom backed down by any force.
 As Bob made his bid 70 for 5000, and got it. 1 saw a quick flash of pain shoot across his face, and realized that it probably meant he was nearing the end of my last order, 1 sized it up that there was deViItry of more than usual significance behind this selling movement, that Barry Conant must have unlimited orders to sell and smash. My final order of 90 GOO brought our total up to 150000 shares, a large amount for even Randolph X Randolph to buy of a stock selling at nearly $200 a share. l then and there decided that whatever happened l would go no further. Just then Bob's wild eye caught mine, and there was in 1t piteous appeal, such an appeal as one sees in the eye of the wounded doe when she gives up her attempt to swim to shore and waits the coming of the pursuing hunters canoe l sad iy signaled that l was through, As Bob caught the sign he threw his head back and beloved deep, hOarse '"70 for 10000 l knew then that he had already bought 10000, and that this was the last ditch stand. Barry Conant must have caught the mean. ing, too Instantly, like a revolver re port came his Sold" Then the com. pact, miniature mass of human springs and wires, which had until now been held in perfect control, sud denly burst from its clamps and Barry Conant was the fiend his Wall street reputation pictured him. His five feet
 
 height of giant His arms, with their fate-pointing fingers, rose and fell with beWildering rapidity as his piercing voice rang out-"5,000 at 69, 6S. 6. 10000 at 63, ' "25,O0O at 60" Pandemonium reigued Every man in the crowd seemed to have the capital stock of the Sugar trust 10 sell. and at any price. \ score seemed to be bent on selling as low as possible in stead of for as much as they could get. These were the shorts who had been punished the day before by Bobs up. lift
 Poor Bob, he was forgotten. An in stant after he made his last effort he was the dead cock in the pit. Frenzied gamblers of the stock exchange have no more use for the dead cocks than have Mexicans for the real birds when they get the fatal gaff. The day after the contest, or even that same night at Delmonico's and the clubs, these men would moan for poor Bob; Barry Con. ants moan would be the loudest of them all, and, what is more, it would be sincere. But on battle day away to the dump with the fallen bird, the bird that could not win! l saw look of deep, terrible agony spread over Bob's face; and then in a flash he was the Bob Brownley who I always boast ed had the courage and the brain to do the right thing in all circumstances TO the astonishment of every man in the crowd he let loose one wild yell a cross between the war-whoop of an Indian and the bay of Q deep-lunged hound regaining lost scent. Then he