Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1907-05-01
40 SiQS5 II d 1tock-
io',bing Operation.

The cabman to drive to his nome up
town. Having started, he pulled down
the curtains. took a. revolver from his
pocket and placed the muzzle against
his temple.
Albert Mesereau had followed con-
tinued "bulling" of the N. Y. and T.
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 q view TO
reaping a rich harvest when the di-
rectors should cease this outlay anu
begin to give the surplus earnings TO
the stockholders. But year after year
passed with no change In the financial
policy of the company. Mesereaus mar
gins were finally absorbed, and on the
afternoon mentioned q 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 vislOn--a face That had al
ways been CHEEKY, helping him to bear
his continued disappointment his per
yetual sinking to ruin. Now 1t was in-
expressiby sad. His brain, Temporal
rily unbalanced, righted itself, and lie
resolved to live for the sake or 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 P. railway COM
mon stock was shortly to be put on
dividend basis; but, since these rumors
had been rife for several years, no one
paid any attention to them. The STOCK
auctuated as usual and, though rather
high for a nondividend paying stock,
was considerably below par.
One day a director of the road cailed
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"
81 steal, sir!'
at is to my interest to shut you up
for a week. If you will consent to be
made prisoner in my house under
lock and key for that time, Will make
no charge. Otherwise l will put you
behind bars perhaps for years"
81 am innocent Of anything the law
will punish in that way"
"The law is money. l, having money
am the law. Which do you choose, O
voluntary Imprisonment for week oil
to go to jallT
The gentleman stepped to the teie
nbone and took down the receiver.
Don't call the police. You may shu'
me up here"
every well. Follow me-"
He led the way to back room IN al
upper story. There were two win
dows. but they were small and neal
the ceiling. The valet entered, ant
, his master, locking the door, took TIT
key.
Several days later maid In the hal
made sufficient noise with her bucket
and brooms for the prisoner to hea
Q her.
. kate" he called. as that your
"Good gracious! Where do the voic
q be comm fromY
!, "Come here. Kate-to the door. IN
Dennis. | want to speak with yot
. Don't make a fuss"
,. The girl approached the door, AM
:. Dennis whispered to her through til
O keylole. Then she went away.
Mrs. Mesereau, lying awake - SD
n slept but little since her husbands dis
r appearance - thought she heard tn
q telephone bell ringing on the floor bt
n low. She listened and heard it agaiI
!. this time surely. Getting out OF be
- and pulling on wrapper, she wen
!. down and answered the call.
I. as that you. sweetheart"
Is "Great heavens. it's Berts voice"
I. 81 must be quick. Go to Bunker
Office in the morning. Tell him II
II allve: have been In the service
y q director Of the n. Y. and L. raj
% road. At the stockholders meetin
" In q few days I per cent dividen
re- will be declared. First make contra'
n. for half his profits, then give the II
le formation. Goodby."
4 The next morning the supposed WI
" ow was In the office Of her husband
70 former broker. was closeted with nj
n. and when she emerged had a write
,e contract signed by him that he shou
Is form syndicate to buy 100000 shar
m of N. Y. and 2. common stock to
n. held at least sixty days, half the pre-
In its ION condition the information pro
v. ed correct and the stock advanced)
., 90 TO Albert Mesereau. Within tv
M hours the syndicate had been forme
be and during the afternoon and the ne
in morning 100000 shares had been pic
AT ed up without raising its quotatio
nd two points. Two days later the
m rectors met and put the ST >ck on
per cent dividend basis.
,is Albert Mesereau, alias Dem
nj O'Rourke, having been let out OF
oil prison room by the maid and coach
Of his wife by telephone, lest his fig
10. might change the plans of the n.
3 and P. Railway company, returned
ITO 1t and was only released from 1t
Ia" few hours after the announcement
va the dividend. The next morning he
'oe peared again in Wall street. Mel
He while tia price CO the stock went
m by Jumps. and his profits were en-
nous. EDWARD COLEMAN