The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1907-01-03
A Story of Modern Finance

"T DON'T know that have any particular ambi-
ton to become wealthy" observed Paine as he
stretched his legs under the desk and lighted the
cigar his companion had given him. But this is
rather monotonous Wine taste and beer income, you
know"
Black nodded and drummed on the desk with his
fingers he looked steadily but dreamy through his
half-closed lids at the young man before him.
Paine grew FESTIVE under the steady gaze at would be
all right, you see if wasn't constantly
rubbing against men of means wouldn't
feel it SO keenly; but when | realize, as
do, that these men of wealth have no more
brains or ability than |, and yet are rich ~
while | poor-it makes me- He sg
brought his cenched fist upon the desk
"Well, l feel that they have more than
they deserve. Now what are you laughing
at?"
''Ibeg your pardon-I was not awareI
was laughing. But to be frank, | am
amused. Why can't you see that wealth
is right in your hand; that you can have it
for the grasping, and that by the same ssA
these other men have adopted
practicay?'
Panes eyes opened wide Black rose
and waved his hand toward private
office. Cant go in thereo In about
five minutes can tell you something that
may surprise you, and you will wonder c@9s1s9
why it never occurred to you before" Dxss
They not gone much more than
FIVE minutes, certainly not to exceed ten,
and when they returned Blacks lips
curved in insinuating SMILE while I 4
Panes brows knit in an expression of
doubt resistance. sit would lose me
my POSITION said the latter as he threw
himself into his chair.
''You would have no need of a position
" 1t would ruin my prospects,"
ut would assure them. The prospects would be
certainty. Can't you that at stroke you would
be beyond positions and prospects,"
ooh, yes, can that all right III drop in to-
morning and let you know
For some time the young assistant to the president
OF one OF the large railroad systems of the country
officer who had earned the reputation of turning every
thing he touched to gold dividends (much the same
thing) until the mention of his name in connec
ton with transportation enterprise sufficient
to send the spectators scrambng each other like
bees swarming to purchase its stock and send the
quotations up like the imprisoned mercury under old
Sols influence, sat broodng his desk; then
gancng at the clock he sighed pulled his coat and
left the office.
He was in so brown study that seated at restaur-
ant table, the active waitress with the distressingy
rzzed blonde hair had repeat the query whether
he had ordered, before he wakened sufficiently from
his revere to make his wants known The meal finished
he changed his dreaming place to his room and sat
broodng before the fireplace with unlightcd pipe in
his hand until the Goals had grown red and white in
turn and the ashes alone bore evidence of the thought
funess OF his landlady Then with another long Sigh
and shiver, for the evening chilly, he hastily
dsrobed and crawed into bed tumble and still debate
"to be not to be- until morning
At ten O'Clock in the morning Black sat in his stock
and grain commission Office commonly termed the
"bucket-shop, observing spry young man with
sandy head and quick, nervous hands chalking upon
large blackboard the quotations he had Just taken
from ticker Black observed him closely he entered
the L. & P. quotations and seemed relieved when the
figures given showed that there had been no advance
The spry young man was busy with quotations from
the pit when the door opened and Paine gancing
cautiously about the first. entered BLACK adj
vanced to the railing and leaned over it in the conden