Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1907-06-26
Two Sides of a Stock
jobbing Operation.
[Original.l

[Original.l
One afternoon a gentleman left his
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 revolver from his
pocket and placed the muzzle against
his temple.
Albert Mesereau had followed a CON
tinued "bulling" of the n. \. and L.
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 were
spending their profits on the better
ment of the road. Mesereau had kept
''long' on the stock with view to
reaping 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 a 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 in
expressibly sad. His brain, Temporal
rily unbalanced, righted itself, and he
resolved to live for the sake of the
woman who loved him and whom he
loved
Nevertheless that night some Of his
clothes were found on the deck of a
Hudson river ferryboat, and Mesereau
had disappeared.
Meanwhile there were rumOrS in the
street that n. Y and Z. railway COM
mon stock was shortly to be put on a
dividend basis; but. since these rumors
had been rife for several years, no one
paid any attention to them. The stock
f1uctuated as usual and, though rather
high for 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"
81 hope We don't name to accuse me
O. dom SIGH a thing, SIR" replied the
man.
81 do, and I'm going to hand you
over to the officers of the law on a
charge of theft"
IL steal. sir!''
1T is to my interest to shut you up
for q week. If you will consent to be
made a prisoner in my house under
lock and key for that time, I will make
no charge. Otherwise I will put you
behind bars perhaps for years"
II am innocent Of anything the law
will punish in that way"
1.-THE law is money 1, having money,
am the law. Which do you choose, a
| voluntary Imprisonment for a week OF
to go to jail?"
The gentleman stepped to the tele-
| phone and took down the receiver.
Don't call the police. You may shut
me up here"
every we'll Follow me-"
He led the way to a back room in an
| upper story. There were two win.
dows, but they were small and near
the ceiling. The valet entered, and
his master, locking the door, took the
key.
Several days later a maid in the hal
made sufficient noise with her buckets
and brooms for the prisoner to hear
her.
Kate" he called, sis that you?"
Good gracious. Where do the voice
be comm from2"
Come here, Kate-to the door. Tn
Dennis. l want to speak with you
Don't make a fuss"
The girl approached the door, and
Dennis whispered to her through the
| keyhole Then she went away.
Mrs. Mesereau, lying awake - she
slept but little since her husbands dis
appearance - thought she heard the
telephone bell ringing on the floor be
low. She listened and heard it again
this time surely. Getting out Of bee
and pulling on a wrapper, she went
down and answered the CALL
rs that you, sweetheart
Great heavens, it's Bert's voicew
Il must be quick. Go to Bunker'S
office in the morning. Tell him Tn
alive; have been in the service OF
director of the n. Y. and P. rail
road. At the stockholders meeting
in few days Z per cent dividend
will be declared. First make contract
for half his profits, then give the in
formation. Goodby."
The next morning the supposed wild
ow was in the Office of her husbands
| former broker, was closeted with hin
and when she emerged had a writer
contract signed by him that he should
form a syndicate to buy 100000 shares
Of n. Y. and 2. common stock to be
held at least sixty days, half the prof
its ION condition the information prov
ed correct and the stock advanced) t.
go to Albert Mesereau. Within two
hours the syndicate had been formed
and during the afternoon and the mex
morning 100000 shares had been pick
ed up without raising its quotation.
two points. Two days later the di
rectors met and put the stock on a +
per cent dividend basis.
Albert Mesereau, alias Dennis
O'Rourke, having been let out of hii
prison room by the maid and coached
his wife by telephone, lest his figh
might change the plans Of the n. Y
and P. Railway company, returned t.
it and was only released from it
few hours after the announcement q.