Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1921-01-12
CHAPTER XIII.

Selling his long line Of spring and
summer wheat, Fitzhugh bought three
million bushels Of the September op-
ton. He was now become known as
the greatest OF the bulls. Every big
buying order was laid to him. His
appearances in the pit grew more in
frequent. He distributed his COM
mands among six or seven different
brokers. Crops were universally bad.
The United States had not yet felt
the European demand, but it would
come soon, and he knew 1t would be
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 code-cable 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. Dsnf
1t seems to me-
And It seems to me-" cut In the
~plunger." looking up from the work
on his desk, that / know Just what
Pm doing. That wheat cost seventy
i've cents. It'll go up to a dollar be-
fore July"
But what IL 1t doesn't7"
"But It will. TIN go to a dollar II
I send It to dollar. And I'll send it
to dollar And them"
Huh" Hunt started. "You don't
mean"
Never mind. I'll tell you later"
he told him then, however; had so
intended doing when he entered his
ONCE that morning. 1t was quite the
biggest thing thus far in his career,
and OF late he had worked on 1t.
quietly indefatigably, vouchsafng
Hunt, because he was not for while
sure of 1t. hardly more than hint Of
what he was planning. He had sta
tened 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. 1t
stood forth wildly. markedly, complete
and beautiful in every detail.
To-day" said he. leaning across the
nat-topped desk and regarding his
auditor fixedly. you and own. and I
control, approximately eight million
bushels of July wheat. Within two
months l shall control fifteen million
bushels. BY July expect to control
ever forty million bushels"
"But, Danl How the dickens"
"Marsh and Airport are in the'pool."
Hunt subsidized. nodding understand
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 q sudden thought: I'm hanged IL
you're not doing this to beat himI"
Fitzhughs 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 want to know"
he showed back his chair, unable
longer to restrain himself, unable
longer TO keep unvoiced the thing up
permost In both their minds. "We can
do II, Dan, we can do 1t! Wen corner
the market"
Daniel shook his head. II viii cor
ner the market"
Hunt pounded his fist into his open
palm. "And smash 0tisI" he cried,
exultantly. You owe him one. Dan.
Smash Otis! 70
smash 0tis7" Daniel laughed.
There was no mirth In the laughter.