The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-03-03
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER III.
In New York there is a certain corner
which marks the center of American ac-
tivity This Is a great nation, pulsating
with progressive life; eager, restless, am
bilious; always reaching forward, always
moving 90 the goal of a more complex
and more advanced civilization. To back
each enterprise, each mill and mine that
adds to the sum total OF American re-
source must have capital, brains, and
energy 90 put it in position TO be oper-
ated Near this city corner are central
lied the brains, the capital. and the en-
ergy that make the immense. wheels Of
American industry reyclve.
Here are the great banks. the trust
companies, and the stock market On the
vide floor OF the exchange. where shares
ii every conceivable form Of industrial
securities are bought and sold, men battle
and fight for an eighth and even a six
teenth of a dollar. Young men. middle
aged men. and old men are there to-day
and will always be there In this seeth-
ing whIrling pool Of progressive com
bstants a single individual is little known
or little cared for Il is but seldom that
a genius for speculation is given TO one
mind Occasionally man comes into the
arena whose talent for strategic plays
upon the chessboard Of financial life IS
marked. lie makes a reputation for him
self For a time his course upon the
exchange is watched with anxiety by his
enemies, and with confidence by his
friends. For a time his every utterahce
IN regard TO the rise or fan OF certain
stocks is followed by the willing public
with confidence. Then, drunk with his
own power, and dazzied by his own sue
cess. the proud king Of the bulls and
bears makes a careless slip in the
twinkiing Of an eye his reputation has
fed. in a week the roar Of the financial
whirlpool has gone by and left him
stranded upon the rock Of failure and OBJ
liviOn. a new king is in power and a new
financial hero is watched with love and
hatred by the crowd
In this vortex Of American financial
activity a type Of man is bred whose
nervous system is well accustomed to
every jar. Men win and lose their for
tunes in the wheel of progression with the
same Calmness that a Sioux Indian meets
his death. One soon becomes accustomed
10 the ups and downs OF life in this at
mosphere. A hard line around the cor
ners OF the mouth and a steclIy look 10
the eye is the characteristic OF the nnan-
cal warriors Of the money district II is
life OF strife Of aggression. and OF
rapid retreats. Here the weak are quick
to succumb and the strong are amply
rewarded for the good fight
Tom TrusCOtt was what is Familiarity
known on the street as a "has-been."
When a very young man he mad gone into
the Office of one of the wel-known
brokerage firms and had held every posi-
ton from floor sweeper up to junior
partner. lie had been on the floor OF the
exchange, and had often stood FOR hours
IL the ceEter Of a Whirliug. palpitaung
mass of human beings buying and sell
ing the shares Of stock that were wired
him through his home Office. He had
been known as an excellent broker. lie
was strong, muscular active. and ener-
getic He could stand the mill better
than most. and became so used TO sud
den and rapid EXCAVATIONS and changes
Of fortune that he was immune from
nerves" and other ailments that affect
the average American business man.
At twenty Truscott considered himself
fe'rly well of. At twenty-five he was
Comfortably fixed" in the parlance Of
The Street. At thirty he considered him
self sufficiently wealthy for single man,
and perfectly well able to provide for
two. Then came the climax Of his ca
reer At least he called II the climax.
but others said that he had many more
years Of usefulness. Truscott had re
marked To lis friends that he was down
and out"
Near Central Park was n nice. little
house on one of the branch arteries from
Fifth avenue. The household consisted
Of paterfamelias. a retired banker; mater
famclias. a sweet. gray-haired lady of
forty ght and one daughter. red
checked young woman of some TWEEN
~ summers. Truscott had been always
welcome in this quiet home. Here were
good books: quiet peace, and tranquility.
After a nerve-w racking day on the floor
Of the exchange it was good to sit
down before a warm fire hear no Earring
click of the telegraph. no bowling mob of
frenzied- financlers. and no fret and fume
of the business world in the quiet re-
fiRement of this home the discussions
were of intellectual subjects: of Long
fellow, of Whittier, and of TennysOn.
One read the Nation the Critic. and the
BOoklover's Magazine in this home, and
fl was a rule that no one should ever
breach the subject of banking and of
finance. For Truscott's tired nerves what
a godsend. indeed. was this haven of
rest from the whiTr and scream of his
daily toll.
Having had his way all of his life.
Truscott was sure that in love, as in
war, he could not fail to be
waited, and bided his time for the oppor-
tunity that would come in the future 1t
was the opportunity to duplicate this
quiet. peaceful home, and to have as its
mistress the daughter of his kind and
amiabe friends. When the plum is ripe,
thought Truscott, all that ] have to do is
TO pluck it.
TO BE CONTINUED NEXT SUNDAY.