The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-03-20
Copyright. 1910, by the New York Herald Company
copyright. 1910. by the Company.
.A7H0P az The GILL ~ mNWl"
M/7E HIYG" MAR7W EDEW"EZC

eager were the sellers that Ward
Valley rose but slowly. A wildly e1.
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 g large that even
the case-hardened habitues Of that ia
BILE were compelled to sit VI. In spite
Of the unlimited selling, his persist
ent buying compelled Ward Valley
steadily to rise, and as Thursday ap-
preached, 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-interviews delightfully."-
placid and non-committal. Leon Gug-
genhammer eve hazarded the opinion
that this Northland Croesus might pos
sibly be making q mistake. But Aot
that they cared. John. Dowsett ex-
planned. 1T is purely gambling from
beginning to end" were Nathaniel Let
toms words: land we refuse to have
anything to do with it or to take no.
tice Of 1t In any way"
During this time Daylight had sew
eral secret meetings with his partners
-opa with T nm rrooop No ooa
with John Dowsett, and two with Mr..
Howison. 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 Daylight's ears. 1t vas 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
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 If the thing
were so he was a broken man. And
it also came to him that all this colos-
sal operating Of his was being done
on his own money. Dowsett, Gug.
genhammer and Letton were risling
nothing. 1t was a panic, shortlived. 1t
was true, but sharp enough while It
lasted to make him remember Holds.
worthy and the brick-yardt and to i'm.
pei him to cancel all buying orders
while he rushed to a telephone.
Nothing In it-only a rumor,"
came Leon Guggenhammer's throaty
voice in the receiver. las you know"
said Nathaniel Letton, Il I'm one OF
the directors, and l should certainly
be aware Of it were such action cor
templated." And John Dowsett: II
warned you against just such rumors,
There is not an iota Of truth in it
certainly not l 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 a bedlam. and down all the line
of stocks the bears were smashing
Ward Valley, as the apex, received the
brunt Of the shock, and vas already
beginning to tumble. Daylight calm
ly doubled his buying orders.
And all through Tuesday. Wed,
nesday and Thursday morning. he
went on buying, while Ward Valley
rose triumphantly' 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 trouble
to learn If 1t had fetched bottom or
was still tumbling. Not stunned. not
even bewildered, while Wall Street
mad, Daylight withdrew from the
field to think 1t over. After a short
conference with his brokers, he pro
to his hotel, on the way pick
ing up the evening papers and glanc.
ing at the head lines. BURNING
CLEANED OUT, he read;
DAYLIGHT GETS HIS; ANOTHER
WEsTERNER FAILS TO FIND EASY
MONEY.
He passed up to his rooms, ordered
q Martini cocktail. took off his shoes.
and sat down to think. After half an
hour he reused himself to take the
drink, and as be felt the liquor pass
through his body, his fea-
lures relaxed into a slow. deliberate.
yet genuine grin. He was laughing
at himself.
"Buncoed, by gosh" he muttered.
CTO BE CoNTINUED.)