The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1908-07-01
CHAPTER Xl.
The Den Of the Wolf.

The Den Of the Wolf.
The street had changed its appear
ance in the two or three hours since
l had made my way from the Elk.
change through the pallid, panic
stricken mob. There were still thou
sands of people between the corner of
Montgomery Street and Leidesdorff.
and the little alley itself was packed
full of shouting, struggling traders.
But there was an air of confidence, al.
most Of buoyancy, in place of the
gloom and terror that had lowered
over the street at noon. Plainly the
panic was over. and men were in
spired by belief that stocks were
going up"
made few dispositions according
ly. Taking Doddridge Knapp's hint
I engaged another broker as a relief
to Eppner. a short fat man, with the
baldest head ever saw. black beard
and a hOok-nose, whose remarkable
activity and scattering charges had
attracted my attention in the morning
session.
Wallbridge was his name. l found.
and he proved to be as intelligent as
l could wish-a merry little man. with
joke for all things, and a flow Of
words that was almost overwhelming.
Omega? Yes" chuckled the stout
little broker. after he had assured him.
self of my financial standing. But
you ought to have bought this morn
ing. il that's what you want. 1t was
hell popping and the roof giving way
all at once" The little man had An
abundant stock of profanity which he
used unconsciously and with such
original variations that one almost for
got the blasphemy of it while listen
ing to him. You ought to have been
there" he continued. and watched
the boys she'll 'em OUT"
Yes. heard you had lively times"
Boiling" he said with coruscating
additions in the way Of speech and
gesture. IF it hadn't been for Deck
er and some fellow we havn't had q
chance to make out yet the bottom of
the market would have been resting
on the roof of the lower regions"
The little mans remark was slightly
more direct and forcible, but this will
do for a revised version.
Decker" l exclaimed. pricking up
my ears. Il thought he had quit the
market"
AS had never heard of Mr. Decker
before that moment this was not ex-
actly the truth, but thought it would
serve me better.
Decker out Of it," gasped Wall
bridge, his bald head positively glist-
ening at the absurdity of the idea
He'll be out of it when he's carried
out"
Il meant out of Omega Is he get
ting up a deal?"
The little broker looked vexed, as
though it crossed his mind that he
had said too much.
"Oh. no. Guess not. Don't think he
is" he said rapidly. Just wanted to
save the market, | guess. If Omega
had gone five points lower there would
have been the sickest times in the
Street that we've seen since the Bank
of California closed and the shop
across the way"-pointing his thumb
at the Exchange-"had to be shut up. |
But maybe it wasn't Decker, you
know. That's just what was rumored |
on the Street, you know"
l suspected that my little broker
knew more than he was willing to |
tell. but l forbore to press him further,
and gave him the order to buy all the ,
Omega stock he could pick up under
fifty.
In the Exchange all was excitement.
and the first call brought a roar of
struggling brokers. could make
nothing of the clamor. but my nearest
neighbor shouted in my ear:
"A strong market"
1T looks that way" shouted back
1t certainly was strong in noise.
made out at last that prices were
being held to the figures of the morn
ing's session, and in some cases were
forced above them.
Forty-five- forty-seven -fifty-five-
Omega was going up by leaps.
blessed the forethought that had sug-
gested to me to put limit on Wall
bridge at fifty. The contest grew
I could follow with difficulty
the course of the proceedings, but l
knew that Omega was bounding up
ward.
(To BE CoNTINUED.)