The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1911-07-15

only one hEElred and one.
And then, while this panieky feeling
held, Ho11Wedel, having deity covered
through other brokers his ten thous-
and shorts, suddenly proclaimed with
i loud voice that he had twenty-five
thousand Net Common to dispose Of.
It was rs Il q strong man, after 9
long and exhausting run, had abruptly
been sat upon by an fll-tempered per-
SON with an ak and a desire for the
strong mans life. Net Common drop
ped like a ollWedel selling and
covering and selling again with most
relentless activity.
About the New England Transit
post on the Exchange floor men came
to blows IN their efforts to dispose OF
a stock for which, 1t seemed, no one
had the slightest use in the world.
Other securities, and especially the
more weak ones, suffered proportions
ate1y because Of the shock to public
confidence. When the big clock in
sI'rinity's tower doomed Iortn the hour
OF three, q long, deep sigh Of relief,
that was almost a gasp, went up from
the nervous Street: Net Common was
a-begging at eighty-three.
In the private office OF Mr.. Belden,
of Belden & Tausig. there was gloom.
The two partners were limp and I'm
happy, facing each other across the
80 elyo& 41,n% h.1d y,,j1ae oy,d -,99as ~
paper tape stamped with the details OF
disaster Well-nigh irreparab1e. Bel
denis sallow face was dark and for
bidding; he kept dogged silence
while he eonned the written reports OF
his lieutenants. Tausig, on the other
hand, had lost great deal OF his rud-
dy, wholesome appearance. and he
muttered curses automatically. Both
had forgotten, for the time being, that
there was such security as Benning
ton Fours on the list. After a while,
sexasperated by BeIden's continued re
ticence, Tausiz snapped at him a cues.
tion-for the hundredth time:
Who did it?''
Belden glanced at him slowly, IN
curfously.
'.How do knoW?" he asked. Tau
sig replied By a comprehensive ana
thema Of Thomas West and all his
works. Be1den said, patiently: 81
wasn't West. I tell you; he's out OF his
head
ssThen who was ftp hoWled Tausig
HollWedel?''
Belden shook his head.
s'Hollwedel sold no more than hal
q dozen Others" he answered. BE
SIDES. he'd be afraid.
Tausig gathered himself together
his big frame shaking with emotion
He waved an impotent fist in the air
and there were tears In his eyes, Al
he demanded the one hundred ant
first time:
s4Then who the hell was TT
She had been preparing hersel
against Il for ten long days, yet It wa
with a feeling akin to terror that Mrs
West saw HollWedel shutting benin,
him the door to her husbands bed
room, when he made his first visi
Of coincidence after he had receive,
the news OF his partners misfoI
tune.
Temporarily Mrs. West was afrai,
Of Hollwedel: the man was frank, ant
might be counted upon to burt GU
things which are preferably LETT u
said. She considered him the last MAJ
Of her acquaintance whom she woul
select to 'tbreak It gently to anyon
bereaved. And so thinking. she ros
and made as though she would 1eav
the two together -futi1ely, however.
.sMrs. West!" HollWedel bowed
Don't go, please" ne added, almos
pleasantly. And, "Stay with me, dear,
West seconded, IN thin. brittle voice
Perforce she yielded. She cast on
| imploring glance upon Hol1Wedel-
which he failed to catch-and sa
down very sedately, folding her hand
in her lap and playing with her wet
ding ring, the while a nervous, diff
dent smile betrayed her inward agit,
ton. Contrasted, the two men bu1ke
big even the convalescent, gaunt an
haggard though he was, was massiV
and sturdy by her side, who seemed 8
frailly feminine. Anxiety and th
wearing watches Of long nights ha
wasted her.
To prove that he was not who'll
down and out, West must needs ris
from his invalid chair and advance
greet HollWede1. .5s
"sit down, old man." he said, AN
\ tell me all about 1t. You can't kno,
how glad I am to see you. Tell me th
truth can't get anything out Of Bes
or Dexter, beyond that its all right
and that you turned the tables on Be
den in great shape. Tell me how yo
did it,
saEh?" gasped Hoilwede1. He san
| into chair with the air OF an astol
/ fshed elephant; and looked confused
at Mrs. West. isas.
i Vests temper was worn thin /
/ days OF maddening iteration OF Il
| statement that he was too weak j
| talk about business.
tsDon't say Eth! - he cried, peevis
/ II. Man, I'm starving for news !
/ the Street. Don't act as though
/ He stopped, his eyes lighting savage
ID their deep sockets. My God e
q cried. Have they lied to me? Isn
u ii +r,a that ReII en-s'