The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1912-01-26
CHAPTER Win

Back at his hotel, though nearly two
In the morning, he found the reporters
waiting to interview him. Next morn
Ing there were more. And thus. with
bIare Of paper trumpet, was he re-
ceiyed by New York. Once more, with
beating Of tomtoms and wild hula,
balloo, his picturesque figure strobe
across the printed sheet. The King OF
the Klondlite, the hero OF the Arctic,
the thirty.million.dollar millionaire OF
the North, had come to New York.
What had he come for? To trim the
New Workers as he had trimmed the
Tonopah crowd in Nevada?
They were prepared for him toplay,
and. when heavy buying of Ward Val
leg began. 1t was quickly decided that
he was the operator. Financial gossip
buzEed and hulnmed He was after
the Guggenhammers once more. The
story of onhir was told over again
and sensationaltzed until even Day
light scarcely recognized It, Still. III
was all grist2to his mill. The stock
gamblers were clearly befooled. Eacti
day he increased his buying, and so
eager were the sellers that Ward
Valley rose but slowly. A wildly eX.
citing time was his during the week
preceding Thursday the eighteenth.
Not only was he gambling as he had
never gambled before, but he was
gambling at the biggest table in the
world for stakes so large that even
The case.hardened habltues OF that ia.
BILE were compelled to sit up, In spite
Of the unlimited selling. his persist
ent buying compelled Ward Valley
steadily to rise, and as Thursday APP
proached, the situation became acute.
Something had to smash How much
Ward Valley was this Klondike gam.
bier going to buy? How much could
he buy? What was the Ward Valley
crowd doing all this time? Daylight
appreciated interviews with them
that appeared-interylews delightfully."-
placid and non-committal. Leon eng
gcnhammer even hazarded the opinion
that this NoTthland Croesus might pos
sibly be making mistake. But not
that they cared, John DoSsett exc
planned 1T is purely gambling from,
beginning 70 end" were Nathaniel let
toms words; and we refuse to have
anything TO do with 1t or to take no.
tice Of it in any way"
During this time Daylight had sew
eral secret meetings with his partners
-one with Leon Guggenhammer, one
with John Dowsett, and two with Mr..
liowison. Beyond congratulations, they
really amounted to nothing; for, as he
was informed, everything was going
satisfactorily. But on Tuesday morn
ing a rumor that was disconcerting
came TO Dayllght's ears. 1t was also
published in the Wall Street Journal,
and 1t was to the effect, on apparently
straight inside information, that on
Thursday, when the directors Of Ward
Valley met, instead OF the customary
dividend being declared, an assess
ment would be levied. 1t was the first
check Daylight had received. 1t came
to him With a shock that II the thing
were so he was broken man. And
it also came TO him that all this coios
sal operating of his was being done
on his own money. Dowsett, Gug-
genhammer and Letton were risking
nothing. 1t was a panic, shortlived, ii
was true, but sharp enough while it
lasted TO make him remember Holds
worthy and the brick-yard, and TO i'm
pei him to cancel all buying orders
while he rushed to telephone.
Nothing in it-only rumor,"
came Leon Guggenhammer's throaty
voice in the receiver. AS you know"
said Nathaniel Letton, II am one of
the directors, and | should certainly
be aware Of it were such action con.
templated." And John Dowsett: II
warned you against just such rumors.
There is not an iota of truth in it,
certainly rot. tell you on my honor
as a gentleman"
Heartily ashamed of himself for his
temporary loss Of nerve, Daylight re-
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 10 tumble. Daylight calm
" doubled his buying orders.
And all through Tuesday, We'd
nesday and Thursday morning, he
went on buying, while Ward Valley
rose triumphantly higher. Sill 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 doable
dividend woul& be declared, he as.
sired himself. The pinch Of delivery
would be on the shorts. They would be
making terms with him.
And then the thunderboIt 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 trouble