The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1908-09-02

L " tuS OWCe. Wc000S03y mOI0IU8 u2O
come, and was due to meet Dodd-
| ridge Knapp. But - I unlocked the
door. took some comfort in the
reflection that could hardly be more
unwilling to meet the Wolf than he
must be to meet me.
| l had scarcely settled myself In my
chair when I heard the key turn In
the lock. The door swung open, and
In walked Doddridge Knapp.
| l had thought to find at least some
trace Of the opium debauch through
which I had gained the clew to his
strange and contradictory acts. But
the face before me was . mask that
showed no sign Of the experiences
through which he had passed For
all that appeared, he might have EN-
| ployed the time since I had left here
two days before in studying philoso-
ply and cultivating peace and good
will with his neighbors.
All. Wilton" he said. affably. rub
bling his hands with a purring growl.
You're ready for hard days work.
I hope"
Nothing would please me better"
said cheerfully. my repugnance
melting away with the magnetism Of
his presence. is the black flag up to-
| day."
He looked at me In surprise for an
instant. and then growled, still in
| good humor:
"'No quarter is the motto to-day"
And l listened closely as the King Of
the Street gave his orders for the
morning
You understand now" he said at
the end of his orders, that you are
to sell all the Crown Diamond that
the market will take, and buy all
the Omega that you can get below one
hundred
II understand"
We'll feed Decker about as big
dose as he can swallow. reckon"
! said the King of the Street. grimly.
"One thing" l said, I'D like to
know if I'm the only one operating
for you"
The King of the Street drew his
bushy brOws down over his eyes and
| scowled at me a moment
You're the only one in the big
board" he said at last There are
men in the other boards. you under
stand"
| thought | understood. and sailed
forth for the battle At Doddridge
Knapp's suggestion I arranged to dc
my business through three brokers'
and added Lattimer and Hobart to
Wallbridge, and Bockstein and ED
ner
| BOckstein greeted me affably:
| WELCOME to de marget vonce more.
| Mr.. =. Mr.. ="
Wilton" said Eppner. assisting his
partner in his high. dry voice. with
cold civility. His blue-black eyes re-
garded me as but necessary part OF
the machinery of commerce
| l gave my orders briefly.
dot is a larch order" said Book.
stein obviously.
You don't have to take It," was
about to retOrt. when Eppner's high
pitched voice interrupted:
Its all right. The customary mar.
gin is enough"
Wallbridge was more enthusiastic
you've come just in the nick OF
time" said the stout little man. swab
| bling his bald head from force of
habit. though the morning was chill
! The market has been drier than
| fish-horn and duller than foggy
! morning"
! Lattimer and Hobart. after a polite
| explanation of their rules in regard
| 20 margins. and getting certified
check, became obsequiously anxious
| TO do my bidding.
l distributed the business with such
| judgment that l felt pretty sure our
plans could not in any way be ex-
posed. and took my place at the rail
in the board ROOM
The opening proceedings were CON-
paratively tame. / detected a sad
falling-Off in the quality and quantity
of lung power and muscular activity
among the buyers and sellers in the
pit.
At the call of Confidence. Lattimer
the market. Confidence dropped five
points in half minute, and the pit
began to wake up.
There was 4 roar and a grOwl that
showed me the animals were still
alive.
The Decker forces were taken b.
surprise, but with hasty consultation
came calamity to the rescue of their
stock. At the close of the call they
had forced it back and one point high
er than at the opening
This, however, was but skirmish
of Outposts. The fighting began at
the call of Crown and Diamond
1t opened at g. The first bid was
hardly made when with below Wall
bridge charged on Decker's broker.
filled his bid, and offered a thousand
shares at 62.
There was an answering roar from
a hundred threats and a mob rushed
on Wallbridge with the apparent in
tent of tearing him limb from limb.
Wallbridge's offer was snapped up at
once. but a few weakened holders
of the stock threw small blocks on
the market
These were taken up at once. and
Decker's brokers were biding So.
CTO BE CONTINUEDD
N&aA g. 20 &7