The Owosso times., 1911-07-14

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to wait for a price beloved In sheel
nervousness. 1t was a roaring. shrek
ing. cursing hell. in which clothing
was rent and men fought like fero
cious dogs for mere glance from Q
man who had buying orders.
BY 3 o'clock every security listed or
the Stock Exchange had dropped TWEEN
ty points share. Many Of them had
| gone still lower. That afternoon the
sive cafes were filed with grave men,
certain groups planning to go with the
movement and others. more far seeing
devising ways and means to stem the
oncoming tide.
Pellman took train to Forest
Lakes. the country home Of Henry
Breed. The six biggest railroad oper-
ators in the street had decided that II
any man could influence Breed Pell-
man was the man. Pellman himself
was dubious. He had once angered
Breed: but. for that matter. Breed had
engaged in some quarrel or other with
every man in the market.
Pellman approached Forest Lakes
with a confidence that diminished as
he came In sight of Breeds immense
estate.
At the great iron gates grizzled old
woodsman with a gun took Pellman's
card through the grill and. stepping
inside small lodge. telephoned to the
house. He came out again in a few
moments.
'Mr. Breed is ILL.," he said. ''The
doctor has forbidden him to see any
one"
''Is the doctor in the houseT' asked
Pellman.
"Yes, sir"
Pellman profered bill Telephone
the doctor that would like to see
him"
"All right. sir" said the gatekeep-
er and turned slowly away. but he
did not touch the money. He was
gone about FIVE minutes. "Dr. Zelphan
says that you may come up to the
house." he announced upon his return.
Pellman frowned as the big gates
swung open. admitting his limousine.
At the door an almost decrepit servant,
not in livery, ushered him into dim
old parlor. where rusty horsehair fur
niture bulged and crinkled with the
everlasting dampness. There was
rustic of silk In the hall. and a girl
of about twenty stopped for q moment
In the door She was of unusual beau
ty. dark haired and dark eyed. with a
certain quick. 1.-THE movement that told
Of nervous energy gone riot for want
Of outlet. For just moment she
stood. startling figure in her semi
fitted house gown of wood brown silk;
then she moved swiftly away. and her
place in the doorway was taken by
DR.. Zelphan.
"Dr. ZelphanT asked Pellman, ris-
ing.
II am. sir" replied the other, with
bare trace Of foreign accent. "You
wish to see Mr.. Breed?"
ION matter OF the greatest im-s
portance."
impossible" declared the doctor.
'It Is not only my orders, but his own,
that no one be admitted on any ex-
citing errand."
Pellman considered a few moments
In silence.
'Ts he able to talk at alp" he asked.
, "Yes," admitted the other. and for
a f1eeting instant Pellman thought that
he had detected a twinkle In Elephants
eye.
Then l must see him." Insisted Pell-
man. 1--WE are In the throes Of a ma
tional calamityv
He held out to Zelphan a copy Of an
afternoon paper. aflame with the ter
ror Of the withdrawal of currency from
circulation. with the panic of the morn
ing, with dire prophecy for the future.
Mr.. Breed is In no f1t condition to
talk over such Matters" said the doc
tor.
He must be in condition." insisted
Pellman. "Mr. Breed alone could stop
this"
Zelphan turned suddenly and strobe
to the door across the hall. "Come in,"
lie invited.
Pellman followed him into great
Vim thC WiuuOW, DuI
facing the fire, sat the remarkable man
who by his ingenuity and enterprise |
had built up the most enormous busi- |
ness in the world and who through it |
had gained control of not less than |
of the capitalized indus |
tries Of the United States. He breath. |
ed Pellman's name and gave him q |
limp, fish cold hand.
II suppose you have heard, Breed"
began Pellman, that panic has bro
ken loose todayT
Breed shook his head. mo, l had |
not" said he.
1T has. Today is but the mild be-
ginning Of it, but we fellows who have
been through 1t know precisely what
Is to follow. By tomorrow the coun-
try will be crazy. and there Is no tell
ing where the ruin will end"
Breed merely nodded.
"The entire board has gone down
twenty points or more today. From
the temper of the street | look for
all stocks to make new low record"
Breed nodded. Pellman began to
breathe hard. sign that his temper
was rising He had been unable to
arouse the slightest trace Of interest
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