The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1909-08-04
900
900
5000


The result of the multiplication was
identical with the amount of Peckham's
check. Again the figures held his atten-
ton. Local securities were quoted daily
in the newspapers, and he examined the
list for that day. There was no quota
ton of thirty-three on anything; the
nearest approach was Clarkson Traction
Company at thirty-five. The check which
had interested him had been dated three
days before, and he looked back to the
quotation list for that date. Traction
was given at thirty-three. Wheaton was
pleased by the discovery; it was fair
assumption that Porter was buying shares
of Clarkson Traction he would hardly
be buying foreign securities through
Peckham. The stock had advanced two
points since it had been purchased, and
this, too, was interesting Clearly, Por-
ter knew what he was about-he had
reputation for knowing; and if Clarkson
Traction was good thing for the presi-
dent to pick up quietly, why was 1t not
a good thing for the cashier? He waited
a day; Traction went TO thirty-six. Then
he called after banking hours at the Of
fee of a real estate dealer who also dealt
in local stocks and bonds on small
scale. He chose this man because he was
not a customer of the bank, and had
never had any transactions with the bank
or with Porter, so far as Wheaton knew.
His name was Burton, and he welcomed
Wheaton cordially. He was alone in
his office, and after an interchange OF
courtesies, Wheaton came directly to the
point of his errand.
"Some friends of mine in the country
own small amount of Traction stock;
they've written me to gnd out what its
prospects are. OF course in the bank we
know in a general way about it, but
suppose you handle such things and
want to get good advice for my friends"
"Well, the truth is," said Burton, fat
tered by this appeal, "the bottom was
pretty we'll gone out of it, but it's spruc-
ing up little just now. If the char
ter's knocked out it is only worth so
much pound as old paper; but if the
right people get hold of it the newspa-
pers will let up, and there's a big thing
in it. How much do your friends own"
81 don't know exactly" said Wheaton,
evenly II think not a great deal. Who
are buying just now? l notice that 1t
has been advancing for several days.
Some one seems to be forcing up the
price"
Nobody in particular, that is, nobody
that / know of. | asked Billy Barnes,
the secretary, the other day what was
going on. He must know who the certifi-
Gates are made out to; but he winked
and gave me the laugh. You know
Barnes. He don't cough up very easy
and he looks wise when he doesn't know
anything"
mo; Barnes has the reputation of be-
ing pretty close -mouthed," replied Whea-
ton.
IF your friends want to sell, bring in
the shares and I'll see what l can do
with them," said Burton. "The outsid-
ers are sure to act soon. This squirt right
now may have nothing back of it. The
towns full of gossip about the company
and it ought to send the price down.
| Your friend Porter's a smooth one. He
was in once, a long time ago, but he
knew when to get out all right" Whea-
ton laughed with Burton at this tribute
| to Porter's sagacity, but he laughed
discreetly. He did not forget that he
was a bank officer and dignity was an
essential in the business, as he under
stood 1t.
H..