Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-10-07
Copyright. by Daily Story Pub. Coz

Copyright. by Daily Story Pub. Coz
The gods of chance had called Andy
Gage and he had hardened. There's
40 doubt of it, he said to his partner,
Jenkins. Its the wisest step we can
lake. We ought TO branch out on
larger scale. OF course We'll have to
put in a quotation board, hire bigger
offices and more clerks. But look how
our profits will increase, man! We
ought to get in some outside custom
ers. There's Duncan for one"
Who's he?" asked old Jenkins,
wavering. Some friend of yours?"
"Yes-a stock gambling friend He's
corkei with a barrel of money be-
hind him, his own. He don't dabble in
stocks; ne plunges. The tips he gets
are safe and sure-absolutely He's
hand-anC.glove with the big men-bank
presidents, railroad wreckers and max
ers, financial giants-the crowd who
moves things" Andy laughed. The
wizard of the tape. | can swing him
into line. jenkins, We ought to branch
cut"
Jenkins had known the strife of the
street. man and boy. That's all right"
he said obviously, but I'm getting
along in life. I've been through panic
scarts. | know what shrinking, unre-
plen,shed margins mean-the danger.
You're young and have never seen dull
times down here. Private wires and
heayy expenses-why, | wouldn't sleep
niglts!"
look around you, Jenkins pleaded
yoLng Gage. There's hundreds Of sue
cesaful firms all about us doing a Gus
toILers' business. Watch them forge
ahead. We're being distanced, side
tracked, lost among the small fry.
There's no use in lodging, we're TAX
ing the dust of the big procession. We
onght to branch OUT
And his partner, eager yet cautious,
caught some OF the boys enthusiasm
THAT settles it, he conceded. But if
we're moved down"-doubtfully.
I'VE won't be-" declared Gage.
The new venture was a pronounced
success from the start Jenkins had
rich friends who rallied around him
solidly. Young Cages wizard never
baked about margins to carry along
lis big stock balances. The profits
the first year doubled, tripled, quad.
rupled any in the concerns history.
Andy was vindicated, elated; the
senior partner converted.
A smash did como. Duncan, Jenkins
& Co.'S star customer, was away some
where shooting quail. On the eve of
his departure he had disposed of
everything bar five thousand Seaboard
Traction. High prices faded and died
away that day, ten points loss the
matter of a trivial half hour. Jenkins,
watching the tape like a hawk, tele-
phoning, anxious. tried to reach Dun
can by wire. No use. Nobody knew
where he was, how to reach him. And
his security vanished like snow on the
Fourth of July.
Gage, because he was young and ac-
tive, clear-headed, was over on the
floor, tearing madly around, executing
stop-loss orders, seeing the house of
finance shake, hearing it tumbling
about his ears. His partner of the
quaking heart sent him notes by the
dozens-"Hadn't we better sell Dun
can out? Margin exhausted" And al
ways there came back the same loyal
answer: NO. Stand fast and keep q
stiff upper lip. He's good for fifty
point drop And Jenkins believed he
was, too.
But after the close of the exchange
and the day had become history he
met Gage with a grave face. I've
been going over the accounts" he said,
shaking and worried. Andy, if your
man Duncan should WEIGH, If he re-
fuses to assume his losses
Bad as that. hey!" Gage voiced
tiredly. His nerves were in strings
and his head aching. But he won't.
He's white and square, Jenkins"
The wizard of the tape arrived back
Wednesday. He looked neat and brand
new, pressed and polished to the mode.
A carnation spiked his buttonhole.
Jenkins was never gladder to see a
man in his life, and vastly relieved.
Hello!" he greeted him solemnly.
Read about yesterdays panic? Sea
board fractions down thirty points"
The devil you say! Get Quit"
gasped Duncan twice, crossing over
and reading the tape. Let's see. five
thousand-ten points, He looked out
the window second calculating. Eff.
ty thousand dollars. Whoo! That's too
bad"
"One hundred and fifty thousand
corrected Jenkins gently, by way OF
precaution.
The customer whirled on him. "You
didn't sell out? You didn't cover your.
self against loss?'
NO, Andy said to hang on. He said
you wouldn't go back on US
Duncan gestured impatiently
Where is Andy? / want to see him
jenkins heart was in his mouth,
That which he had told Gage the night
before was no idle exaggeration. The
aoHoard Traction atock bod 49,. - !,