The Palatka news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1907-04-19
A Pointer In Stocks.
IOriginal.1

Benedict Lamont was a New Yorl
stock operator. He didn't buy or sci
stocks for the reasons people usually
them because he was in with those
who put them up and put them down
Mrs. Lamont was some fifteen years
younger than her husband, very pretty
and fond of admiration. She was also
fond of the stock market and would
had her husband permitted her. He
did not even inform her how he operat
ed. Not having confidence either in
her ability to keep secret or to make
money in stocks, he gave her no salts
faction whatever. This and the fact
that she was by nature bit of gam
bier greatly irritated her. Then, when
on one occasion the clique with whom
her husband operated was outgener-
aled by another clique, TO the dIsad-
vantage of the former, and Lamont es-
pecially, the wife made up her mind
that she knew quite as much about
stockjobbing as he did.
About this time came Lansing Van
Brunt, a member of the old Knicker-
| booker society, into which Mrs. La
mont was DESTROYS of gaining foot
hold. He, being DESTROYS of gaining q
| foothold in Mrs. Lamonts affections,
| humored her views on all subjects and,
perceiving a point in which he might
drive a wedge between her and her
husband, was not slow to take advan-
tage of 1t. He told her that the only
way for any person not manager of
the companies whose stock was oper-
ated In was by pointer, usually called
q tip One day he announced to her
that he had received tip on d. Y. and
Q. cumnS0n stock which was perfectly
reliable and advised her If she felt In
clined to speculate to buy some Of IT.
Her husband had recently given her
$1,000 for the purchase Of a diamond
brooch she desired to possess, and
after hesitating some time between the
brooch and her wish to show him that
she knew thing or two she yielded to
Van Brunt's representations and put
@. Van Brunt really believed in the
reliability of his information and con-
sidered the lady's chance of at least
doubling her money almost certain.
Lamont was aware of Van Brunt's
attentions to his wife; but, being
man accustomed to work behind a
screen, he made no comment, leaving
his wife free to act for herself with
out admonitions from him. Van Brunt
knew very well that Lamont was an
operator whose slightest word in refer
ence to the market would be consid-
cred of great value. One day on enter
ing Lamont's private room at home he
saw lying on desk paper. He did
not scruple to read 1t and found 1t an
order to Lamont's managing broker to
send out orders to buy various large
amounts Of D. Y. and Q. common stock.
The envelope. addressed, was lying be-
side the order, the writer having evil
IDENTIFY forgotten to take them with
him when he went out. Van Brunt
left the room just as Lamont returned.
The latter took up the order and en-
velope, went out and downtown. This
was the source of Van Brunt's infor-
nation, though he did not reveal 1t to
Mrs. Lamont.
d. Y. and Q. common stock rose a
few points, and Van Brunt said to
Mrs. Lamont, Il told you So" Then 1t
sank a point and he said, "Wait." He
was laughing in his sleeve that the hus-
band should have given him the wedge
between himself and his wife. Then
the stock began to sink gradually, re
covering, fluttering like a bird unde-
cIded whether to fly to higher or
lower limb. Then there came a slump
in the market, and Mrs. Lamont's In
vestment was wiped out.
If the lady had been in love with
Van Brunt, possibly the incident might
not have turned her against him. Wo-
men unless they love are not prone to
amiability toward persons through
whose instrumentality they make
losses Mrs. Lamont had lost her
brooch, and she held Mr.. Van Brunt
accountable. Had he been rich he
might have made 1t good to her, but
he was simply a society man, not a.
millionaire. Besides, he had lost heav-
lily by his pointer himself. At any rate,
the lady dismissed him from the posi-
ton Of her cavalier, and he was obliged
to seek other fields for conquest.
whats become Of Van Brunt?" ask
ed Lamont one evening. ~ haven't
seen him around here for a week"
Now, Mrs. Lamont had made vow
that she would never reveal the secret
Of her loss to her husband, but curios-
ity had come in to render the keeping
Of it very hard on her. She had ex-
pected her husband would have been
much depressed on account Of his
losses in d. Y. and Q. stock. On the |
contrary, he was clipper.
Perhaps" said the wife for a feel. |!
er, che thinks you have made losses in |
stocks lately and doesn't feel like sen-
Ing any one"
II lost in stocks? How did he get
that idea? I've just made pile of
money. By the bye, my dear, have you
bought your brooch?"
Mrs. Lamont struggled for a time
against tears, but they overcame her.
Her husband took her in his arms.
"Never mind, sweetheart. I suspect.
ed Van Brunt was advising you and
left an order on my desk for him to
see. He was not too honorable to read
and act on 1t, and take it for granted
that you have lost your thousand dol
ars. l had sold out all or nearly all
he stock referred to at great profit.
Since l sold q part of what was left