The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1908-07-01
CHAPTER X.
A Tanqle of Schemes.

Doddridge Knapp was seated calmly
in my Office when I opened the door.
There was q grim smile about the firm
Jaws, and a satisfied glitter in the
keen eyes. The Wolf had found his
prey. and the dismay of the sheep at
the sight of his fangs gave him salts
faction instead of distress.
The King of the Street honored me
with a royal nod.
There seems to have been a little
surprise for somebody on the Board
this morning" he suggested.
Il heard something about it on the
street" l admitted.
1T was a good plan and worked
well. Let me see your memoranda OF
purchases"
gave him my slips.
He looked over them with growing
perpleNity in his face.
Here's twelve thousand five hun
dred shares of Omega"
YES"
You paid too much for that first
iot- i3S "sis cum pm o'Sh tAA> Aio<-
It's easier to see that now than
then" | suggested dryly.
''Humph, yes. But there's some
thing wrong here" He was compar-
Ing my list with another in his hand.
There" | thought: my confound-
ed ignorance has made a mess of it"
But spoke with all the confidence I
could assume: What's the matter,
now"
Eleven thousand and twelve thou
sand FIVE hundred make twenty three
thousand five hundred: and here are
sales of Omega this morning of thirty
three thousand eight hundred and
thirty" He seemed to be talking
more to himself than to me. and to be
far from pleased.
"How's that? / don't understand"
was all in the dark over his musings
Il picked up eleven thousand shares
in the other Boards this morning. and
twelve thousand five hundred through
you. but somebody has taken in the
other ten thousand" The King of the
Street seemed puzzled and. thought
@ little worried.
Well. you got over twenty-three
thousand shares" l suggested consol-
ingly. That's pretty good mornings
work"
The King of the Street gave me a
contemptuous glance.
Dent be a fool. Wilton. / sold ten
thousand of those shares to myself"
A new licht broke upon me. l was
getting lessons of enc of the many
ways in which the market was manipu-
lated.
Then you think that somebody
else"
TIE King OF the Street broke in
with grim smile.
Never mind what I think. I've got
TIE contract for doing the thinking
for this job. and reckon | can tend
TO it,
The great sreculator was silent for
a few moments.
Il m;Ght as well be frank with you"
he said at last. You'll have to know
SOllSlH'IS 10 WOIh lItellSently. i
must get control of the Omega Com
pany. and to do it I've got to hare
more stock. I've been afraid of a com
binatiCn aga INST me. and l guess I've
struck it | can't be sure yet. but
when those ten thousand shares were
gobbled up on a paaicky market. III
bet there's something up"
Who is in it'll asked politely.
They've kept themselves covered"
said the King Of the Street. but iii
have them cut II the orel before the
end. And then. my bcr. you'll see the
fur. fy."
I've got a few men staked out" he
continued slowly. and I reckon I'll
know something about 1t by this time
tomorrow"
There was the growl of the Wolf
In his voice.
Now fGr this afternoon" he con-
tinued There's got to be some sharp
work done. I reckon the falling move
ment is over. We've got to pay for
what we get from now on I've got
man lock uy after the between Board
trading. With the scare that's on In
the clipper crowd out there. lock to
pick up a thousand shares or so at
about fCrty"