The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-03-05
CHAPTER w.
LADY IN DISTRESS. THE CORNUCOPlA

When Wendell left the Board-rcom
and passed into the corridor, he saw
lady, crying at the door. She appeared
so distressed and frightened that he lift
ed his ha. and said kindly, "You seem to
be in trouble, Madam; can l be OF any
assistance to your
The young woman was startled ana
shrank timidly away; then, treasured by
his gentle voice and kind manner, she
approached him and said in trembling
tones, "Oh! sir, can you tell me how low
the market will go? Is there any danger
to Cornucopia Copper shares? have my
savings and money belonging to my
mother invested in them, because they
pay large dividends, and give US more
income than we could get from the saw
ings banks. 1t would be dreadful if they
should decline much and the dividends
should cease. Mr.. Hambright says,
They are perfectly safe He induced
us to buy them and, also, some ORC Sui
phide bonds. He collects the dividends
and the coupons for US. He keeps the
bonds in the Fenwick Bank vault, where
we think they are perfectly safe. he Is
President, you know.
Thus the woman asked questions ana,
without waiting for answer, related her
fears and operations. She had been lurec
by high interest to abandon safe de-
pository for gambling proposition. Inc
higher the income, the more dangerous
the stock.
Wendell flushed and stammered, as he
met the innocent, confding gaze of the
lady. He hesitated to tell her his opln-
ion of her investments, because he knew
the Cornucopia Company was an unde-
veloped, over capitalized, mendaclously
advertised mining prospects; not NINE
vet by any reasoning, which unscrupEl-
GUS adventures had organized. Ihey
had voted each other into offices and tat
salaries, and printed bales OF stock which
were being sold to innocent, ignorant
lambs. They were paying bills and dlvl-
dends with the inflow of cash from stock
sales.
There was little honest work being
done at the far Western mine; but the
printing presses of the East furnished
enough news of operations and develop
ments to satisfy the stockholders, whose
ewes bulred over the big monthly dlvl-
dends. 1t was the same old game worked
for the benefit of insiders and officers,
who, through plausible representations,
influenced their acquaintance, friends
and others to purchase the shares IN or
der to fill their own pockets, and the COT
fers of the corporation.
The incorporation had been made IN
State adjoining the one that was head
quarters for the business, ostenslbly to
save expense, but, il reality, to hide
personal subscriptions and to prevent
officious investigation on the part OF sus-
picious persons.
When law permits company to be IN
corporated in one State, to DO Its imam
cial business in another State, ana 70
carry on it's productive work IN distant
State, it should awaken suspicion and
destroy confidence in the integrity OF the
corporation S management.
Hambrights bank position made MN
valuable asset for the Cornucopia, and
he was given block of stock for his IN,
iuepce. which he manipulated and sold
as rapidlv as possible. Wendell felt GER
tain he had pledged the ladys bonds at
his bank, as collateral for loans to him
self, and he believed he could not pay the
loans and recover the bonds, because he
was heavily interested in several danger
GUS enterprises that showed heavy losses.
He therefore sJammered IN order tC
collect his thoughts and to make up a
story to comfort this suffering Spectator,
and replied, THE market has been pan
icky and all stocks have declined more or
less. They have not regained their loss
es, have closed low, and judge, accord
ing to rule, they should open up better
tomorrow. Your stock is not listed, and
we have little attention today to fluctua-
tons on the Curb, where it is bought and
sold. Such a good name as Cornucopla
should be full of blessings, Have you
your certificate or certificates OF stock
with your
mo, sir; but | can get them from my
Safe Deposit box in the bank. ="
u should like to see them, if you
please :.
The lady fastened away and Wendell
sat down a moment on the boys settee
and waited perplexed and anxious. Then
he went into the Board-room, seized
telephone receiver and called up the Sec
rotary of the Curb.
Hello, Is this you, Hackett? Yes
this is Wendell Will you please tell me
the prices Oh Cornucopia Copper today
and how many shares were sold! IN,
Won can trust me: it will be confidential,
as far as you are concerned. :,
..Six thousand and ifty-fve in small
lots, ranging in price from seven and
three eighths to ten and half w as
supported by gang of insiders?- Was
weak at the close?-That's good; 1t Will
do better. There are some new develop
ments to be announced tomorrow.
you are glad to know it?-Of course;
you have some shares yourself Say,
Hackett, how much stuff have you?--
Only two hundred shares - cost yot
seven?-All right; you'll get out at 9
profit. sure, if you do as say: We will
offer the stock after the opening tomor-
row in small lots at ten.
81 don't get that. why should you
sell-Well, Hacket, you know me. vii
not tell you today. You had better take
your profits early, as the general market
closed ragged and may break again to-
morrow. But that is not my reason. You
will learn it later.
every well; will rely upon your fol
lowing my lead Good bye"
Wendell went along the corridor ano
met the lady. with large envelope nelc
tightly in her hand and partly hidden lr
fold of her dress.
Come into this little room," said he,
taking the package and ushering her in
side where they sat down at a desk
Wendell scrutinized the form, figures,
signatures and regularity of the numer
GUS certificates and decided they were
correct.
IL see your name on the certificates il