Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1907-12-21

day." ! asked.
mot 40 yet"
"And the othersT
There's been about 1000 sold"
gripped the rail in nervous tension.
The battle seemed to DO going against
the King OF the Street.
"Oh!" gasped wallbridge, trembling
with excitement. did you hear that?
Therel It's 1.700-now it's 1,775l
Whew!"
echoed the exclamation.
"Oh, why haven't got 10000
shares?" he groaned.
who is getting them"
Knapp got the last lot. Ooh, look
therel Did you ever see the like of
that?"
! looked. Decker, hatless, with hair
disheveled, had leaped the rail and
was hurrying into the throng that sur
rounded Doddridge Knapp.
There was never two Of EN- on the
floor before" cried Wallbrldge.
At Decker's appearance the brokers
opened a lane to him, the cries fell
and there was an instant Of silence as
the kings of the market thus came
came face to face.
shall never forget the sight. Dodd-
ridge Knapp, massive, calm, forceful.
surveyed his opponent with unruffled
composure. He was dressed in light
gray-brown suit that made him seem
larger than ever. Decker was nervous,
disheveled, his dress of black setting
off the pallor of his face, till it seemed
as white as his shirt bosom, as he
fronted the King of the Street.
The foes faced each ether, watchful
as two wrestlers looking to seize an
opening, and the Board-room held its
breath. Then the crowd of brokers
closed in again and the clamor rose
once more.
1 could not make out the progress Of
the contest, but the trained ear OF
Wallbridge interpreted the explosions
of inarticulate sound.
"Phew! listen to that! Two thou
sand, 2,10O, 2,15O. Great snakesl See
her jump!" he cried. "Decker's get
ting it,"
MY heart sank Doddrldge Knapp
must have smothered his brain once
more in the Black Smoke, and was
now paying the price of indulgence.
And his plans Of wealth were a sacrI-
fee to the wild and criminal scheme
into which ne had entered in his con.
test against the Unknown.
The clang Of the gong recalled me
from the reverie that had shut out the
details OF the scene before me.
There! Did you hear that?''
groaned Wallbrldge. Omega closes
at 1900 and Decker takes every trick.
Oh. why didn't you have me on the
floor out there? BY the great horn
spoon, I'd "a had every share OF that
stock, and wouldn't a. paid more than
half DC much for 1t. neither"
/ sighed and turned, sick at heart,
to meet the King of the Street as he
shouldered his way from the floor.
There was not a trace Of his mis-
fortune to be read in his face. But
Decker, the victor, moved away like
a man or@ressed, pale, staggering
half-fainting. as though the nervous
strain had brought him to the edge Of
coSapse.
Doddridge Knapp made his way I'd
the doors and signed me to follow
him, but spoke no word until we stood
beside the columns that guard the en-
trance.
THAT was warm work" said Dodd-
ridge Knapp after a moments halt.
Il was very sorry to have it turn
out so" said.
A grim smile passed over his face.
Il wasn't" he growled good humor-
edly. Il thought 1t was rather neatly
done"
/ looked at him in surprise.
ooh, forgot that hadn't seen you"
he continued. And like enough I
shouldn't have told you II had. The
truth is. found block Of 1000 shares
on SATURDAY. night, aud made { CON-
bination with them"
Then the mine Is yours?"
The directors will be-"
"But you were buying shares this
morning."
"a mere optical Illusion, Wilton.
was In fact seller, for had shares to
spare"
1T was very good imitation"
Il don't wonder you were taken In,
my boy. Decker was fooled to the
tune of about $1.O0O,OOO this morning.
thought 1t was rather neat for a
cleanup"
l thought so, too. and the King Of
the Street smiled at my ordinations
over his cleverness. But my congrat-
ulations were cut short as a small
dark man pressed his way to the cor
ner where we stood, and whispered in
Doddridge Knapp's ear.
WAS he sure?" asked the King OF
Ctv.,k