The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1907-11-13


chance to make out yet the bottom OF
the market would have been resting
on the roof of the lower regions
The little mans remark was slightly
more direct and forcibls but this will
do for a revised version.
DECKER" | exclaimed, pricking up
my ears. Il thought he had quit the
market
As had never heard Of Mr. Decker
before that moment this was not eN-
actly the truth. but thought 1t would
serve me better.
Decker out of it," gasped Wall.
bridge. his bald head positively glst-
ening at the absurdity of the idea
Hell be out OF it when he's carried
out"
81 meant out of Omega. Is he get.
ling up a deal?"
The little broker looked vexed. as
though II crossed his mind that he
had said too much.
"Oh. no Guess not. Don't think he
ls." he said rapidly. Just wanted TO
save the market. | guess. II Omega
had gone FIVE points lower there would
nave been the sickest times In the
Street that we've seen since the Bank
Of California closed and the shop
across the way"-pointlng his thumb
at the Exchange-"had to be shut up.
But maybe il wasn't Decker. you
know That's just what was rumored
on the Street. you know"
suspected that my little broker
knew more than he was willing to
tell, but forbore TO press him further,
and gave him the order TO buy all the
Omega stock he could pick up under
fifty.
In the Exchange all was excitement,
and the first cali brought a roar Of
struggling brokers. could make
nothing OF the clamor, but my nearest
neighbor shouted in my ear: q,
"A strong market!'
ut looks that way" / shouted back.
1t certainly was strong in noise.
made out at last that prices were
being held to the figures of the morn
ings session. and in some cases we're
forced above them.
Forty-fve- forty-seven -fifty.fve-
Omega was going up by leaps.
blessed the forethought that had sug-
gested to me to put a limit on Wall
bridge at fifty. The contest grew
warmer could follow with difficulty
the course OF the proceedings. but l
knew that Omega was bounding up.
ward.
The call closed amid animation; but
the excitement was nothing com
pared to the scene that had followed
the fall In the morning. Omega stood
at eighty asked. and seventy-eight bid.
and the ship OF the stock gamblers
was again sailing on an even keel.
The session was over at last. anC
Wallbridge and Eppner handed nc
their memoranda Of purchases.
You couldn't pick Omega OF the
bushes this afternoon, Mr.. Wilton.
said Wallbridge. wiping his bald head
vigorously. There's fools at all times
and some of 'em were here and ready
to drop what they had: but not many
| gathered in six hundred for you. but
| had TO fight for IT,"
thanked the merry broker. and
gave him a check for his balance.
Eppner had done better with a
wider margin. but all told had added
but three. thousand one hundred
shares to my list. wondered how
much of this had been sold to me by
my employer. Plainly. II Doddridge
Knapp was needing Omega stock be
would have to pay for IL.
There was no one to be seen as !
reached Room IS. The connecting door
was closed and locked, and no sound
came from behind 1t. turned to ar.
range the books, to keep from a bad
habit Of thinking over the inexplicable
An hour passed and no Doddridge
Knapp. II was long past Office hours
Just as ] was considering whether my
duty to my employer constrained me
wait longer. | caught sight OF an en-.
yelope that had been slipped under
the door. II was in cipher. but II
yielded to the key with which Dodd.
ridge Knapp had provided me. /
made 1t out to be this:
Come to my house tonight. Bring
your contracts with you. Knapp"
| was thrown into some perplexity
by this order. For little suspected
trap, but on second thought this
seemed unlikely. The Office furnished
as convenient a place for homicidal
diversions as he could wish, II these
were in his intention. and possibly a
visit to Doddridge Knapp in his own
house would give me better clue TO
his habits and purposes. and better
chance of bringing home to him his
N.a1 a.