Argosy and Railroad Man's Magazine, Vol. 107 No. 3 — page 171: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

PROFIT. Cawston stroked his chin thoughtfully. Yes, Wilbur was nearly landed. Still, the man was not altogether a fool; would re- quire careful handling. The promoter’s brain worked swiftly. “IT want you to undersfand this, Mr. Wilbur. Our firm has none of the stock. It has all been sold. I don’t want you to class us with the get-rich-quick garg that sells a lot of worthless paper just off the printing press. In the Phoenix mine we have a bona fide investment, and we have to buy the stock in the market when we ‘want to get it for a customer. And it’s going up all the time.” He pressed the silent buzzer under the surface of the desk with his knee—once. In response Miss Farley, from the sound- proof telephone-booth in the outer office, called him. There ensued an interesting conversation, of which Wilbur heard Caw- ston’s end, and was convinced that a certain wealthy customer wanted Pheenix stock badly, and that Cawston had none to give him. ‘Phoenix is up another quarter point, Mr. Wilbur,” exclaimed the senior partner. ‘You see, people are getting wise to what a good thing it is, and we can’t pick up enough of it to satisfy ’em. Those that have it aren’t selling. I don’t need to tell a business man like you what this heavy demand means— when nobody’s selling. Phoenix will be at twelve before the market closes.” Wilbur nodded, and Cawston pressed the soundless buzzer twice. Then he showed Wilbur specifications and reports. They were artfully drawn up. Wilbur seemed convinced that the Phoenix was a money- maker. He himself knew copper. He saw the enlarged photograph and was impressed. “Don’t you reckon you can get some of the stock for me—before it goes up?” he asked anxiously. . He needed no diagram to see that if Cawston & Heim had to go into the open market to buy his stock, he would get it at a fair price, and that price rising all the time. If there was such a demand for it it would not be hard to sell the stock—at a good price—if he wanted to. He had come armed against the wiles of the city sharper. 11 Arcosy 513 The five-thousand-dollar check in his wallet represented hard-earned profits of several years. He could not afford to lose H. But Cawston had convinced him of the merits of Phoenix stock. Still, Wilbur had planned a further test. ‘Just as a matter of form, Mr. Cawston,”’ he said hesitatingly—the other appeared so busy—“ suppose you take me around to your bank and have them vouch for you. It don’t matter much ”—he coughed, embar- rassed—‘‘ but that’s the way we do at home.” | Cawston stared for half a second; then smiled readily. The firm of Cawston and Reim had no banker—since the money they took in went into their own pockets. Heim entered in haste and spoke ex- citedly. “We're in luck, Cawston,” he cried, wav- ing a green certificate of stock. ‘‘ I had the hell of a time getting this! buy Phcenix from a dozen others. I got this for you, hot off the bat, at—at—”’ ‘* Eleven and a half, I hope,” cut in Caw- ston swiftly. “Sure,” beamed Heim. ‘ You said it. Eleven and a half. It’s gone up a—”’ ‘“‘ Quarter point in the last ten minutes.” “Sure, that’s right. Say, you’re lucky. Going to give the stock to Mr.—” ‘““ Hennessy,’’ Cawston named the myth- ical wealthy buyer of Phoenix. ‘ Well, I don’t know. I may save it for Mr. Wilbur here. Mr. Wilbur, meet Mr. Heim.” The two shook hands, Heim effusively. “As a favor, Mr. Wilbur,” continued Cawston severely, “‘ we'll let you have this block of Pheenix at eleven and a half; that’s forty-six hundred and twenty dollars. A bargain. We’ll waive the commission.” Wilbur nodded excitedly. Things moved swiftly in the big city, but he had his wits about him. There was his wife to think of, he said. ‘‘ And now about calling at the bank,” he began. NN ‘““Mr. Wilbur wants to have us vouched for, Mac,” cut in Cawston, looking at his “broker” steadily. ‘At the — the American Trust Company.” He named a famous institution, situated near by. “ Will you call up Mr. Johnson and ask him to Got orders to’ Co LNOO S Co mM