Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 655 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

thousand dollars, and his half of the valuable brokerage business of the firm. | The Wilton family now moved out of their narrow rooms into more spacious apartments, CHAPTER XII. THE GREAT CORNER IN WHEAT, WE have paidso much attention to the for- tunes of Roger Wilton that itis time we were going back to the office of Simon Slink, his money: loving opponent. On the day in which Roger attained his twenty-first year old Simon was in his office, as dusty and disreputable a place as ever. Little he cared for dust and litter, however, as he sat there amid his papers, rubbing his hands with a great show of satisfaction. Before him lay a long foolscap sheet, thickly covered with figures. He had just laid down the pen, after complet- ing hiscalculations. There was evidently some- thing in them of a highly enjoyable character, for it was that which brought such a grin of satisfaction to his face. ‘* Tt’s done,” he cried gleefully. ‘‘ I’ve got my million at last. After years and years of grub- bing and ney, I amamillionaire. I swore I would be, and I have kept my oatb.”’ He paused suddenly, and a look of disquiet came upon his evil face. ‘‘Tf my track was only covered, he muttered. ‘¢ There is only one dangerous spot in my career, Those papers. If I had those deadly papers. But the boy lies. Hehasn’t gotthem. He has heard the story from his rascally father. If he had them he would have used them long ago. He hates me too much to keep quiet. Ah! that vow he made to berevenged! Thatvow! Ican never get it out of my head.” He shuddered slightly. But this feeling only lasted for a moment. ‘*A truce to that! I am a fool to let such thoughts disturb me. I have my million, and can snap my fingers at the world, Suppose the al do appear. The money is in the Trust ‘und. It need not disturb Simon Slink. He is no blind idiot.” He rose from the chair and stretched his old limbs, as he walked about the room. ‘Shall I stop now?’ he soliloquized, ‘‘I vowed to stop when I had my million, And so I will when I get my money out of that wheat speculation. A million! I will have two million when that is settled. We have got a corner on the market that must win, Ha! ha! we have the mouths of the community nicely pinched. We control already two-thirds of the wheat in the country, and we'll have it all yet.” He continued to walk up and down. ‘¢ That's the last. Ill never speculate again. It’s too risky. It’s toorisky. 1 may do a little safe shaving for amusement, but I won’t specu- late. Butthis corner issure. Ha! ha! thisis sure.” . He was interrupted in his self-gratulations b the opening of the door, and a step in the hall, He hastened to hide the paper on which he had been calculating bis fortune, The door opened, and a tall, stout person entered, a keen-faced, thin-lipped individual, There was something of a grave look on his countenance, Simon sprung hastily forward and held out his hand, ‘Glad to see you, Mr. Josephg. How goes the syndicate, eh? Good news, I suppose. Squeezed wheat up a peg, hey?” ‘No,” answered Josephs, gravely. ‘‘ [t has gone down.” ‘¢ one down?” Old Slink staggered back to hischair and sat down with a very rueful face, “Yes.” returned Mr. Josephs, more briskly. ‘Tt seems the farmers held more reserve wheat than we calculated. They are pushing it into the Chicago market, and have knocked wheat down a peg.” ‘** But—but what—” “We must buy all they offer. Theres noth- ing else for it, "This is the last pull, Mr. Slink. If we get hold of this we have the game in our hands. But the syndicate will have to put up another margin, andstep into the marketaguin,” ‘* Another margin?’ Old Slink turned blue, ** Yes. There will be a meeting at three o'clock. Get your hat, We have barely time to get down there. Another ten per cent. in- staliment will cover it, That will not be more than two hundred thousand on your shares.” A hollow laugh came from the miser’s lips as he looked for bis hat, his hands trembling as in an pace. ‘*Two hundred thousand!” he said, with an effort at humor, ‘‘Only two hundred thou- Bs ese —s sand! A mere trifle, of course. But suppose there is more wheat to back, and this fails?’ ‘* There is no more, I tell you. The country is drained. . I canshow you the statistics of the last crop, and how much has been put on the market. We know toa bushel how much is in the country. I tell youit isa sure thing.” Slink shook his head a little doubtfully, as he ee the confident Mr. Josephs from the office, While this conversation was proceeding there was much talk on the street on the samesubject. The great wheat syndicate, which had worked up a severe corner in the staff of life, had got a serious black eye, from an unexpected output of wheat by the farmers, and brokers everywhere were shaking hands with the hope that the ras- cally speculation had been broken, and the speculators ruined, ‘‘They are counting too fast,” said Harry Plum to his young partner, ‘‘ There is a heap of money yet back of thiscorner. You will see that they will not let it go by the board.” ‘*Who are the men that are working it?” asked Roger, carelessly. ‘* There are only a few of them known. People say that Will Josephs and Al Whitaker are in it. And I’m told that Simon Slink, the note-broker, is one of the gang.” ‘*Simon Slink!” Roger was on his feet in trembling excitement. ‘‘ Are you sure of this, Harry?” ‘*“ Yes. What is the matter? I know you don’t like old Slink. But why does this affect you so?” ‘*That is the one man I hate onthe face of the earth,” declared Roger. ‘‘ And I'll tell you this. He is a Jonah who will sink any ship he enters. They call me a lucky man, Harry Plum. Well, ’m going to back my luck against Simon Slink’s. Heis buying wheat. I am onthe market to sell wheat. lam worth sixty thousand dollars to day, and I will put up the last cent as a margin.” ‘* Are you crazy, man?’ Harry stared at his partner in surprise. ‘* Not quite crazy. If you are wise, you will follow my lead.” ' ‘Not much, fF can’t afford it.” ‘*T will go alone then. Win or lose, I am bound to buck against Simon Slink.” Roger was as good as his word. He sold short on wheat and put up his whole capital as a margin, in spite of all the advice and warning of his friend, Several days went by, during which the street anxiously watched the wheat market. There was oe than one fortune hanging on its rise or fall. Slowly it recovered. The late fall was wiped out. It gradually rose until two cents a bushel was added to the price. Harry Plum looked oddly at his resolute partner, . ‘‘ Another cent rise and your margin will be swept out,” he said. , ‘‘Then you had better come to my rescue. It is sure, i tell you.” ‘‘T don’t understand you,” asked Harry, ‘Why do you so hate Simon Slink?” ‘*Sit down, and I will tell you.” Harry sunk into an arm-chair, and Roger p ed to relate the story with which we are already familiar. He had a deeply inter- ested auditor. Particularly when he came to the story of the discovery of the papers, and their effect on Simon Slink, did Harry become wrapped up in the account. It almost seemed asif he had a personal in- terest in it, by his change of color, and the eagerness of his Fagor ig . ‘*I don’t wonder you hate him, the old vil- lain,” he growled, with a savage intonation that surprised Roger. ‘‘The oppressor of the widow and the robber of the orphan! But no trace has been found of this Edward Homer? Has he been fully searched for?” ‘‘Mr. Burnaud has made every effort. But in vain,” ' ‘‘He may turn up yet. Meanwhile—” ‘¢Well?” ‘*T will make good your margin,” ‘‘ What? Are you in earnest?” ‘‘Yes, Such a man as this cannot win, I hate him as much as you.’ Roger turned and looked at his partner. He could not understand his tone and manner. They were interrupted by a message from Roger's broker. . Wheat had risen another cent. The margin was exhausted, and must be made good or abandoned, ‘* Leave that to me,’’said Harry, hastily seiz- ing his hat, and leaving the office. ‘*‘ We will sink or swim in this ship together.” - / 7 4 1. Py a \ he , » ee ‘ 2.4 a" . ’ f ey 4h, Fw Cd : q = aryTe AS * A, as Z q - * f - — Plucky Paul, the Boy Speculator. LE 13 An anxious day or two passed. Wheat rose yet another cent. The syndicate seemed tri- umphant. And then there came an ominous whisper on the street. Wheat was again pour- ing into Chicago, from the Northwest, hat there was an excitement on the street need not be said. + Harry Plum, who had left the office twenty minutes before with his hat down over his eyes, and his face as long as a liberty pole, came has- tily back, flinging his hat in the air, and his face covered with smiles. "** What has broke loose?’ asked Roger. ‘* Something new about wheat?” ‘*Yes, Itiscoming. Itiscoming, boy. The farmers have wakened up, and are going for the high price. The great Northwest is pouring out its Wheat. Ten thousand bushels in to-day. Twenty thousand coming to-morrow. Let that keep up for a week, and the corner is bu’sted.” ‘* Didn’tI tell you so?’ said Roger. ‘‘ Simon Slink isinit. I knew that if we went against him we were safe.”’ The wheat market opened with a decline. Down it went, one, two, three points. It was almost a panic. Unlessthe syndicate could take these new offerings, it wags ruined. It had al- ready invested millions, Simon Slink was distracted. He was ready to tear out his hair for his folly. After gaining the million, for which he had struggled so man years, he had let avarice draw him into this dangerous speculation. And now he saw him- self on the brink of ruin. There was no drawing back. Allsafety now . lay inthe forward path. He had already put all his available money into the speculation. Where was he to turn for more? He had pro erty, but that could not be vonverted into cash. But there were the funds of the Trust Company. They were completely under his control. He could borrow what he pleased, and return it af- ter the success of the corner, So Mr. Josephs, the tempter, whispered in his ear. Make one more break. Send wheat up a. eg or two more, and they would sell. Simon it at the bait. He drew all the available cash from the company’s vaults, and invested it in the great corner in wheat. It was not without an object that he made this last move. Josephs had given him an idea. Let wheat rise a cent or two more, and he would sell out, pocket his profits, and victimize his confederates. But he was not the only one with that idea. Harry Plum and ny ee Wilton were not asleep. ‘* How much cash have you left, Harry?” ask- ed Roger. *¢ A bout forty thousand.” , ‘* Then go on the market and sell. Sell to the last penny. That’s my advice.” ‘** But they have checked the fall,” said Ha doubtfully. ‘‘ Wheat is moving up again. I[t is a half-cent higher than yesterday.” ** They can’t hold it. It will go down again with a splurge. You'll see. But don’t let me. lead you. Use Coe own judgment,” Harry sat an eg deeply for a few min-— utes. Then he seized his hat and hurriedly left the office. It was a half-hour before he re- turned. ‘*T have sold,” he remarked, briefly. ‘‘Sold tothelastpenny. At a dollar five,” ‘*Good. Weare both in the same boat now. We will sink or swim together.” Harry threw off his hat, sat down, rubbed the perspiration from his forehead, and seemed to: sink into a deep study. “* Do you know why I have taken your ad- a Re igi he asked. O s ‘It is because I hate Simon Slink as bitterly as you, and would do as much to ruin the old robber. I have never told you the story of my life. If you don’t mind listening I will give you a few points.” ‘‘T shall be glad to hear it.” ‘‘Tt has not been a quiet life, I can tell you that. I was not a very good boy. But my father was so hard on me that he drove me into mischief. But I needn’t tell you all that. It is enough to say that I fell in love. when I was hardly nineteen, My father was very bitter and severe about it, and treated me so harshly that I ran awayfrom home, I changed my name and went West, determined to trust to myself for the future, and build up my own ‘fortune.” Roger listened with great interest to this story of a wild life, “Changed your name, and went West,” he repeated. ‘‘ How did yousucceed?” . ‘Very poorly. I wonand lost. 1 concluded finally that the chances were better here tham - ) a4 # ‘ a é » i r é