Wall street stories

Harry Hunt. He was a director in a half score of companies-financial débutantes which his firm had "brought out" and over whose stock-m

se of railroad tickets in the hope of out-racing Death. George B. Graves was a dyspeptic, nervous, irritable, and, to boot, penurious; a man whose chief recommendation at the time Wilson formed the firm had been his cheerful willingness to do all the dirty work. Frederick R. Denton was busy in the "Board Room"-the Stock Exchange-all day, executing orders, keeping watch over the market behavior of the stocks with which the firm was identified, and from time to time hearing things not meant for his ears, being the truth regarding Wilson & Graves. But Fullerton F. Colwell had to do everything-in the stock market and in the office. He conducted the manipulation of the Wilson & Graves stocks, took charge of the un-nefarious part of the numerous pools formed by the firm's customers-Mr. Graves attending to the other details-and had a

All that Colwell could do was to instruct Denton, who was on the ground, to "support" Ala. C. & I. sufficiently to discourage the enemy, and not enough to acquire the company's entire capital stock. He was himself at that moment practising that peculiar form of financial dissimulation which amounts t

ning, Mr.

y, almost apprehensively, for a woman's voice was not heard with

ou do?" He shook hands, and led her, a bit ceremoniously, to a huge armchair. His manners endeared him

y well, Mrs. Hunt. Don'

"As well as I can hop

help us. You must be very brave

she sighed. "I

. He stood by, defer

icky-tick," sa

nt, Fred Denton, had repulsed the enemy. Who was winning? A spasm, as of pain, passed over Mr. Fullerton F. Colwell's grave face. But the next moment he said to her, slightly conscience-strickenly, as if he reproached himself for th

cky-tick!" repe

machine, he went on: "Believe me, Mrs. Hu

ured the widow; and after a pause: "

es

at if I 8leave the money there withou

that is about wh

which implied that as for herself she wouldn't care at all. "You see, he was so indulgent, and they are used to so much. Of course,

at all times, you will have to invest in very high-grade securities, which w

,000 a year," she mu

ways-er-rathe

, quickly. Then, after a pause: "And, Mr. Colwell, if I shou

9them. You might sell them for a little

said, with a business air, "for less

said, encouragingly. "It wouldn

irring away at a furious rate. Its story is always interesting when it

r. Colwell, that when I came to sell

uarantee that

lose the little I hav

eaving $3,000 with the trust company for emergencies, I shall buy some bond

brassy sound had an ominous ring, so he added: "But you will have to let me know 10promptly, Mrs. Hun

the money out of the bank

he desk nervously with his fingers, but

you're very busy, so I won't keep you any lon

Mrs.

r of losing, is t

. Colwell, and I would not run the slighte

u, Mr. Colwell. I am more gr

am going to try to make some money for you, so that you

familiar with such things. But I've heard so much about the

u buy good bon

ning, Mr.

r, whenever I may be of service y

o much, Mr. Colwe

rning, M

ught 100 five-per cent gold bonds of the Manhattan Ele

is partly speculative, but I assure you the money is safe. You will have an opportunity to increase your original capital and your entire funds will then be invested in these same

ng she called

rs. Hunt. I trus

well. I know I am an awf

atly mistake

ly understand about those bonds. I thought

bout yourself, Mrs. Hunt. Now,

ed that she granted tha

re credited with the amount. I then gave an order to buy

. Colwell. I told you"-anothe

0–bond $960 was paid. It brou

begin with. You don't mean

you know; and we put in the other $61,000 and kept the bonds

ou read about, who mortgage their houses, and they go on, and the first thing you know some real-estate agent owns t

t a depreciation in the security purchased, which is all he wants. In this case you theoretically owe us $61,000, but the bonds are in your name, and they are worth $96,000, so that

u, because I know you'd never take advantage of my ignorance of business matters

said Mr. Colwell, w

nd reassuringly; "but I don't wish to be under obligations to any one, particularl

, as I think it will, then you can sell three fifths for $66,000, pay us back $61,000, and keep $5,000 for emergen

ovely. And the b

ancial page of the newspapers, where it says BO

uch. Of course, I am a

rs. Hunt. I'm only too glad to

ower Company 5s. The fact that there had been any change at all was made clear to him by Mrs. Hunt. She called a few days after her first vi

ning, Mr.

o, Mrs. Hunt?

ncial matters." She had acquired the phrase from the financia

how is

," she said, a t

pray, Mrs. Hunt

saw it in last

s. Hunt almost became

nt. The bonds are all right. The m

ws all about Wall Street, told me last nigh

ed about the matter, I beg of you. When the time comes for you to sell the bonds I'll let you know. Never mind if the price goes off a point or two. You are amply protected. Ev

. Colwell. I didn't sleep a w

ture in a hurry, and at the same time dared not interrupt. Mrs. Hunt thereupon rose and said:

ing. You are going to do very well with

t it; yes, indeed. And I hope your prophecy w

, and had accordingly implanted the seed of insomnia in her quaking soul. Then, as he saw values decline, he did his best to make the seed grow, fertilizing a naturally rich soil with ominous hints and headshakings and with phrases that made her firmly believe he was gradually a

ith a little gasp, said,

hat abo

n, and said: "T

ou mean, M

all the papers. I thought the Herald might be mistaken, 18so I bought the Tribune and th

e said,

and aroused her suspicions. By him, of all men,

eny-it-if-you-dare inflection in her voice of which she was no

ng to sell your bonds at 93,

00?" she queried, challengingly. Then she hastened to answer h

y would, Mrs.

ght," with irrep

ot going to se

arned from the first," she said, as if that made 19it worse. "I certainly had no business to risk my all." She had waived the right to bla

you wish it," he told her, quite unprofessi

I can't help thinking I might just as well have let it stay where it was, even if it didn't bring me in so much. But, of course, if you

e patient. It may take months before you will be able to sell yours at a profit, and I don't know how low the price will go in the meantime. Nob

for every number down. And at 85 that would be"-counting on her fingers-"eleven numbers, that is, eleven-thousand-dol

ou. It might hurt a weak speculator if the bonds declined ten points, though such a decline is utterly improbable. But it won't affect you in the slightest, since, ha

she smiled, in order to let him see that she knew her interpol

body could be found to pay more than $25,000 for one of the houses, and three or four of your neighbors sold theirs at that price. But you wouldn't, because you knew that in the fall, when ever

the awkwardness of her position, "I wish I had the money instead of the bonds." And she

our wish shall be gratified, Mrs. Hunt. Why didn't you ask me before, if

s. Rose Hunt, and transfer the 100 Manhatta

wittingly caused you some anxiety. But all's well that 22ends well. Any time that

r bonds he could have bought in the open market for $93,000. He was the po

him. It was noon, and she evidently had spent the morning mustering up courage for th

still have those b

y,

d like to tak

c 5s. The clerk telephoned to one of their bond-specialists, and learned that the bonds could be bought at 96?. He reported to M

m from me at 93? I'd like to buy them ba

said; "I bought th

ded, corroboratively: "Don't you r

received from you, and I had the bonds transferred to m

et me have them at

et now, you will be in exactly the same position as before you sold them, and you will ma

an," with a te

may be selling for," h

ll them, Mr. Colwell?"

now, 24you will be no worse off tha

or the very same bonds I sold last Tuesday at 93. If it w

They have all risen in price, yours and mine and everybody's; y

es;

before you bought any. You've lost nothing,

y them," she said

for you at that price. But there a

u sell my bonds!" she

o much because they

business matters. You know I didn't,

knew the plans of the syndicate in charge, and being sure the bonds would advance

em right to her, notwithstanding his explanations, that she

n I, if the

eally seemed to her as if the price had only been waiting for her to sell out in

fear it will hav

Mr. Colwell," on t

forgetting all that had gone before, he added: "

ted, and she smiled-the 26smile that is a woman's last resort, that says, almost articulately: "I know you will, of course, d

ced the poor man to make strange admissions, and, deliberately ignoring his feeble protests, they worked themselves up to the point of believing that, while it would be merely generous of Mr. Colwell to let his friend's widow have the bonds at 93, it

sacred and inalienable rights have been trampled upon by the tyrant Ma

opose to do about my bonds." Her voice conveyed the impression that

rs. Hunt. Why, w

the lines on her face. Instead

o know, Mr. Colwell,

heed my advice when I told you not to sell out,

she burst out

would to-day have a p

ind; I have decided to accept your offer," very bitterly, as if a poor widow could not afford to be a cho

't do that, you know. You wouldn't buy them when I wanted you to, and

y really expected it, represented Mr. Colwell as taking that identical stand. Mrs. Hunt was, accordingly, prepared to show both that she knew her moral and technical rights, and that s

Mrs. Hunt, wi

kept the bonds that I

ce does that m

ed the

you, or have you not, tho

I have

belong, by rights?" She wa

, cert

led. And in her smile were a t

Mrs. Hun

propose to

rtain

ay 96? will you

n I took those bonds off your hands at 93

r his judgment in thinking

after they had risen to 96?, if I had done as you wishe

le, only the pity was now min

in order that you might not worry. But I didn't see why I

ou to do it," sh

ou had nothing to lose, if you bought back the same bonds at practically the same price. Now you come and ask me to sell y

ing to let you do just as you please. No doubt you would like to have me go home and forget how you've acted toward me. But I am

will oblige me greatly by never again calling at this office. By all means

all she said; and

himself to lose his temper, and he did not like it. The ticker whirred away ex

?," he read on the