Evening star., 1933-04-28
INSTALLMENT XXXIV.


and women. stood in front Of
Mr.. Traugott's tiny place OF
i business. They had come With
the intention Of casting fur
tive look at the Shipping shares quo
tations and to 60 away with the com.
Portable consciousness that they had
grown richer overnight. And all OF
them remained as though rooted to the
spot, puzzled that the shares yester-
day had closed at 210 and opened this
morning at 100.
Mr.. Traugott stood calmly in his
doorway. with fat cigar in his mouth.
Whats the matter with you?" he
said to Mr.. Exl. you are still ahead.
You bought at 98"
But, still, would rather sell" said
he jeweler. Il am committed up to the
hilt-"
You are perfectly crazy said Judge
Pyrker Of Berlin. He had never before
laid eyes on Exl. Why do you specu-
late If you're SO nertous?"
Then he turned to the others with
smooth voice, as if he were trying to
prevent q panic at fire. The reports
from New York, which originally were
reports from on board the Columbia,
deFinitely stated that Stephanson was
buying Germany Shipping, Ltd. The
opening prices were only technical
exchange maneuver. nothing else.
Seraphine Himmelreich OF Dortmund.
who, in the excitement OF winning. had
bought the marvellous ermine stole and
was wearing it around her shoulders,
stood up in front of Mr.. Traugott and
asked him straight out:
What do YOU advise? Sell or not?"
Mr.. Traugott shrugged his shoulders.
How can know? Anyhow. if you sell
now YOU won't have lost anything"
But there were others there who had
only come in late and they had bought
at high prices. Wanting to be in the
swim had cost them lot. But they
were all people of the well-bred world.
and they dared not show that they were
anxious about their money. Instead,
they encouraged each other.
Lets wait for the second quotation.
The second quotation will be better"
The second quotation arrived at half
past eleven-1O5.
"You told me that you had an au-
thentic tip" Seraphine with the ermlne
stole screamed in wild rage at the
Triesian baron. "At breakfast you fell
upon me with this news"
The Friesian baron didn't even listen
to her. He grabbed the grain broker
from Hamburg by the arm and asked.
"Who told you about these shipping
shares?"
yesterday everybody had the facts
directly from the feed box and was
proud Of his information. Today no one
knew anything: he had merely picked
up hint No one had advised anybody.
A little later Traugott. chalk in hand,
wiped away 1870 to write down los.
Then Stephanson appeared at one
end of the arcade, sat at the smoking
table in front of the flower shop. and
watched the excited group OF people.
The incessant question was-buy or
wait?
The simplest solution In the world
would be to ask Stephanson. Mr.. Exl.
the gem dealer, did not know Stephan
son personally. But he was q man Of
business He walked the ten PAGES to
the smoking table. Stephanson stared
ct him with surprise. The conversation
lasted half minute. Then Mr.. Exl re-
turned with . pale, embittered face.
"Stephanson told me he abominated
all spectators. That was all"
They had an IMPULSE to beat up the
jeweler No doubt he had been tactless,
and had allowed himself too easily to
be frightened by the great man. Why
had Stephanson come to the arcade
and sat down here. if not so that his
travellers might have his advice?
Seraphine in the ermine stole took
her friend, Mrs Gellert, the bankers
wife, by the arm. Both of them smiled
with condescending humbleness. like
princesses when they sell flowers at
charity festival They took their stand.