Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-08-24
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looked at him. will never forget his face. No heartbroken woman's could have been sadder. He slowly raised his head. then staggered and grasped the ticker-stand for support.
 Don't, Jim. don't-don't ask me to forgive you. Oh. Jim, Jim, my old friend. forgive me for my madness; forget what said to you. forget the brute you just saw and think of me as of old, when would have plucked out my tongue if had caught 1t say ing. harsh word to the best and truest friend man ever had. Jim. for get 1t all. I was mad, am mad, I have been mad for long time. but 1t cannot last much longer. l know 1t can't. and. Jim, by all our past love. by the memories of the dear old days at St. Paul's and at Harvard. the dear old days of hope and happiness. when we planned for the future, try to think of me only as you knew mo then. as you know that should now be, but for the 'System's' curse"
 The clerks were pounding on the door: through the glass showed many forms. They had been gathering for minutes while Bob talked in his low.i sad tone, tone that no one could be- lieve came from the sarne mouth that few moments before had poured forth flood of brutal heartlessness.
 Bob went to the door. The ofice was in an uproar. Twenty or 30 ofl Bob's brokers were there. aghast at not getting . reply to their calls. Many were pouring in through the outer ofice. Bob looked at them cold ly. Well, what is the trouble? Is 1t possible we are down to a point where the stock exchange rushes over to c mans office when bis wire happens to break down?"
 They saw his bluff. You cannot de- ceive stock exchange men. at least not the kind that Bob Brownley em- ployed on panic days. but his cool ness treasured them. and when they saw me 1t was odds-on that they, guessed to c man why Bob had ig- nored his wires-guessed that I had been pleading for the life of "the street"
 Well, where do you stand?'
 Frank Swan answered for the crowd: "The panic is in full swing. She's q ceilar.to-ridge-pole ripper. They're down 70 or over on an av- craze. AntiPeople's is down to s5. and still coming like sawdust over broken dam. Barry Conants house and . dozen other of Reinhart's have gone under. His banks and trust companies are going every minute. ] The whole street will be overheard before the close. The governing com mIttee has just called meeting to see. whether 1t will not be best to adjourn the exchange over today and to-mor- row"
 Bob listened as if he had been . master at the wheel in 6 gale. re-. ceiving reports from his mates.
 There vas no trace now of the scene he had just been through. He was cold, masterful. Ike the seasoned seadog who knows that-inA spite of the oceans rage and the winds howl. the wheel vfli answer his hand andi the crsft It's rudder. Jim. come ovs- to the exchange" The crowd for. lowed along. We have but a minute and I vsnt to have you say you for-l give me" he said to me. T know. Jim, you understsnd 1t all. but l must tell you how sorrogful I am that inl my madness should have 90 forgot Z ten ny admiration. respect. and love. for you. yes. and ny gratitude to yoa- ss to say what dH. I'll do the only thing can to atone. I vill stop this panic and undo ss much ss poGsielel of my york; and now that I have wrecked Reinhsrt I am through with this game forever. yes. throush for-' ever
 CTo Be continuedI.