Making Money

e father. At this time, when Wall Street was approaching that dramatic phase which is inevitable in social transformations, when dominant an

t who played the game recklessly and who would never cease to aspire unti

d had carried him through strange professions. He had been a pedler on the Mississippi, cook on a tramp steamer to Australia, boxed in minor professional encounters, exhibited as

d on a reasonable scale, netted him a handsome profit and enlarged his activities. His genius for manipulation and trading, which was soon recognized, brought him into the services of big industr

of his associates, which made him continue, completely bankrupted him. Before the public had even an inkling of the extent of his catastrophe he had mended his fortunes by the brilliant stroke, secur

ing bankrupt and came

merciless in a fight, generous to a conquered enemy, for the love of the game itself. A big man with a curious atmosphere of amused calm in the midst of the flurry and turmoil he

rough the heavy tapestry portières. Patsie, perched on a corner, was looking on with approving interest at the happy solving of a perplexin

madder than a wet hen. He wants to do it all himself. Now I

den bird while Bojo, slightly intimi

Drake left the board with a lingering regret, shook hands with a grip that seemed to envelop the young man, and went t

y this title he designated Doris, whose practical ambitions and perseverance he satirized with an indulgent smile. "Far as I can make ou

o of the old condottieri, a certain blunt and hardened quality of the grizzled head, as though he

nscious of a certain proprietary estimation below all the surface urbanity, and, squ

?" said Drake, wi

oris or even just how she feels about me. I certainly have no intention of marrying her until I know

g discussions with Doris, and much serving up of sophistries to his conscience; but Drake's greeting had struck at his young independence, as perhaps it had been meant t

d Drake, with an appr

sacrificing anything. I don't express it very well, but I do feel at times that she's more interested in what she can make out of me than in me, and I don't know if I'll w

marry her! Get that down. I can control lots of things, but I can't control the women. They beat me every time. I'm pulp. I've given in once, though Lord knows I hope my little girl won't regret it. I've got one decayed fore

an you do. You'll see how much is due to accident, the parting of the ways, going to the left instead of to the right. Now I know Doris. I've watched her. She's got two sides to her; you appeal to t

to close my eyes

ff in you. Don't you think I want some one I can trust in this cut-throat game? Don't worry, if you're the right sort I can use you. Now quit thinking too much-le

id Tom, with a last resistance. "I w

in. "Well, why not? You'll learn quicker the thing

out at the raw recruit as though for an instan

de up your mind don't fool yourself. If you want to plod along safe and sane, you can do it just as well in Wall Street as anywhere els

haven't the chance they've developed a special little battlefield of their own to fight each other. And, say, the big fellows don't fool themselves-they know what they're doing! They're under no illusions. But there're a lot of big little men down there who go around hugging delusions to their hearts, who'll sack a railroad or lay siege to a corporation with the idea they're ordained to

her do i

ish. Got

said Tom, who then relat

boy. Learn all you can of men. Study them-browse around in figures, if you want, but everlastingly keep your eyes on men! It's the man and not the proposition that's gilt-edged or empty. You've got to learn how the other fellow thinks, what he'll do i

e of those sleuth-hounds were on? Not on your life. I was living at the biggest hotel, in the biggest suite, spilling money all over the city-on tick, of course. And, say, in the critical week, when I was dodging my own tailo

. He had been listening to this recital open-eyed l

elling you not to speculate, because you're going to, no matter what you think now. You will; because the young fellow who goes into Wall Street and doesn't think he

hat," said Bo

nformation," said Drake, giving him his hand. He caught his shoulder in his powerful gr