Year: 1873

hAn Il LD II SAzN.


Edgar Fontenay sat in the Office.
very busily engaged over the big


books of the bank. The deposits had


been unusually large--the day being
Saturday-and other business had


been in proportion. During the af-
ternoon there had been casual over
looking of the books by the directors;
but much bank work had been done
since then, and this work must be
squared up before Edgar could leave.


Young, handsome, and ambitious


was Edgar Fortenay; and if he had
not stood most excellently well in the
community, both morally and social
ly, he could never have obtained that
position in the bank


1t was an autumn evening, and Ed
gar had been left alone at his work
The President of the bank went out
just after the gas had been lighted, re-
marking that he might be in again.


Edgar was left alone at his work.
For time his pen moved rapidly
Many lines were written and host
of figures were made By-and-by he
leaned back as though to rest. He
rested awhile, and reflected Then
he took from his pocket paper and
read an article which interested him.
From his desk he took another paper.
and read another article, The sub
Ject-matter was the same in all that
he read-repOrts of wondrous rise in
stocks, and Of large fortunes sudden
ly made


And then Edgar Fortenay leaned
his head upon his hand, and looked
in different direction He thought
of Julia Amnesty, who had promised
to be his wife, and of the home he
would like to give her. And he
thought of his widowed mother, look
ing to him for support, what pleas
ure and joy it would be to provide a
fitting cage for his beautiful mate
what satisfaction to bestow comforts
such as only men of wealth can give
to their loved ones


lie looked at the papers again
These men had made fortunes in a
few weeks. This man had made six
ty thousand dollars by one operation.
He had it in mind that he could make
a golden speculation On that very
day it had been whispered to him by
a street operator that the stock of the
Ash Valley Railroad was destined to
a sudden and unexpected rise. Old
Money bags was coming in with his
help, and the legislature was sure to
pass the bill granting State aid in the
shape Of land Only a few of the
favored ones knew of this. A strike,
to be effective, must be quickly made.


With nervous twitching of the
hands the young man turned back the
leaves of his ledger, and overlooked
the work of the week. He saw how
he could retain FIVE thousand dollars
Tor the space of thirty days. He
could do it, and no one would be the
wiser He would not steal it-he
would not embezzle it-he would on
ly borrow it, and he would pay good
interest for its use.


Then he took a piece of paper and
a pencil and began to figure. Ash
Valley stock was now selling at $40.
1t would be up to $50 before the next
week was out. There could be no
mistake about that. The favorable
action of the Legislature, to say moth
ing of old Moneybags' assistance,
would send it up like fash. If he
had the money he could get that stock
at twenty days, for cash payment of
five dollars per share With five
thousand dollars in hand he could
purchase one thousand shares Of stock |
for twenty days; and before half of
those twenty days had expired his
stock would be worth an advance of
twenty thousand dollars


There could be no doubt-not the
least in the world The friendly
broker had enlightened him. He was
inside the ring! And a very few
pen-marks upon the pages of his
books would give him the use of
five thousand for n month


He bowed his head upon his hands
and struggled with the tempter-
Alas! the tempter was powerfully
armed The sum of twenty thousand
dollars, to be made at one stroke, was
irresistible.


The scene changes. 1t is no long
er in the bank. but in q little room,
that needs to be lighted with gas at
mid day, where the broker sits at his
board of fate


Monday morning has arrived, and
Edgar Fortenay enters the dark Office
for cast of the die upon which he
has resolved. He sits down and asks
the broker:


''lIow about Ash Valley this MORN
ing 2"


The broker rubs his hands, and
mods with mysterious smile. Don't
say word, Fortenay. If you re-
member what | told you Saturday,
keep mum. Thre amt many that
know anything about it. It's going
to be the startling event of the week.
Erie and Pacific Mail are going to
he wall. Ash Valley is the thing"


Suppose | wanted little of this
stock to hold for twenty or thirty
days what should l have to pay
lown?n


81 couldn't get it for thirty days;
but | can get it for twenty, for five