Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1920-07-29
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frequent. TIE distributed ms com
lnandS among six or seven different
brokers. Crops were universally bad
The United States had not vet felt
the European demand, but it would
come soon, and he knew it would he
heavy. He knew wheat would rise
still higher, and he gradually increased
his holdings in September to six mil
lion bushels.
Then came the Cry from European
insistent cry-the cry for bread. He
received a codecabe from his agent
in Liverpool: Can negotiate five mil
lion wheat. Name price,
He sold his six millions at an adj
vance of twenty cents bushel, and in
one vast swoop bought in eight mil
lion bushels of July. And Hunt so far
forgot his pledge as to demonstrate.
Aren't you forcing your luck, Dan!
1t seems to nc"
"And 1t seems to me-" cut IN the
"plunger." looking up from the worR
on his desk. that know Just What
I'm doing. That wheat cost seventy
five cents. It'll go up to a dollar be-
fore July"
But what if it doesn't?"
But it will. It'n go to a dollar if
send it to dollar. And III send it
to dollar. And then-!"
Huh" Hunt started. You don't
Never mind. I'll tell you later"
lie told him then, however: had so
intended doing when he entered his
office that morning. 1t was quite the
biggest thing thus far in his career.
and of late he had worked on it.
quietly, indefatigably, vouchsafng
Hunt, because he was not for while
sure of it, hardly more than hint of
what he was planning. He had sta
toned correspondents in all the Euro
pean markets. He had held many Sc
cret conferences with two Packing
town millionaires, big gamblers both,
who played hidden game. And now,
this morning. the thing which had
been building these months past was
no longer nebulous to his vision. Ut
stood forth wildly, nakedly, complete
and beautiful in every detail.
To-day" said he leaning across the
iat-topped desk and regarding his
auditor fiNedly, you and own, and
control, approximately eight million
bushels of July wheat. Within two
months | shall control fifteen million
bushels. by July expect to control
OYER forty million bushels"
But, Dan! How the dickens"
Marsh and Airport are in the pool"
Hunt subsidized. nodding understands
ingly.
you've seen the harvesting returns.
Hunt? You know Americas crops are
going to be small Same in Europe.
French crops are poor; Germany's
worse. Argentine's will be the small
est for the last ten years. Europe will
have to look to America for her wheat
But America won't be able to give it
to her. There'll be mighty little wheat
in Chicago by July; and that little will
be locked tight in my pool. Do you
begin to understands"
The way Hunt chewed and pulled at
his cigar proved that he understood.
Yet he dared not utter what he al
ready knew.
"Symington Otis is bearing the mar
ket," he said, his hands gripped tight
ly round the arms of his chair. He
knows you're long on July wheat, too,
and" He checked himself, struck
by sudden thought: I'm hanged If
you're not doing this to beat him!"
Fitzhugh's iron jaw tensed. HE
thinks I'm doing it alone. He'll fight
me for all he's worth. So much the
worse for him.
Hunt gave full vent to his excite
ment: where's he going to get his
wheat? That's what i want to know"
He showed back his chair, unable
longer to restrain himself sunable
longer to keep unvolced the thing up
permost in both their minds. I'VE can
do it. Dan. we can do it! Wen corner
the market!"
Daniel shook his head. II will cor
ner the market"
Hunt pounded his fist into his open
palm. "And smash Otis!" he cried
eNultantly. You owe him one, Dan
Smash Otis"
Smash Otis?" Daniel laughed
There was no mirth in the laughter