Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1907-02-13

l gone zoo Tar 10 be amusing. He must
e.! arouse btmself and turn over on his
sIde. In five minutes. according TO the
dream, he had lost $4,000, 900 as near
~ as he could calculate. Losing a
million a minute, even in sleep, he
thought, was disquieting.
Then upon tie tape he read another
chapter OF disaster. Western Trolley
mad gone into the hands OF a receiver
"a line, fat, promising stock ruined
without word OF warning; and while
he tried to master this news the hor-
rible clicking thing declared that
Union Cordage was selling down to
5S-a drop of exactly 90 points since
morning.
Fouts. with a slip of paper In his
hand, beckoned him from the door of
his private Office. He went dazedly in
to him-and was awakened from the
dream that he had been losing q for
tune In his sleep.
Coming out after a few moments. he
went up to Uncle Peter, who had been
sitting. watchful but unconcerned. In
one or the armchairs along the wall.
The old man looked up inquiringly.
Come inside, Uncle Peter!"
Iney went into the private Office OF
Fouts. Percival shut the door and
they were alone.
Uncle Peter, Burman's been Sis
pended on the board of trade: Fonts
just had this over his private wire
Corn broke to-day"
That so? Oh, well, maybe II was
worth couple of million to find out
Burman plays corn like he plays
poker; twas if you couldn't get It fur
any less"
Uncle Peter, we're wiped OUT
How, wiped out? What do YOU
mean, SOM"
We're done, tell you. We needn't
care damn now where copper goes to.
We're out OF it-and-Uncle Peter
we're broke"
"Out OF copper? Broke? But Won
said" He seemed to be making an
effort to comprehend. His lack OF
grasp was pitiful.
Out OF copper, but there's Western
Trolley and that Cordage stock"
Everything wiped out, | tell Won
Union Cordage gone down So points
somebody let out the inside secrets
and God only knows how far Western
Trolley's gone down."
Are you all in?"
Every dollar-you knew that Rut
say" he frightened out OF his despair
there's the One Girl-a good pro.
ducer-Shepler knows the properly
Shepler's in this block" and he was
gone.
The old man strolled out into the
trading-room again. A curious grim
smile softened his square Jaw for a
moment. He resumed his comfortable
cnalr ana TOOK up newspaper, glanc.
ing incidentally at the crows OF ex-
cited men about the tickers. He had
about him that air OF repose which
comes to big men who have stayed
much in big out-ofdoor solitudes.
Amt he nervy old guy?" said a
crisp little money broker to Fouts.
They're wiped out but you wouldn't
think he cared any more about il than
Mike, the porter, with his brass polish
ouS there"
The old man held his paper up. but
did not read.
Perciyal rushed in by him, beclon.
'Shepler's all right about the One
Girl He'll take mortgage on it for
two hundred thousand if you'll recon.
mend it-Only he can't get the money
before tomorrow. There's bound to
DE rally in this stock, and wen go
right back for some of the hair of the
--why-whats the matter-Uncle Pc.
teri"
The old man had reeled, and then
weakly caught at the top of the desk
with both hands for support
Ruined" he cried, hoarsely. as IL
the extent of the calamity had Just
borne in upon him. My God! Ruined.
and at my time OF life" He seemed
| about to collapse. Percival quickly
helped him into a chair, where he be-
came limp.
There, I'm all right Oh. It's ter
rible! and We all trusted you so. /
thought you had your pa S brains. ia
a trusted you soon's | would Shep.
ler and now look what you led us into
fortune gone-broke-and all your
fault"
Don't, Uncle Peter-dont, for
Gods sake-not when I'm down! Il
can't stand it,"
Gamble away your own money
no, that wasn't enough-take your
poor mas share and your sisters. and
take what little | had TO keep me i'm
my old age-robbed US all-that's
what comes OF thinkin' a damned tea.
drinkin' fop could have a thimbleful
Of brains!"
Don't. please-not just now-givs
it to me good -to-morrow-au
you want to-"
And here I'm come TO want I'm my
last days when I'm too feeble TO work.
I'll die in bitter privation because I /
was an old fool, and trusted young
one"
Please don't, Uncle Peteri"