The Washington herald., 1912-04-07
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR APRIL 2. 1919

AN awful risk. Before the day
closes M. X. & {. will not be CLASH
fed 'gilt-edged security"
Unless we can show enough
strength to make them hedge"
mo chancew
"We have got TO do so--or be sold
this fight 10 win or lose--and in We CO.
What AN item il would make for
the pressp Tom suggested. smiling.
Harrington 4 Winslow to the wall
down for the count in the first round"
But We will cheat these eager jour
nalists OF so choice an item; not only
that, but I'm going to convert you into
full-iedged optimist."
Tom evinced his Willingness, while
Harrington. with M. X. x &. certii-
Gates nesting safely in his pocket.
rushed to the bank. The first loan was
negotiated and the war began in real
earnest.
The Office heretofore so quiet began
to buzz with activity; messengers bear
ing reports rushed in and out, telc-
phone tinkled merrily. fellow-brokers
dropped in 10 wish them luck. though
none expressed desire to enter the
fray, while their countenance bespoke
dubitation as to the wisdom OF such
an attack. Tom. who had taken the
iioor in the pit" rushed in an hour
later, yelling, The Exchange is in a
panic-M. \. & {. gone to one III
teen. and steadily falling!w lie was
hatless, breathless and pale, but de
termined
Stay with i'll" Jack called back.
We have yet one precious hour
I'm going after Caldwell. IL he can be
influenced ito take hand we are
saved. Again the two fighting
machines raced off on their respective
missions, Harrington financing; Tom
buying, but the latter's prediction had
become reality, NJ. h. x L. was no
longer negotiable.
Newspapers had taken up the cry.
and everywhere frightened holders Of
this stock sought their brokers in a
frantic effort to realize what they could
do before il went to pieces.
Desperately the two young brokers
fought to check the onrushing tide
which gained velocity with each ter
rible minute; bravely they tried to break
the stampede OF weakened. irenzied
men, who blindly followed the power
ful leader. Selling, selling everywhere.
The unyielding hand OF fate. draw
ing father and son together, face to
face in bitter conflict. may have caused
untold agony, though il can not
be recorded. On the surface. kinship
did not exist; their visages were OF
two warriors, struggling for suprem-
acy. Above the din of battle must
sooner or later be heard the shout
of victory or the cry of defeat.
When the Exchange closed and the
panic subsidized. men stood in weary
groups trying to reorganize their dis
heveled apparel here. a portly gentle
man searched for n missing cravat
that reposed on the back OF his collar;
there, an undersized veteran ironed the
top OF much-abused derby with the
palm of his hand, others mopped their
handkerchief. Outside OF the pit"
men were huddled together like so
many sheep, frightened, bewildered and
wondering. An unasked question filled
the air: what will the morrow bring?
Tom pushed his way through the
crowd, the atmosphere was sitting.
he wanted to be alone and think. yes
that was it, and he wondered why men
didn't stop to think before they rushed
pellmell to their doom in crisis
A few minutes later he sank into
the chair at his desk and racked his
brain for some plan to ward off the