The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1920-05-06

CRATER rigidly to his word. When he
left the building and walked down La
Sale street he possessed nothing save
the clothes he wore. He had not
cent In his pockets. He had not even
a place to sleep. The inimical Quigg
had seen to that. Yet, entering the
portals of the Board of Trade he felt
again that eXaltation he had expert
enccd when cutting his ties with Els
ther. Once more he was free--free
to go his own way, free to mount u
the pinnacle he had set himself. un-
hindered by an alien hand.
The gallery was crowded. for news
of the upheaval had spread abroad,
but Fit2hugh's height enabled him to
see over the heads of those in front
and so into the arena where waged
the thundcrouS combat. The wheat
pit was in Il paroXySm, ungovernable
and volcanic. The bulls, all but rout-
ed. were making Il desperate stand.
But it was hopeless. The ground tot
tered beneath them. Their frcnZied
rushes were met by the imperturbable,
unconQuerable bears, and they were
ever forced TO retreat snOrting, bel
lowing, but unqueStionahly beaten.
AT the height of the conflict. when
the battle din Shrieked its loudcst,
the closing gong sounded and the
days session was over. The Indicator
on the wheat dial pointed To 30 cents.
Fitzhugh rushed from the gallery,
showing people right end left and
his profits as he ran. In the office OF
Burton x Burton he found Hunt, who
seized his arm. clapped his shoulder,
hustled him into the street, rejoicing
congratulating and boasting all in the
same breath.
Didn't we lick 'em, though" he
ratified on. 1--WE made two hundred
and twenty-five thousand, and YOU
well. not quite so much of course, but
considering the investment, very fair,
Fitzhugh. very fair"
With these encouraging words he
handed over check for SOS, 500. Fitz-
hugh very calmly inclOsed 1t In the
empty morocco wallet, returned the
wallet to his pocket. and buttoned the
flap over the pocket.
'Yes, very fair" he concurred,
without smiling. VERY fair, as you
say, Hunt" His coolness, however,
was all assumed. Beneath, he was
trembling with excitement.
Sput np{nl EIt,hruh lot mo toll
you something" Hunt stopped shortly
and "buttonholed" Fitzhugh. "Theres
another plum on our little tree" he
went on enthusiastically. while the
passersby bumped and jostled them
from side to side, that's just about
as juicy as this one was. It's-but
come on to lunch and I'll tell you all
about It,"
They lunched at Hunts club. Or,
rather, Fitzhugh did. Hunt ate moth
ing. He was too ebullient. He elab-
Grated his plan, going extensively into
details, producing endless data from
his pockets. while the untasted food
grew cold before him.
$50 you see," he wound up, there's
nothing to 1t but bull market.
There'll be a big rebound just as sure
as we're sitting here. Symington Otis
! Is my strongest point. AS ] said be-
fore, Pm nine-tenths certain he'll turn
bull again, now he's walloped the
man he went after, and you know
what that means. He'll send wheat
up like ballOOn-he's strong enough
to do 1t. All we need do is 10 climb
into the basket and participate In the
grand ascension"
''As you have wisely pointed out,
Hunt" began Fitzhugh, turning the
fragile stem Of his wine glass between
his long fingers, 1--WE had better step
cautiously at first-sOrt OF feel our
way. There's never any telling what
pitfalls may Iurk below tranquil wa
ters. Afterward, We'll wade in boldly.
Merely as a starter, I'll give you my
check tomorrow for twenty-five thou
sand. Pm not saying what I'll do after
that"
AS they were leaving the club, Fitz-
hugh turned to his companion and, as
though suddenly reminded Of some in
consequential thought that had oc-
Cured to him earlier in the day, said
carelessly:
"Oh, by the way, Hunt, I'm thinking
Of opening a small banking account In
Chicago wish you'd introduce me
TO your banker"
/ For once Hunt was mistaken. There
was no boom In December wheat
/ True, there was reaction, for when
the bears removed the pressure the
/ abnormally low market began gradu-
ally to assume a natural level. But
winter wheat, which Hunt had expect
ed to mount by leaps, dragged slowly,
/ ascending to be sure, yet moving little
+ by lttle-an eighth or quarter at a
time. Once or twice, in some sudden
! furry, it even went off half a point.
/ Hunt was very much puzzled.
4 "There's screw loose somewhere y
he told FitZhugh, after one Of these
unexplainable slumps; but ] can't fig.
ure out just where
/ OF late, Fitzhugh had been studying
! indefatigably the hundred and more
4 conditions u,bf,h ar