Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1911-11-08


turned to his task. The cessation OF
buying had turned the Stock Exchange
into bedlam, and down all the line
of stocks The bears were smashing.
Ward Valley, as the apex, received the
brunt of the shock, and was already
beginning to tumble. Daylight calm
~ doubled his buying orders
And all through Tuesday, Wed
nesday and Thursday morning, he
went on buying, while Ward Valley
rose trfumphantly higher. Still they
sold, and still he bought, exceeding
his power to buy many times over.
when delivery was taken into account.
What of that? On this day the double
dividend would be declared. he as
sured himself. The pinch of delivery
would be. on the shorts They would be-
making terms with him.
And then the thunderbolt struck.
True to the rumor, Ward Valley levied
the assessment. Daylight threw up
his arms. He verified the report and
quit. Not alone Ward Valley, but all
securities were being hammered down
by the triumphant bears AS for Ward
Valley, Daylight did not even troubles
to learn II 1t had fetched bottom or
was still tumbling. Not stunned, not
even beWildered, while Wall Street
went mad, Daylight withdrew from the
field to think 1t over. After a short
conference with his brokers, he pro-
ceeded to his hotel, on the way pick
Ing up the evening papers and glanc-
Ing at the headlines. BURNING
DAYLIGHT CLEANED OUT, he read;
DAYLIGHT GETS HIS; ANOTHER
WESTERNER FAILS TO FIND EASY
MONEY.
He passed up to his rooms, ordered
Martini cocktail, took off his shoes,
and sat down to think. After half an
hour he reused himself to take the
drink, and as he felt the liquor pass
warmingly through his body, his fea-
lures relaxed into a slow, deliberate,
yet genuine grin. He was laughing
at himself.
"Buncoed, by gosh" he muttered
Then the grin died away, and his
face grew bleak and serious. Leav-
ing out his interests in the several
Western reclamation projects (Which
were still assessing heavily, he was q
ruined man. But harder hit than this
was his pride. He had been so easy.
They had gold-bricked him. and he
had nothing to show for it. The sim
plest farmer would have had ,docu-
ments, while he had nothing butt
gentleman's agreement, and verbal
one at that. Gentleman's agreement!
He snorted over it. John Dowsett's
voice, just as he had heard it in the
telephone receiver, sounded in. his
ears the words, "On my honor as a
gentleman. They were sneak-thieyes
and swindlers, that was what they
were, and they had given him. the
double-eross. The newspapers. were
right. He had come to New York. to
be trimmed, and Messrs, DoWsett, Let
ton and Guggenhammer had done it,
He was a little fish, and they had
played with him ten days-ample time
in which to swallow him, along with
his eleven millions. Of course, they
had been unloading on him all the
time, and now they were buying Ward
Valley back for a song ere the mar
ket righted itself
And Daylight sat and consumed
cocktails and saw back in his life to
Alaska, and lived over the grim years
in which he had battled for his eleven
millions. For awhile murder ate
at his heart, and wild ideas and
sketchy plans of killing his betrayers
flashed through his wind Daylight nn.
locked his grip and took out his auto
matte pistol-a big Colts "A He re-
leased the safety catch with his thumb,
and, operating the sliding outer bar
rel, ran TIE contents of the clip
through the mechanism The eight
cartridges slid out in stream t1e
feflled the clip, threw cartridge into
the chamber, and with the trigger at
ful cock, thrust up the safety ratch-
ct. IEe showed the weapon into the
side pocket Of his coat, ordered an.
other Martini. and resumed his seat.
At ten o'clock he arose and pored
over the city directory. Then he put
on his shoes, took a cab, and departed
into the night. Twice he changed cabs,
and finally fetched up at the night Of
fee of q detective agency. He super
intended the thing himself, laid down
money in advance in profuse quaint
ties, selected the six men he needed,
and gave them their instructions.
Never for SO simple task, had they
been so Well paid; for to each in adj
clifton to Office charges, he gave FIVE
hundred-dOllar bill, with the promise
of another if he succeeded. Some
time next day, he was convinced, if
not sooner, his three silent partners