Fame And Fortune Weekly (no. 1074) (1926 04 30)
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No. 1074 NEW YORK, APRIL 30, 1926 Price 8 Cents sm Ve MESSENGER ‘Wi WAL SHEET STGRY ¥ i You wish to insult me!” cried Dean, shaking his fist in the face of the boy's defender. The young broker knocked his arm aside, sprang at him, and struck him a heavy blow in the mouth, knocking him down,
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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY : Jesned weesly—Subscription price, $4.00 per year! Canada, $4.50; Foreign. $5.00. Harry E. Wolff, Publisher, inc., 168 fi West 23d Street, New York, N. Y. Entered as Second-Class Matter, October 4, 1911, at ; the Post-Office at New York, N. Y.,:under the Act of March 3, 1879. . Wpy : 19 No. 1074 NEW YORK, APRIL 30, 1926 Price 8 Cents. BULLING THE MARKET - OR, THE MESSENGER WHO WORKED A CORNER By A SELF-MADE MAN s. CHAPTER I.—Mrs. Crimp’s Involuntary Bath‘ “What's that? You’ll talk back to me, miss! Take that, and that, and that!” ; Each “that” was, punctuated with a blow that wrung a cry of pain from a pretty, fair-haired girl of fifteen named Bessie Kane. The blows were administered by a stout strap in the sinewy fingers of Mrs. Crimp, the presiding genius of a small tavern or roadhouse at the head of Main Street Millbank, State of New Jersey. Mrs. Crimp was a tall, bony, but withal muscular lady of forty or thereabouts. - Nobody’ could accuse her of a superabundance of good looks.” She had a temper that asserted itself whenever anything happened to displease her, and when she got going she could make things hum. Although she wasn’t the owner of the “Millbank Hotel,” as the sign read above the. door, she was the ruler of the roost just the same. Her husband, Obadiah Crimp, a small, mild-tempered man of fifty, was the proprietor of the establishment, a fact duly set forth on the sign, but he was a mere cipher about the place. d _~ Mr. Crimp had long since ceased to assert his independence, either. as a man or as head of the house.. Whatever his wife said went with him, and the curiously matched pair got along pretty well in consequence. The domestic tragedy with which this chapter opens, and which was merely a repetition of a long series of similar scenes, started at the kitchen door overlooking the baci. * yard. Mrs. Crimp, seizing the girl by the arm -_- proceeded to lay the strap about her uriprotected shoulders with an energy that might have been expended in a better cause. Bessie, screaming with pain, broke away from her mistress and ran around the house toward the street. Mrs. Crimp, not satisfied with the amount of punishment she had inflicted, gave chase with knit lips and cor- _ rugated brow. And she could run some, too, in ‘spite of her long skirts. Bessie flew around ( frightened fawn. She spied a good-looking, stal- ‘wart boy of sixteen standing by the horse-trough on the edge of the walk. He had heard the girl’s _ ries, and there was a frown on his face, while his two fists were clenched aggressively. He knew well enough what the screams meant. He 4 had heard them often enough before under sim- e corner of the hotel like a. ilar circumstances, and had received many a backhanded clout from Mrs. Crimp for trying to defend the girl. Will Wicker had said more than once that he didn’t see much difference between Mrs. Crimp’s bony hand and the business end of a club. They both seemed to be equally hard and effective at short range. “Will, Will, save me! Save me!” cried Bessie, . rushing up and falling at his feet in abject terror. The boy responded to her appeal at once by ecyine between her and the irate lady of. the otel. : “Stand out of my way, Will, Wicker!” cried Mrs. Crimp, grabbing him by the arm with one hand while she reached for Bessie with the other. “No, ma’am; I think you’ve gone far enough,” replied Will in a dogged way. 7 “Stand out of my way or I’ll give you a dose of the same medicine. You ought ‘to know me well enough by this time.” \ “Yes, ma’am, I know you pretty well. I know © you punish Bessie altogether too much. She’s a good girl and does not deserve it.” “How dare you attempt to teach me what 1 ought or ought not to do? Mr. Crimp is alto- gether too easy with you, as I’ve told him a hun- dred times, and you are gettin’ sassy and inde- pendent. It’s about time you cae your place if you’re goin’ to remain ’round this hotel.” She half swung Will aside, and raising the strap aimed a blow at the shrinking girl. Will caught her arm as it descended and the enraged jwoman struck him a ringing blow in the face with the leathery palm of the other hand. The blow hurt the boy and aroused all his slumbering ~ resentment against the boss of the Millbank Ho- tell. He grabbed the strap and tore it from her grasp. : : : “You shan’t strike Bessie again, do you under- stand? " You shan’t strike her, I tell you! I’ve stood this business long enough. You beat Bessie on the-slightest provocation, until sometimes her back and shoulders ‘are covered with bruises. Well, you won’t do it any more if I know it.» If you dare lay your finger on her after this V’ll make you sweat for it if I go to jail.” “You young villain!” screamed the virago. “My husband shall horsewhip you within an inch of your life. If he doesn’t do it I’ll do it myself, t Ss.
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2 BULLING THE MARKET The idea of you talkin’ that way to me, you little viper! Elain’t Mr. Crimp and me brought you up from nothin’, and this is the way you turn on us, you ungrateful little villain! Hand me back that strap this instant! Do you hear?” “T hear, but you won’t get it, just the same,” replied Will firmly. In a moment Will and Mrs. Crimp were mixed up in a scrap, the angered woman pounding him with her fists, and the boy doing the best he could to escape the blows by grabbing her wrists and holding on to them. Bessie looked on with fright- ened eyes. Mrs. Crimp’s dander was up and she was determined to conquer the boy who had been something’ of a thorn in her side for a year or more. Will, now that matters were come to an _issue, was equally resolved to.make the lady of --the house understand that he, at least, was not to be banged around with impunity any more. At this moment Mr. Crimp appeared at the door and looked on’ also in a helpless kind of way. He never thought of interfering in his wife’s behalf, as he considered she was abundantly able to take care of herself, as indeed she was. Besides, he thought a whole lot of Will, whom he looked upon as a son, and he sympathized with the boy in his trouble. Had he dared butt in it would have been in Will’s favor. He didn’t need to inquire into the cause of the rumpus. He knew it was on account of Bessie Kane. He had*heard the girl’s cries, and had easily guessed that his wife was giving her another beating for some cause known best to herself. The scrap, however, came to a sudden termination in an un- expected manner. Will accidentally tripped Mrs. Crimp and the lady, losing her balance, fell over into the horse-trough with a splash that sent the water into the air. She uttered a shrill scream as hey head went under, and her mouth being open she swallowed more water than she was accus- tomed to take in at one time. She wallowed about for a moment or two, and then Will, staggered by the accident, hastened to assist her out of the trough. Her involuntary bath had taken some of the fight out of her. In fact, she was a bit frightened, and thought Will had made a deliberate attempt to drown her. She backed away from his extended hand, and as she was in the act of stepping out of the trough she saw old man Seth Peaseley, a neighboring farm- er, and his son, Nat, driving up to the hotel. That was enough for her. She sprang from the trough, rushed up on the veranda and disappeared into the house, leaving a watery trail behind her. ; CHAPTER II.—A Mishap in the Swamp “Hello, Will!” ejaculated Nat Peaseley, spring- ing from the light farm wagon as his father reined up at the water-trough. “Been havin’ a serap with the old woman?” : “Looked kind of like it, didn’t it?” replied Will. > “By heck! It did that. Did you dump her into the water?” oe She tripped over my leg and fell in her- self.” : ‘ “B’gosh!” grinned Nat. “She got a bath, all right. What was she doin’ to you? Tryin’ to lick you with tha’ strap?” The spealer pointed to the strap that Mrs. Crimp had used on Bessie. - : re ‘She was trying to use that on Bessie when 1 interfered, and then she got mad and attempted to hand me out a dose of the same medicine.” “And then she fell into the water?”” “That’s about the size of it.” “T reckon Mrs. Crimp is a Tartar. You wouldn’t catch me stayin’ here and puttin’ up with her. Not by a jugful,” and Nat shook his head in a very decided way. “What would you do?” “Yd run away, b’gosh!” “Where would you go?” “I’d go to York, git a job in Wall Street and make my fortune.” “T’d like to go there myself. I believe I’d do it if it wasn’t for Bessie.” “J reckon no gal would stop me from goin’ if I made up*my mind to.” “If you had a step-mother who abused your sisters Sukey and Moll, and your father was afraid to interfere in their behalf, I guess you’d think twice about going away and leaving them without a real protector,” replied Will. “Oh, my sisters kin take eare of themselves. I’d like to see any step-mam sit on their necks. By gum! There’d be somethin’ doin’ in the house,” . chuckled Nat. “But if your sisters were younger, and couldn’t stand up for themselves any better than Bessie ; can, you’d——” ; “T’'d stand up for them, bet your life; but Bessie 4 hain’t your sister.” aan like her just as much as if she was,” replied iil. “T reckon you like her better than a sister; ain’ ~ — ; that it?” grinned Nat. 3 Will flushed and made no answer. . “Say, Will,” went on Nat. “I come over to go j shootin’ with you this afternoon. You kin go down to the inlet with me, can’t you?” “T guess I can do that. Where’s your gun?” 2 “In the waggin.” a “Get it out, then, and I’ll go and fetch mine.” ec Will walked around to the kitehen where Bessie ; had always preceded him. He found the girl at work at her interrupted task. She was sobbing. to herself, for. she didn’t know what else woul we happen to her as soon as Mrs. Crimp had put on dry clothes. Will put his arm around her ina protecting way. miler “Don’t cry, Bessie. I’m not going to let Mrs. by Crimp beat you any more,” he said soothingly. ‘ The girl buried her face.on his shoulder and be- | gan to ery afresh. z “Come, now, Bessie, brace up. The trouble is all over.” “She’ll beat me again when she comes down- stairs.” “Not on your life, she won’t. I won’t let her.” — “She'll do it when you aren’t around.” © | “Tf she lays a hand on you when I’m away I~ want you to tell me, and I'll read her the riot act in a way she won’t forget.” Will then went on up to his room, got his shot- gun, and rejoined Nat outside. Nat’s father, after a short talk with Mr. Crimp, had driven away down the street, and the landlord of the Millb. : Hotel had gone back into the publie room. Giga “Ready to start?” asked Nat. Saateieieten 7 Will nodded, and the two boys, throwing their —
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’ f BULLING THE MARKET meee 3 ' guns across their shoulders, walked off toward the “inlet, less than a mile away. Will and Nat were something like chums. Whenever circumstances permitted they went off and enjoyed themselves —usually gunning or fishing, according to the season of the year. Nat helped his father in the fields and did chores for his mother around the house; while Will was boy of all work at the hotel. On their way to the inlet the chief topic of their. conversation was the opportunities they believed they saw in Wall Street to get ahead” - in the world and make their fortunes. Their at- tention had been first attracted to the financial world by the presence in that neighborhood the preceding fall of three stock brokers who had “come down to Millbank for a week’s shooting. The gentleman put up at the hotel, and hired Will to show them where the best shooting was to be found. Nat, happening to turn up with his gun on one the days he was included in the party, and participated in two subsequent expeditions to the inlet. The traders took quite a fancy to Will, and they also cottoned somewhat to Nat on ac- count of his quaint ways and conversation. During the trips the boys were greatly inter- ested in the Wall Street talk that the brokers occasionally indulged in. Their curiosity being aroused, they asked a good many questions about the financial district, all of which the traders answered with great good nature. One of the ‘brokers, amused at Nat’s simplicity, gave him a somewhat exaggerated idea of how things were conducted in the Street, so that young Peaseley got the notion in his head that the brokers were not only the jolliest crowd of men in the world, _ but that they made money so easily that it was just like finding it. Ever since the departure of the brokers Will and Nat scarcely ever met that they didn’t have something to say about Wall Street. If there hadn’t been sundry obstacles in their path it is not improbable that the two boys would have *taken French leave of Millbank and made their way to New York in the fond hope of getting jobs in Wall Street. Nat had even gone so far as to propose the matter to his father, but old man Peaseley wouldn’t listen to the suggestion for a moment. Ags for Will, various reasons deterred him from leaving the village. First of all he had no money to speak of, nor chances of making any. Sec- ondly, Mr. and Mrs. Crimp, who had raised him from a homeless little orphan of six years, would not listen, he was sure, to his leaving them, as hé was very useful as an all-around helper at the hotel. : And thirdly, probably the most important reason why he hesitated about leaving Millbank was on account of Bessie Kane. Bessie loved’ him like a sister, and Will assured her that some day when he got the chance to make his own living away from the Crimps he would take her with him and provide for her until she could do something for herself. Thus his glowing anticipations of making a start in Wall Street gradually faded away until they were revived by an incident which happened on the afternoon our ‘story opens. When the boys reached the inlet they made their way to a certain spot where an old dugout was moored. "his flatboat belonged _ to nobody and the boys were accustomed to ap- i propriate it to their own use whenever they “3 aes as SIE ee -wanted | it, man in the stream. He twice. and was now so limp and exhausted that ‘Putting their guns in the forward part of the craft they took hold of a couple of short oars and began to paddle the boat up inte the marsh. Inside of half an hour they were up where the birds were numerous, and then they got busy, sel- dom missing a fair shot. It wasn’t long before they heard the report of shotguns along the edge of the marsh, where a branch of the inlet ran into the ocean. | j “IT wonder who’s shootin’ yonder?” said Nat. “Give it up,” replied Will. “Maybe the two assistants at the lighthouse are out gunning after something for supper.” ; “Let’s work over that way-and see who it is, anyway,” answered Nat, whose bump of curiosity regarding the identity of the other sportsmen was aroused. Will had objection, so they dropped their guns and took to their oars again. “We want to look out that we don’t get a charge of shot into us,” said Will at length, as the report of a shotgun sounded quite near. “By gum! That’s right,” replied Nat. “I hain’t hankerin’ to be took for no marshbird.” oc make a healthy-looking bird,” laughed ill. : “T reckon I would, b’gosh!” . At that moment the boys heard exclamations of excitement a short distance away. “Hello!” ejaculated Will. “I wonder what’s going on now.” Then loud shouts for hetp were borne to their ears. “The shooters seem to be in trouble,” cried’ Will. “Get a move on your oar.” They began paddling away as hard as they could, and presently the dugout shot out on to the edge of the marsh. Then they had a view of what had happened. Awboat with a gentleman in full hunting attire was hard and fast on a rock in the ~ center of the stream running toward the ocean. The gentleman’s companion and was being borne away by the current. He seemed utterly unable to help himself, and the * man in the boat could not aid him without plung- ing into the water and swimming out to him, and he made no attempt to do this. : CHAPTER III.—Will Gets an Offer of a Job . in Wall Street, f “Strangers!” exclaimed Nat, in some surprise. ‘Never mind who they are, we must save that oesn’t seem able to swim, and is in a fair way of going out to sea.” “Help! Help!” shouted the gentleman in the boat, which was fast filling with water and sink- ing under him. Will‘saw that the man in the boat was in no little danger himself. “You’d better row over and take him off, Nat,” - he said. “I'll jump im the creek and swim after the other chap.” 2 Suiting the action to the word, Will threw down the oar, flung off his jacket and plunged into the water. He was a fine swimmer and, though some- what impeded by his garments, he soon came up with the sinking man who nad already been under Sa eS eS d fallen overboard ~
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4 BULLING THE MARKET he made but a faint struggle when the boy caught him from behind and raised his head above the stream. Will swam with him toward the nearest bank of the creek, which was but a few yards away, and soon had him lying high and dry on his face so that any water he might have swal- lowed could run out of his mouth. Looking back, he saw that Nat had taken the other man off and was rowing toward the spot where he and the man whose life he had saved had landed. By the time the forward end of the dugout touched the shore the half-drowned man showed signs of reviving. In a few minutes with such assistance as Will rendered him he was able to sit up and make a feeble effort to thank his preserver. “Help me get him into the boat, Nat. We'll take him over to the lighthouse,” said Will. The lighthouse was built on the point of a long, sandy tongue of land which formed the seaward side of the inlet. “It consisted of a tall white shaft with a lantern at the apex which showed a steady white light at night. ‘The keeper and his two assistants lived in a small house built on spiles at the edge of the inlet a hundred feet from the lighthouse, and the two were connected by a stout plank bride2 provided with a railing. At the end of the house, and projecting over the inlet, was a pair of falls from which a rowboat was suspended. ‘It was toward this point that the boys directed the dugout. On their approach oné of the lighthouse assistants came out of the house, walked around a wooden gallery that en- circled the house on three sides, and leaning on the railing gazed at the oncoming boat. - - When the dugout reached the spiles Will stood up and-told the man what had happened to their ‘two passengers, and asked that the gentleman he had rescued from the water of the creek be taken into the house and attended to. “Beach your boat and we’ll come down and- look after the gentleman,” said the lighthouse keeper. Will and Nat beached their boat and the two “assistant. keepers came down’ and carried ithe tleman up to the house, his» companion’ fol- Jowing. The man who had been-in the water was ~ assisted to disrobe and after being well rubbed down was provided with an old suit for temporary use. A good dose of brandy was given him and then he said that he was feeling much better. “Where is the boy who saved my life?” he asked. ' His companion told him that the lad was taking off his wet clothes in the next room. “Tell him I want to see him when he’s ready.” So Will was sent for and presently came up into the living-room of the building. “My boy, I am under the deepest obligation to ee the gentleman said, grasping Will by the and. “You’re welcome, sir. I couldn’t do otherwise than try to save you when I saw you drifting out to sea.” ; “What is your name, and where do you live?” “My name is Will Wicker, and I live at the Millbank Hotel, at the village of that name, about ' a mile from here.” “Indeed! My companion and I were going there after we finished our shooting.. Mr. Oba- diah Crimp is the proprietor, I believe.” suv ee sin “We wer: recommended to the house by some af - world and make money. friends: who were down here shooting last fall.” “Do you mean Mr. Fletcher, Mr. Green, and three other New York brokers?” “That’s exactly who I mean. My companion, Mr. Douglas and myself, are members of the New York Stock Exchange. My name is Edwin Arden. I shan’t forget what I owe you, my lad, for saving my life. I shall.make it all right. with you.” Vis “Then you and this gentleman are brokers, too?” said Will eagerly. “We are.” “I s’pose. you came.down for a week’s shooting like the other gentlemen?” said the boy. “We intended to remain about four days in this vicinity, but I’m afraid this accident we met with | will put the kibeosh on our trip. We’ve lost our guns and all our other paraphernalia.” “Nat and me will loan you and your friend our guns, and I guess we can scare up a couple of game bags for you. Our guns aren’t the best make, but they shoot: all right, sir,” said Will. “Thank you for your offer, my lad. We will consider it and let you know. What sort of place is Millbank?” “Pretty small, sir, but it’s-old.” “Old! How old is it?” asked Broker Arden curiously. “Couldn’t tell you. It is older than the. Revolu- tionary War.” “That’s pretty old, I must. admit. It ought to have grown considerably since that time.” “T’ve heard Mr. Crimp say that it isn’t more than half again as big as it was ‘a hundred years ago.” r “Why doesn’t it grow like other places?” “T can’t answer that. question. Seems to be ‘about. the same size it was when I came here about ten years ago.” : “How old are you now?” “Sixteen.” “Expect to live here always?” “T hope not, sir.” ; “T suppose you’d. like to go to the city like the majority of country boys.” “Yes, sir. I’d like to go to Wall Street and get a start in life.” = “Wall Street, eh?” ejaculated Mr. Arden, “What put that idea into your head?” : “T think Wall Street is the place for a boy to get ahead in.” : : “Tt is, if he’s the right kind of boy.” “What do you mean by the right kind, sir?” “Well, he must be right, ambitious and ener- getic. Willing to begin at the foot of the ladder and work his way up.” “ “T wish I had the chance to do that,” said Will. “Do you really mean that?” : “T do,” replied Will earnestly. : “Would your people let you go to the city?” _ “I haven’t any people, sir. I’m an orphan, I live with Mr. and Mrs. Crimp at the hotel, and work for them for my keep. too old for that now. I’d like to get out into the I know I could do it if I had a fair show.” Broken Arden looked at Will critically for a- moment and then, turning to his companion, said: “Your messenger is about to leave you soon. Why not give. this boy a chance in your office? I would if I had an opening, but unfortunately IT haven’t. I owe the lada debt of gratitude which I think I’m getting
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BULLING THE MARKET I’d be glad to repay in some way. Therefore, as a favor to me, Douglas, I’d like you to take him into your office and teach him the business.” “T’ll do it to oblige you, Arden, if he can come. My messenger could break him in during the next two weeks.” : - “He looks smart enough to learn the ropes in a fortnight,” said Arden. “Do you think you could arrange to go to the city by next Monday, Wicker?” ; -“P’m not sure, but I'll speak to Mr. Crimp about it right away.” “Toso. At any rate, you could manage to get to New York some time during the week. Cf course, the earlier you go there the better. You will need at least a week to get acquainted with the off.ce buildings, the general layout of the dis- trict, and-the run of your duties. This is an - exceptional chance for you, as you will be under the wing of an experienced office boy who knows ‘Wall Street like a book, and he will put you wise to everything in your line of duty. If you came to Wall Street under ordinary circumstances looking for a position you’d stand a very poor show. No broker could afford to hire a boy who was completely ignorant of the city, especially of the financial district and all its ins and outs.” g “Here is my business card, Wicker,” said. Bro- . ker Douglas, handing Will a-bit of printed paste- board. “That will direct you to my office. I will talk to you more fully when we reach the hotel.” -.- An hour later Will’s and the broker’s clothes were sufficiently dried for them to put them on, and then the gentlemen, after handing the light- house men a $5 bill to recompense them for their trouble, started across the inlet in the dugout with Will and Nat. Landing on the main shore, the brokers. and the boys started for the Millbank _ Hotel, where the visitors intended putting up for the night at least. : CHAPTER IV.—The Brokers at the Millbank oe Hotel. . Jt was coming on dark when Will, Nat and the two brokers reached the Millbank Hotel. Mr. Crimp, old man Peaseley and several other of the ancient inhabitants of the village were gathered on the veranda, swapping political and other in- formation, and smoking home-made. corncob pipes that had done service so long they were strong enough to pull a wagonload of stone. The appearance of the two gentlemanly stran- gers in company with the boys excited the curi- osity and interest of the veranda loungers. _ “Pop,” said Will, addressing Mr. Crimp by a title he was in the habit of using when speaking to the man who had brought him up from a little , “here are two gentlemen who wish to put _ up at the hotel for the night. They met with an accident this afternoon while shooting in the inlet -and lost their grips, guns and othen property in _ the watcr. -I guess it isn’t late for Mrs. Crimp _ to prepare supper for them. Here are some birds _ Nat and I shot. These gentlemen would like to _ have them cooked in preference to an hing else.” “Step right in, gentlemen,” said Mr. Crimp in a hospitable tone. “I can furnish you with a first-. _ class meal and good beds. Mrs. Crimp is the best _ eook in the country, and I'll guarantee that she'll / broil those birds in a way that’ll make your mou water. Come right in and register.” F The brokers followed the landlord into the public room while Will and Nat started for the kitchen to wash up. Old man Peaseley called Will back. “Who be them fellers, Will?” he asked.. “They look like city folks.” “You’ve hit it, all right, Mr. Peaseley. They’re Wall Street brokers.” “Well, V’ll be durned! Wall Street brokers, eh?” replied the farmer, scratching his long, | straggling chin whiskers and gazing into the puo- lic room at the city men who. were inscribing their names in the account book that did duty for a ‘hotel register. ‘I s’pose they’re worth a powerful lot of money?” “Yes, I believe they own a bank or two,” grin- ned Will. “B’gosh! You don’t say!’ exclaimed Mr. Pease- ley, regarding the visitors with fresh interest. “Nat wants to go to York mighty bad. If I thought he’d git to own a bank I might be injuced to let him go.” : Will hurried away and found Mrs. Crimp and Bessie cleaning up the kitchen. “So you’ve got home at last?” said Mrs. Crimp aggressively. “I had a good mind to let you go to bed without your supper, only Bessie begged me to let her keep it in the oven for you. You kin take it now. and eat it on the steop. I won’t have~ you mussin’ the kitchen up at this hour.” “All right,” replied Will. I don’t mind where I est it; but you’ll have to muss the kitchen up a little bit, anyway. _You’ve got a couple of visitors. who want supper.” “What!” roared the lady. “A couple of visit- ors! I reckon no visitors get anythin’ to eat here to-night.” : “Tnat so?” replied Will. ing a hotel for, then?” “Are they strangers who’ve come to put up here?” she asked with a change of tone. = ra ale what they are. Two brokers from New ork.” “That’s different,” replied Mrs. Crimp. ‘‘When did they come?” “Just now. They’re registering in the public room. Pop will be in to notify you to get supper for them under way. They want these birds cooked.” : “Then they’ve been shootin’ down this way?” “Yes; but they met with hard luck.” “How is that?” : Will briefly told her about the misadventures the brokers had met’ with in the inlet, and how he had saved the life of one of them. Bessie re- garded Will with great admiration. Mrs. Crim made no remark, but taking the birds fram Will “What are you keep- called the girl and set her to work plucking the game. She then ordered the boy to get wood and. start the fire in the:stove afresh, and to fetch a saa water from the well, which Will proceeded 0. Nat met him in the yard and said he was going home with the old man. In the meanwhile Mr. Crimp took his two floor, where they tidied themselves up and then rejoined the landlord in the public room, where into a-general conversation with him: ae ae ill ate his belated supper at the kitchen table ~~ instead of on the ‘stoop, and then helped Bessie Bir} ests to rooms on the second =
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? 6 BULLING THE: MARKET set one of the small tables in the dining-room. In the course of an hour the hungry brosers caught a whiff of broiled birds as Bessie opened the dining-room door and announced that supper was ready. ; : hey lost no time following Mr. Crimp into the eating-room, where they found.an appetizing re- past, to which they did full justice, and both de- clared they had never-eaten birds more deliciously cooked. After the meal they adjourned to the ‘veranda in front of the house, which had some time since been vacated by the villagers, to enjoy a eas of the best cigars that Mr. Crimp had in stock. The landlord talked with them a while, and when he had to attend to some business inside . Will took his place, and had quite a talk about Wall Street with the brokers. They gave him a general idea of the work that. would be expected of him if he came to New York and entered Mr. Douglas’ office as errand boy. “Mr. and Mrs. Crimp have no real claim on me. I have paid them back with my services for all they have ever done for me,” said Will. “lf it --wasn’t for Bessie Kane, who is an orphan like myself, and who Mrs. Crimp is constantly abusing, I wouldn’t hesitate a moment about leaving the village. Mr. Crimp is all right. I’m going to have a talk with him about Bessie. If he agrees to stand up for the girl in my place you may ex- pect to see me next, Monday, Mr? Douglas.” _“A)} right, my lad,” replied the gentleman. The, brokers, having finished their cigars, de- cided that they felt tired enough to go to bed, and accordingly they walked up to their rooms. Next - morning they announced to Mr. Crimp that they would take the early afternoon local for Jersey City, as under the circumstances, their hunting trip had proved a failure. They promised to come down later on and spend a week at the hotel, for they understood that there was good fishing in the inlet. during the season. The landlord, who was eager to secure their custom again, assured them that there was the finest fishing on the coast in the neighborhood of Millbank. ild harnessed up the horse and drove them to the station. As the train came in sight Mr. Arden handed Willa $20 pill to pay his way to the city, and defray any other necessary expense. | ; “J shall always remember you with gratitude, my boy,” he said, shaking Will warmly by the hand. “If circumstances should prevent you com- ing to New York right away write and let me know. Remember one thing, my lad, you can always count on me as a friend who is inter- ested in your welfare, and you may rely on me to do anything in my power to help you along in the world.” ; “Thank you, sir,” replied Will gratefully. : - The brokers then stepped aboard the train, which pulled out for Jersey City, and the boy re- turned with a thoughtful look to the hotel. 4 * CHAPTER V.—Will Leaves Millbank for Wall Street. “What are you thinkin’ about, Will?” asked ' Mr. Crimp that evening on the veranda. “You've © been lookin’ mighty solemn all afternoon.” “Y’ve been thinking about leaving the village and going to New York,” replied the boy. The landlord of the Millbank Hotel looked at him in astonishment. “Why, you’re too young to go cavortin’ around a big city like New York,” he replied. “You’d be done up in no time at all. Besides, I couldn’t spare you. ‘Neither could the missus.” “You could hire another boy cheap. There’s Dave Tarbox, he’s looking for a job. He is able to do everything I’m doing. He ‘isn’t ambitious like me. He’ll be satisfied to stay around this neighborhood till he’s baldheaded.” “Look here, Will, are you really bent on goin’: to York?” “IT am, and what’s more, I’m going there. I’d prefer to go with your permission, for you’ve treated me first-rate, a good deal better than the missus; but if you won’t let me go willingly ’m going anyway. I’ve got the chance of my life now to go to work in Wall Street. Mr. Douglas’s boy-- is going to leave in two weeks, and he told me if I came up the fore part of next week his present boy will break me into the job. That’s an op- portunity that doesn’t happen more than once ina while. If I don’t take advantage of it it may never come my way again.” . Mr. Crimp looked rather sorrowfully at the ‘ oy. : “T don’t like to have you go away, Will,” he said in a troubled tone. “I like you as much as if you was my own son. Dave Tarbox couldn’t fill your place nohow with me, whether he did the work all right or not. Then the missus would make things unpleasant if I let you go. If Ihada hundred dollars I’d rather lose it than I would you.” - j Mr. Crimp spoke earnestly, and his words were not without effect on Will. The boy had a warm — corner in his heart for the man he looked upon as his foster father. The landlord of the Millbank Hotel had never treated him harshly oneé while he had been living under his roof, and Will ap- preciated his kindness. same toward Mrs. Crimp his resolution to go to New York might have, been seriously shaken. But there was no bond of sympathy between the ‘mistress of the house and himself. In fact, the reverse was the case. Will counted on making enough money in Wall Street to bring Bessie Kane. to the city and support her while she was looking around for a suitable situation. He was tired and sick of seeing her hounded by Mrs. Crimp, and the best*he could do at present was to partially: protect her, and catch the dickens - for doing it. He was grateful to Mr. Crimp, and he intended to make it all right with him some™ day when Fortune had smiled on him. ; “Tl admit I’m sorry to leave you and Bessie,” said Will soberly; “but I’ve got to do it some time” if I ever intend to amount to anything, so I might as well do it now when everything is in my favor. I shall write to you regularjy and let you know how I’m gettnig on. I know you'll be glad to hear that I’m doing well.’ rhs If he could have felt the \ie as Crimp shook his head depecatingly. He — 8a that the boy had thoroughly made up his mind to go and he felt down in the mouth about it. doubtfully. — ; Z “Don’t you worry about what she’ll say.” . ““] don’t know what the misus will say,” he said 4 ay seee Weed
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ei Py BULLING THE MARKET 7% “She'll tear things up generally. I know her.” “She can’t blame you.” “She’ll probably try to beat you.” “T won’t be here for her to try it on.” “Ton’t you mean to tell her?” “Not a word. I want you to stand up for Bessie after I’m gone. If you don’t she may run away, too, for she’s frightened to death of Mrs, Crimp.” : r “T’l] do what I can,” replied Mr. Crimp with- out much enthusiasm in his tones, for he realized that his influence with his wife amounted to little, “All right. Ill rely on you to take her part until—until she’ll be able to look out for herself.” “How.are you goin’ to the city? You'll have to walk, for you hain’t got no money that I know of.” ; “I’ve got nearly $30. Mr. Arden gave me $20 when he left.” ic “When are you going?” “Tm going to take the early local to Jersey City on Monday morning.” 5 On Sunday afternoon Will told Bessie that he was going to New York in the morning to make a start in life, and that they might be separated for some time. Bessie ‘burst into tears and begged him not to leave her. “Pye got to go,” replied Will; “but I’m going to send for you just as soon as I get money enough together to keep you in the city till you can get something to do so that you can pay your own way.” It was some time before Bessie could be com- forted, and even then she would break out cry- ing again every few minuets and sob on _ his shoulder. : “You want to be a brave little girl,” be said. “T’)] write to you every week and you must an- swer the letters. I’ll send you stamps so that you can mail them.” Bessie cried herself to sleep that night. Next morning after breakfast she accompanied Will part of the way down the road toward the sta- tion, as far as a certain hollow tree where he had © taken the precaution to carry his valise the night when Mrs. Crimp was visiting a neighbor. There they parted, and Bessie returned, a very sad- faced girl, to the hotel. Mrs. Crimp missed the boy after a while and asked her husband if he “had sent him anywhere. Mr. Crimp said he had not. : “T’d like to know where he’s gone gaddin’ to this mornin’,” she said angrily. “He hasn’t attended to his mornin’ chores yet. I reckon he and Ill have a settlement when he turns up,” she con- cluded significantly. Will, of course, didn’t turn up, for he was on his way by the early local for Jersey City. Mrs. Crimp fumed around till ten o’clock and then or- dered her husband to go out and hunt him ue: While he was away she went to her next neigh- bor and borrowed a stout horsewhip, which she ‘placed on a convenient shelf in readiness against the boy’s return. About this time one of the vil- lage boys Will had met near the station came to ~ the hotel and asked for Mrs. Crimp. “What do you want, Tom Cooper?” she snapped, coming to the kitchen door. | — Will Wicker told me to bring you this note,” he said, handing it to her and then hurrying off fas fast as he could. ‘ fee! The lady didn’t pay attention to his departure, so surprised was she at receiving a written com- munication from Will. Sure that something was wrong, she tore it open and read the enclosure, which was brief and to the point. “Dear Mrs. Crimp: I left Millbank to take a position in a broker’s office in Wall Street, New York. I. hope you won’t miss me. Yours sincerely, “Will Wicker.” Mrs: Crimp uttered a scream of rage, and for the rest of that. day there was the mischief to pay in the Millbank Hotel. CHAPTER VI—Will’s Introduction to Wall Street. Will reached Jersey City in due time and in- quired his way from the station platform to the Cortlandt Street ferry slip, as he had-been direct- ed to do by Mr. Douglas, for otherwise, in his ig- norance, he might have boarded the Desbrosses Street boat or the Brooklyn Annex, either of which would have taken him considerably out of his way. He landed on the New York side of the river with the crowd, which was a big one, as it was swelled by half of the passengers who had just come in from the west on a fast express. » Will gazed around him in wonder, for it was his first experience out in the big world. Stepping out of the ferry house with the crowd, he stopped and gazed open-mouthed at the particularly wide and busy thoroughfare known as West Street, thronged with ladened trucks and vehicles of every kind, for the freight piers of the big steam- ship and railroad lines back on the water side of that street. ; “My gracious!” he gasped. ‘“‘New York Is truly the greatest place in the world.” He asked a man where Cortlandt Street was. “Right in front of you. Cross over and you’ll be in it,” was the terse reply. i Crossing West Street, in some fear of being run down by one of the numerous drays, he walked up Cortlandt Street. to its junction with Broadway. AS soon as he was sure that he was on Broadway he followed Mr. Douglas’s directions and turned to his right, walking down toward the Battery till he reached Trinity Church with its graveyard. Wall Street faced the church on the opposite side of the way. Down Wall Street he walked till he came to a tall office building bearing the number on Mr. Douglas’s card. He gazed at the building in wonder and awe, and at the stream of men and boys, passing in and out through the main entrance, like a colony of ants. “Dern my picter, if this hain’t Josh Whitcomb come to town,” mimicked a broker’s messenger, coming up and grabbing Will by the hand, which he proceeded to shake pump-handle fashion. “How aire you, Josh? I’m right glad to see you.” Will looked at the boy in astonishment. “Excuse me,” he said. “I guess you’ve made a mistake. My name isn’t Josh Whitcomb. It’s Will Wicker.” “Come to town to see the sights?” grinned the messenger. : “No, I’ve come to Wall Street to go to work.” “What! You going to work in Wall Street?”
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Will nodded pleasantly. “As what? President of a new trust company?” “No. As messenger for Archibald Douglas, stock broker.” “Fou who?” fairly gasped the other boy. “Archibald Douglas. : kindly tell me how 1 shail find his office? It must Ly in this building, for that’s the number on the oor.” “Why, I’m Douglas’s messenger at present,” said the other. “Are you the boy who is going to take my place after I’ve broken you in?” “Ves, if your name’s Arte Latham.” “That's my name, all right. Shake. So your name is Will Wicker? I am glad to know you. Sorry I started in to guy you, but you looked like a countryman with that big valise, and you were looking around as if you’d never been in New York before.” “T never was in New York before, or any other place a millionth part as big,” admitted Will, who had taken an instant liking to Latham. “Well, I can’t stand here talking to*you, as I’ve an important message to deliver. Just walk into one of those elevators and tell the man to let you off at the third floor. Then walk down the corri- _ dor till you come to Room 54. You'll see Mr. Douglas’s name on the glass pane of the door. Walk in and sit down. IJ’ll be back inside of fif- teen minutes. No use asking for the boss. He’s over at the Exchange.” : - Will thanked him, followed directions and was presently seated in the waiting-room of Mr. Douglas’s office, in company with a dozen custom- ers who were congregated around a noisy kind of brass instrument inclosed_in a glass box perched upon a pedestal, and commonly called a “ticker.” On one side of his room was a closed door opening into Mr. Douglas’s private office, while on the other was the brass wire fence which separated the counting-room from the space allot- ted to cellars. “So I’m in Wall Street at last,” he muttered to himself as he took in his strange surroundings. “My gracious! It’s a lively place.” It wasn’t long before Latham returned with an envelope in his hand which he handed through a small window in the brass screen to the cashier. Then he looked around the room for Will, and spy- ing him in his own chair drew up another and sat . beside him. “What do you think of New York as far as - you’ve seen it?” he asked Will. “JT think it is the biggest placé on earth,” re- _ plied the boy from Millbank. “Mr. Douglas told you that he expected me to come on this week, didn’t he?” “Yes, by Wednesday; and he instructed me to show you the ropes from A to Z.” “T managed to get away sooner than I counted on,” said Will. “That’s why I’m on hand today. Mr. Douglas told me that the earlier I got here the better.” . “That’s right, for you’ve a lot to pick up, and you must be qualified to do my work immediately after I Jeave.” “Well, if you will put me next to the business Tl guarantee to pick it up fast enough,” said Will eonfidently. “I guess you will. You look pretty smart.” At that moment the cashier called Latham over Here’s his ecard. Will you . 8 eee - BULLING THE MARKET and handed him a note to give Mr. Douglas at the Iixchange. “T’ve got to go over to the Exchange with a note to Mr. Douglas. You’d better come along with me. J’ll put your valise out of harm’s way.” In a few minutes the boys were out on Wall Street, heading for Broad Street and "the Stock Exchange. “This is the messengers’ entrance,” said Lat- ham when they reached the building, “where you - always go in when you have a note to deliver to the boss when he’s on the floor.” Will made a mental note of the fact. Business was booming, and the Exchange was like a roar- | ing maelstrom in full swnig. 4 . “Great Scott!” cried Will. fight going on inside?” “Hardly, though most of them are fighting to get the better of one another.” “It’s enough to deafen one.” “You'll get so used to the racket that you won’t notice it at all after a little time. Come up to the rail.” S 3 ¢ _ A dozen other messengers were lined up wait- ing to deliver messages to brokers. Arte was ap- e parently known to most of them. “Who have you got in tow, Art?” asked one of them, eyeing Will curiously. “Relative from Squedunk?” “No; a friend of mine. Wicker, this is Joe Banker. He carries messages for Thorndyke & Co. I want you to use him right, Joe, for he’s going to take my place at the office.” _. “That so? Glad to know you, Wicker. I had an idea you hailed from the country.” i “So I do.” “Where from? Up State?” “Millbank, New Jersey.” “Oh, you’re a Skeeter?” grinned Banker. “What do you mean by that?” “ “We call the boys from Jersey ’Skeeters.” Latham asked an attendant to find Mr. Douglas and bring him to the rail. The broker came up, ee the note, and at the same time recognized ill. é A “Hello, Wicker!” he exclaimed in some sur- prise, offering his hand to Will. “I did not ex- pect to see you so soon.” “You said the sooner I came the better,” re- plied the boy. “JT did, and I meant it; but I did not think you’d be able to get away from your home before the middle of the week.” “T concluded that if I was coming I might as well make a start, so here I am.” “All right. You go around’ with Latham until | I get over to the office, when I’ll have a talk with you.” “Yes, sir.” _ The broker turned away and then Latham and Will returned to the office. Mr. Douglas came in about half-past two, and after transacting some business that awaited him he called Will into his private room. ‘ “Well, you’ve had an insight into the messen- ger business. How do you like it?” “All right, sir,” replied Will with sparkling “Ts there a free ~ eyes. ; “Like all new things, it looks easier and more interesting than you’ll find it when you get used me to it. You'll learn by degrees that it’s a pretty
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BULLING THE MARKET 5 strenuous occupation, and a tiresome one. Much depends on the promptness with which a message “is delivered.” : “Yes, sir,” replied Will, paying strict attention to the broker’s words. ‘ “When you have to ask questions of brokers, or of any person; in fact; do so politely. When : _ they reply to you thank them in a courteous man- ner.” Will agreed with the broker in that particular. “You will have the advantage of two weeks’ breaking in under the direction of as smart «# messenger as there is in the Street. You ought to be thoroughly up in your duties by the time he ~ quits the office. He hag also consented to take you under his wing after office hours as well, and make you generally acquainted with the city. Have you looked up a boarding place yet?” “No, sir. Latham has promised to take- me around to what he calls Greenwich Village and get me a place this afternoon.” — “He'll find you a suitable home, for he lives in that part of the city himself. By the way, how are you off for money?” ‘“T’ve got a little over $25, sir.” « “Well, that ought to carry you over. I’ll allow ou $3.50 a week while you’re learning, and after that your wages till further notice will be $7. Arte will tell you what your office hours are, and give you all further particulars. You may go outside now and sit down till it is time for Arte to take you uptown.” When Latham got off at half-past three he took Will to a small two-story and attic brick house, on a quiet side street, occupied by a widow lady and her daughter. She agreed to give Will a small room with board for a moderate price. _Patham then showed him around the neighbor- hood, and pointed out the Ninth Avenue elevated station. Will found no difficulty in reaching the Christopher Street station in the morning, where he waited till Arte showed up, and they went to the office together. During the week he accom- panied Latham everywhere he went, and when the office closed Saturday at one o’clock he had the financial district down pretty fine. He also called on Broker Arden at his office, and the young trader was glad to see him. They had quite a talk together, during which Arden gave Will a whole lot of excellent advice that was bound to be of service to him. During’ the week Will wrote a letter to Mr. Crimp, enclosing a short one to Bessie, and told them that he was getting on fine, and would soon be earning $7 a week. On the following Tuesday a letter addressed in Obadiah Crimp’s handwriting was given to Will by Mr. Douglas. It contained an enclosure from Bessie. Mr. Crimp said that after an explosion from Mrs. Crimp over his sudden departure things had settled said he h ired Dave Tarbox to attend to Will’s duties, and that he was doing very well. The whole village had missed Will, and the in- habitants were greatly astonished to learn that _ the boy had’ gone to New York to work in Wall Street. Old man Peaseley said that his son Nat, as soon as he found out that Will had gone to_ Wall Street, bothered him night and day for per- -. mission to hike to York himself, and even threat- ened to run away if he wasn’t allowed to go. Bessie wrote a very sweet and sad little note ~ Z “2 ay -asked Will with much interest: own into their old groove again. He . telling Will how much she missed him, and how she hoped he would soon make money enough to send for her, as she couldn’t be happy away from him. The end of the second week of Will’s experi- ence in Wall Street came around and found him fully competent to step into Arte Latham’s shoes and make good. On Monday morning Will began his Wall Street career in earnest, and he soon demonstrated his fitness and capabilities to the satisfaction of Mr. Douglas, who in a little while told Broker Arden that Will Wicker was proving himself one of the best messengers in the street. CHAPTER VII.—Will’s First Success on the Market. “Say, Wicker,” said Joe Banker one morning when the two boys met at the Stock Exchange, “got any dough that you don’t want for a few days?” “IT can lend you half a dollar if you want,” re- plied Will, putting his hand in his pocket. “T don’t want to borrow any. I only wanted to know if you had a $10 bill lying around loose in your clothes that you had no immediate use for.” “Why did you want to know that ?” “Because I could let you in on a good thing.” “How?” ; “There’s a bunch of us chaps who make money right along in the market. When one of us gets hold of a tip on some good stock we club together and buy five or ten shares, according to how flush we are. When the price goes up a few points we cash in and divide up the winnings pro rata.” “Who do you buy the stock from? I heard that no broker would deal with boys, and that they a aes care to deal in less than 100 shares of any s ad “You heard correct, but we don’t buy through any broker. There’s a little bank up Nassau Street that does a brokerage business, too. Any- body can buy as low as five shares of) any stock on the list by putting up a margin of 10 per cent. In fact, I have known the bank to make a deal with a messenger on a 5 per cent. basis, but it was risky for the messenger. However, he came out all right.” “Then you buy. through that bank, do you?” “That’s what we do. Well, one of the chaps got hold of a good sure thing yesterday and we’re trying to raise $100 to back it. If you can go in $10 you'll be entitled to one-tenth of the profits.” “What do you suppose the “At least $10 a share this time, and probably more than that. “A number of big brokers have formed a pool to boom a certain stock. The deal is bound to go through, as the men have miiilions at their back to push it.” at “Tf I put in $10 how much ought f to get back?” “You'll get your tenner back and as much more on top of it.” * “Tl go in with you,” said Will. “Got the money with you?” “Yes. Here it is,” said Will, pulling out $25. “Say, what’s the matter with a putting in $20? You'll make twice as much then.” : “JT don’t like to take too much of a risk. I’m saving this money for a particular purpose.” “You’re not taking any risk at all. It’s a sure winner. Just the same as finding money.” profits will be?”
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10 BULLING THE MARKET Will, however, hesitated. Twenty dollars of his hoarded capital was a lot for him to risk, for he wanted to bring Bessie to the city as soon as he could. Still, the prospect of winning $20 was a big temptation, for then he’d have about enough to send for the girl. Joe hastened to assure him that his $20 was just as safe as if it was in his pocket, so he was persuaded to entrust it to the other to invest for him. As soon as Banker had the money he told Will that the stock about to be boomed was D. & G., which was going than at 80. “But you mustn’t whisper a word about it. And don’t let your boss suspect that you’re in on any deal. He wouldn’t like it, and would probably read you the riot act. Just say nothing and saw wood. A friend of mine will put the deal through the bank for us, and when he sells out I’ll bring you your share of the profits.” Naturally Will took a strong interest in D. & G. after that. He took sly peeps at the ticker and when he saw the stock quoted at 81 he felt like hugging himself for joy. Within a few days the price went up to 85, and Will was just tickled to death. He met Joe Banker quite often, and Joe told him that many messenger boys made two and three times their wages through fortunate deals on the market, all put. through the little bank. At the end of ten days D. & G. was up to 96, at which price the deal in which Will was interested was closed and next day Joe Banker handed him $51, representing his $20 investment and $31 profits. Will gazed at the money in great satis- faction. He was now worth $57, and he felt that . he could send for Bessie right away. That after- noon, however, while waiting to see a broker he accidentally overheard two brokers talking in a low tone about the consolidation of two Western railroads. One of the roads was called P. &-Q. The stock had been selling away down for two years, and nobody particularly wanted it as an cay ene because the road did not pay any divi- ends. One of the traders said that as soon as the news ‘of the consolidation was made public, which would be in a few days, P. & Q. stock would go up from 20 to 30 points. Will was much excited over what he had heard. He saw the chance of making over $100 by investing his $50 in the stock. He determined not to let the chance get past him. On his way home he went up to the little bank, which kept its brokerage department open till api o’clock, and bougnt five shares of P. & Q. stock. ' Will went home feeling that if luck stood by him he’ would have quite a little bank roll in a few ‘days. P, & Q. was ruling at 40 when Will bought the five shares, and it remained at that figure for nearly a week, keeping the young messenger on the anxious seat. Then it went up two points, and on the following day the news of the consolida- tion was printed in all the papers. When the Ex- change opened there was a rush by the traders to buy the stock. Very little of it was to be got at any price, and the stock was soon selling at 55. Before the Exchanze closed it was up to 60. “Tt wonder if I hadn’t better sell?’ Will asked himself. “I’m $100 ahead.” : The prospect of making a few more dollars in- duced him to hold on and the price went to 68.. He would have he:d_on longer, only he heard a broker say to a friend that P. & Q. was looking = - topheavy, and mre drwy to around 60 in a day or e two, so that afternoon he stopped at the bank as soon as he was through for the day and told the margin clerk to sell his stock. “Tt will be sold first thing in the morning,” said the clerk, “You’re a lucky lad to be in on P. & Q. at this time. How came you to buy it? Get hold of a tip?” Will said nothing, but looked wise. Next morn- ing his shares were sold at 69, and when the bank settled with him he found he had made $140 profit, making him worth $200 altogether. “Gee! I never thought I’d be worth so much money so soon. I tell you Wall Street is the place to get rich if you run in luck. I’m going to travel down to Millbank in a new suit of clothes and a swell tie next Sunday and make the folks there stare. And when I come back I'll bring Bessie with me. I’ll have to ask my boarding missus if she’ll look out for her till she can get a position of some kind. I guess she’ll be willing to do that to oblige me.” ‘ CHAPTER VII.—Will Visits Millbank and Creates Something of a Sensation. . When Will stepped off the Long Branch accom- modation at Millbank on Sunday morning he was looking something like a dude. The first. person he ran against was the station agent, whom he knew well. The man, however, didn’t seem to rec- ognize him. “Don’t you know me, Mr. Watts?” Will asked. ‘Will Wicker!” gasped the agent. “Great Scott! What have you been doing to yourself?” “What do you mean?” : “Why you’re dressed up to the ninety-nines. Did ou rob a bank while you was away at the city?’ ; “T hope you haven’t such a bad opinion of me as that,” laughed Will. “J heard you left suddenly to take a job in Wall Street.” + “That’s right.” “You must be getting big wages to afford to dress in this style. If the folks around here knew you were coming to visit the village in such great. shape they’d be out here with a band to meet you.” “T’d be sorry to put them to such an expense,’ smiled Will. ‘Tf you can’t create a sensation walking through Millbank to the hotel I'll be willing to eat of yours—Nat — my hat. Here comes a friend Peaseley. I hope he won’t have a fit when he sees ” “Hello, Nat! How are things about the vil- lage?” asked Will, as his country friend, clad in’ his Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes, with his hair well oiled and plastered down, came on the sta- tion. Nat didn’t seem to recognize Will at first, either, but as his eyes gradually took in Will’s well-known features he gave a gurgling gasp. ; “Gosh all hemlock! Are you Will Wicker?” he said in amazement. : “That’s who I am, Nat.” “Why, you’re a—dude!” he fluttered. “Oh, no, not quite a dude.” S “Yes, you are. Where did you get all them 38 swell clothes, and that hat, and that tie with a diamond pin? Glory hallelujah! Have you made — ee your fortune already?” . ; pire re
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; ¥ BULLING THE MARKET’ “Hardly,” laughed Will. : “Why, a don’t look no more like you used to than a turkey gobbler looks like a rooster. You’ : just like a city chap.” es feel like one aoa I ought to, for I’ve been three months in New York.” i “You mean in Wall Street, don’t you? 2 “Wall Street is part of lower New York. “Gol darn it, I thought Wall Street was the hull of New York. The papers are always full of it. My dad says Wall Street runs the hull coun- ” Sewell, I must be getting on te the hotel. Good- till train time.” : - be walked along through Main Street and soon attracted a whole lot of attention from the people in the houses. Nobody seemed to recognize him, though everybody in the village knew him. He was taken for a strange city chap, and folks ‘wondered what had brought, him to Millbank on a Sunday. A dozen or mote girls noticed him through their ee ceed Hai but none of them square look at his face. er nally he reached the Millbank Hotel. Mr. Crimp and old man Peaseley were sitting on the veranda in the sunshine. There was no look of recognition or welcome for the boy in their eyes s approached, barr ee you do, pop?” said Will, as he stepped e veranda. : me used to address Mr. Crimp by that name sometimes. The landlord sprang to his feet with a@ cry of Heenan del * “Will, is it really you?” : “It isn’t penny. else, pop,” said the boy, hold- _ing out his hand. e ‘ “Why, you look like a young gentleman,” replied the hotel keeper, gazing at, Will admiringly. “Tyon’t you know Will Wicker, Seth?” y Seth Peaseley rubbed his glasses and looked Will. Me eat It is Will. Why, you’re tucked out to beat all creation! I hope my son don’t see you. If he does they’ll be no keepin’ him away from Wall Street.” ; = i “T met Nat at the station,” replied Will. “Sho! Did you? What did-he say?’ “You’d better ask me what he didn’t say. He oked surprised.” : : z “ey out think he would. Are you a broker now?” Z Hie “Not quite,” laughed Will. of “Tow soon do you expect to be one? “J couldn’t tell you.” — i : . “Pm going to see the missus, pop. Do you think ‘it’s safe?” asked Will. “se fo: “T veckon she'll we ET to see you eels so rosperous,” replie yr. Crimp encouragingly. Br sterel the public room of the hotel and walked through the dining-room to the wit- , then where Mrs. Crimp, assisted by Bessie, was reparing idnner. Bessie saw him first, recognized im, and with a little cry dropped the dish she held in her hand. It went to smash on the floor and Mrs. Crimp uttered an exclamation of anger. Bessie darted for Will, and in a moment he had her in his arms, the lady of the house looking at them in utter amazement. | F , “Will, Will, I’m so glad you’ve come back, eried Bessie. “And how fine you do look! . . (Will Wicker!” gasped Mrs. Crimp, hardlv be- _lieving the evidence of her eyes, ‘ a 11 “Yes, ma’am, I’ve come back to see you for a few hours,’ replied the boy. ; oe for a few hours, Will?” said Bessie wist- ully. fete S “That’s all. I have to return to the city by the 7:10 train this evening. But,” he added in a whis- per, “you are going back with me.” “Will, you don’t mean it!” she cried excitedly, “Hush! Dll talk to you about it by and by. Well, Mrs. Crimp, are you glad to see me or not?” “TI s’pose I am, though I did mean to larrup you for runnin’ away if I’d got my hands on you at the time. You must be doin’ well in York.” “V’m" getting on first-rate.” “So you writ Obadiah. Workin’ for one of them brokers what was down here shootin’, eh?” “Yes. For Mr. Douglas. I’m his messenger.” “Does he send you around: with messages?” “Yes, ma’am. I carry notes to other brokers packages of stocks and bonds to customers, and “do a whole lot of other things. “He must pay you well. You look like a dood,” “T get $7 a week.” “T guess you make a wages.” “I have so far. I’ve brought you a present of a new dress. It isn’t made up, but you can have the village dressmakes do that for you. I’ll give you $5 to pay her.” Mrs. Crimp was all. smiles in a moment. . : “Bessie, I left the package on the dining-room table. Go and get it,” said Will. good deal more than your The girl hastened to do as she had been request-_ ed. Will handed Mrs. Crimp the bundle.: “Open it and see how you like it, I got my landlady to buy it for you, with lining, trimming and buttons complete. All you’ll have to do is to get it made according to patterns.” : Mrs. Crimp was delighted with her present, which happened to be a shade that just suited her, and thus, by the exercise of a little tact and the expenditure of a few dollars Will had made him- self quite solid with her. He was afraid, however, that her good humor would not last when she learned that he intended taking Bessie to New York with him. She had ng claim on the girl, and could not prevent her leaving if she got up pas to do so, but just the same she could make matters pretty sultry if she wanted to do so, After in- specting her dress Mrs. Crimp became very gra- cious to Will, and asked him about his business and about how on in New York. ‘ Then he went outside and found Mr. Crimp re- turning from a short walk with old man Peaseley, who had gone home.’ Will talked with Mr, Crim on’ the veranda until dinner was announce . After the meal he told Mrs, Crimp that he ex- pected to take Bessie to the city with him on the 7:10 train. If he had dropped a bombshell in the room he could hardly have caused the lady of the house to jump higher than she did.’ She said the idea was perfectly ridiculous. Then Will put it up to Bessie. “T’m ready to take What do you say?’ ’ “Tl go with you anywhere, Will,” she replied. “I reckon you won’t take your things out of the house tonight, or any other time, unless I’m willin’,” was Mrs. Crimp’s ultimatum. a he was getting you if you’re ready to come. any questions — “T’m sur ;
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12 prised that you should encourage the girl to think of leavin’ me,” she flashed at Will angrily. “Tf you’d always treated her decent, Mrs. Crimp, I shouldn’t have interfered in her behalf. You used to beat her every day when I lived here, and you’ve not improved much since I’ve been away. Bessie is getting too old to be made a slave of any longer. I can get her a job in the city that will enable her to pay her way and give her a little spending money. My landlady has agreed to give her a home, and she will have the com- panionship of the lady’s daughter, a girl of her own age. Altcgether, it will be greatly to her advantage to come to New York,” said Will. Mrs. Crimp got into one of her old pugnacious. moods, but Will was not to be intimidated. Bes- sic, also, for once in her life, refused to be bull- dozed, and the result was after the’ biggest kind of a verbal scrap Will carried his point after threatening to refer the whole matter to the jus- tice of the village. It was arranged that Bessie should remain another month at the hotel, at the end of which she was to be allowed to go to New York. The matter having been finally patched up, peace was declared in the family crcle to the great satisfaction of Mr. Crimp, who was always uneasy ‘when there were clouds on the domestic horizon. After supper Will bade all good-by for the perind of thirty days, when he said he would come for Bessie, and, after presenting Nat Pease- ly with the imitation diamond pin, took the 7:10 train foz the metropolis. ‘CHAPTER IX.—A Close Call. ~ = A few mornings after Will saw a statement in ; the paper that M. & N. was going up as the result of rumors concerning the road’s purchase of a branch line to the coal mines which were begin- - <ming to pan out better than at any other period dn their history. es oe : “What do you think about M. & N., Joe?” Will “asked Banker when they came together on the street that afternoon. art “Dunno,” replied Joe. “Haven’t paid any at- tention to it.” i § Will told him what the newspapers printed about the road that morning. aoe “You can’t put much dependence on what the papers say,” said Banker. “They'll publish any old thing in the way of news.” “But i¢ it’s true that the M. & N. road has bought that branch line it will be a good thing for the company, won’t it?” “Sure, it will, otherwise the company wouldn’t it. ” z “The brokers must believe that there is some- thing in the report, for the price is rising.” : “That doesn’t follow. The bulls always try to take advantage of every excuse to boost prices. That’s the mission of a bull. I : the opposite—they work to break prices in order to make money on short sales.” “lve a great mind to buy some M. & N. on the chance that it may go higher.” “Well, if you want to risk $50 on five shares you can buy them easily enough at the little bank on Nassau Street; but I wouldn’t advise you to get in on it witho tee than newspaper talk.” The bears do just - ut you had some better guaran- ] ~. again, and when he woke it was daylight an BULLING THE MARKET That afternoon Will heard a group of traders talking about the M .& N. rise, and the spoke so well of the chances of the stock that Will left an order at the bank on his way home for fifteen shares of M: & N.-at the market, which was 62. He watched the stock all next day and saw with satisfaction that it rose steadily to 65. The news- papers continued to speak favorably as to the prospects of a still higher price, and so Will was content to let the deal stand. M. & N. closed that day at 67 and opened next morning at 67 1-2. The bears attacked the stock and it took on a temporary. slump/but recovered rapidly and:went up to 70. Next day the scarcity of the shares on the market caused a big boom in the price, and it closed at 80. “Have you sold those fifteen shares of M. & N. you bought?” asked Banker when the boys met at the restaurant at a quarter past three. — “Not yet,” replied Will. “You’re holding on too long, old man,” replied Joe.. “I had no idea it would get anywhere near 80. It’s a case of pig luck that it has done so. There is liable to be a slump at any moment, and your profits are likely to be wiped out. Leave an - order at the bank on your way home to sell you out in the morning. You’re eighteen points ahead of the game and it’s up to you to realize while you have the chance t6 do so. Ef you get out all ; right you can count yourself as having made a bang-up deal. You'll make over $250, which is a pile of coin for a messenger to gather in, you ean take my word for it.” © ; “You told me that several messengers in the Street have made a good deal more than that,” said Will. : “So they did, but not on an investment of $150. They made it by taking risks with big money that they had won before.” = “T’ll follow your advice. I guess you know the’ market better than I.” “IT ought to, for I’ve been three years in the’ business, while you have only been down here _about four months.” “You ought to have made several thousand dol- _ lars by this time,” said Will. S “T know I ought to, but I haven’t. I was $600 ahead of the game once, and then I got wiped clean out on a single deal.” “Is that so?” : “Sure as you live. If that deal had gone through. I’d have made over $1,500 profit.” “Instead of which you lost your $6002” “T lost it so quick that it made my head swim. I held on too long, juSt like you’ve been doing. Guess I was) trying to grab the last dollar. It’s a risky thing to look for all that’s in a deal. The chances are that you’ll Jand in the soup like I did, You never can tell just where you are when a a stock is going up. The bears are likely to jump in at an unexpected moment and scoop the trick.” Joe’s talk made Will nervous about his deal. He left his order at the bank on the way home, but he didn’t feel easy that evening about the fate of M. & N. in the morning. He dreamed that he had been cleaned out and woke up in a funk about the middle of the night. When ae got to sleep he had a repetition of the dream, more — vivid than before, and he awoke again in a cold — sweat. It was an hour before he got to slee
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+ BULLING THE MARKET time to. get up. He grabbed the morning paper at the station in feverish nervousness, expecting to read that M. & N. had gone to smash over night. He was much relieved to find that such “was not the case. His stock was sold at 80 3-8, cand fifteen minutes afterward some broker began dumping big blocks of the stock on the market. The result was a slump and a panic at the Ex- change. : “What did I tell you?” said Joe, running against him in the Exchange. “Did you sell out Jast night as I advised you to?” “T gave my order in,” replied Will; “but I don’t know whether my shares were sold in time or not.” ==: 2 . “The chances are they were, but you can’t tell for sure till you inquire at the bank,” replied Banker. “I hope you’ve come out all right, but you see how dangerous it is to hold on too long. Lots of people are being cleaned out at this mo- ment. Some of them are brokers, Til bet, but the majority are the outside speculators or lambs, as we call them.” , At noon Will was sent to a stationery house on Nassau Street by the cashier and he dropped into the bank as nervous as an applicant standing examination for a good job... The margin clerk told him that his stock had been sold, and that- he could- have a settlement that afternoon. Will left the -bank feeling like a fighting cock, and later'on he found he had made a profit of $275, which raised his available capital to $450. Next morning he told Banker that he had come out all right, and Joe congratulated him on his good luck. ; CHAPTER X.—Nat Peaseley Visits New York, Ten days passed and then Will, who was now watching the stock market like a hawk, noticed that another stock called S. & L. was going up. He consulted the record of past performances of this road and saw that it had been hanging fire around 50 for six months or more. It reached 53 in a day or two and Will concluded to take a shy -at it, He went to the little bank and ordered the margin clerk to buy 40 shares for his account. In a few days the stock went to 60 and a fraction and Will sold out, making an even $300. . The stock kept on rising and went to 69, which fact caused the young messenger to regret that he had sold too soon, However, as he had no means of telling how high it was going he comforted himself with the reflection that half a loaf is bet- ter than no bread “J’ve made $300, at any rate, and now I’m worth _ $750,” he. said to himself. “I’ve done pretty well for a country. boy who hasn’t been quite four months in Wall Street. If I can make another lucky deal I’ll have $1,000 or more to look at and - eali: my own.” agreement. ~ stay a while longer, eas a girl was now being treated: with every consi _ tion. closing B and told Mr. Crimp that if Bessie was willing to _ bout this time he received a letter from Mr. Crimp. The hotel keeper said that his wife had not been able to secure a girl to take Bessie’s lace, and he asked, as a personal favor, that iil would not insist on the exact terms of his He. and his. wife wanted Bessie to and he assured Will that the dera- Will wrote back, enclosing a note to, Bessie. oe Co 13 stay. another month he. was satisfied. to. let her. Bessie answered that she would remain, as shu and Mrs. Crimp were getting on very well. to- gether. A few days afterward Banker met Will and asked him to go into another deal with the crowd, and he consented to put in. $50 on B. & Q., which Joe said a syndicate was going to boom. The stock was bought at 96, went up to 101, then slumped back to 92, where it remained. The deal was a failure and Will lost $25. Banker told him that he mustn’t expect to win all the time. “Tf there was a syndicate back of it why didn’t it go higher than 101?” asked Will, whe was dis- appointed with the result of the deal. “T couldn’t tell you. A’ serew came loose, I guess, and the’whole thing fell in the soup.” While the young messenger felt that he had got out easy, the whole thing gave him a shock, for he thought had he been making the deal him- self with all his funds at stake he would have lost heavily. He was not quite so anxious after that to get in on the market as he had been before, for he saw how easy it was to get caught in the shuffle. When he got back to-the office after his - talk with Joe Banker he was paralyzed to find Nat Peaseley waiting for him in the reception- room. “By gum! I’m here in Wall Street. at last,’ de- clared Nat, shaking him by the hand. “The old man gave me ihe dough and let me come on to’ try and make my fortune. I’m ready to take a job carryin’ messages for anybody that wants me, and Til take less than a hundred dollars to. do it. Gosh! But this here town is-a big place. 1 might have got lost if it hadn’t been tor two po- ~ licemen who showed me the way down here.” : “Did you come here looking for a job?” “I reckon I didn’t come for nothin’ clse, except it was to see you. Bessie Kane sent her love to you. I wanted her to send you a kiss, but she kind of fought Shy of that. If you want that you'll have to go down to the hotel and collect it~ yourself.” “Y’m glad to see you, Nat, but I’m afraid you’ve come on a fool’s errand.” ; “Why so? I’m ready and willin’’to work.” “But you know nothing about the financial dis- trict.” . “Neither did you when you first come on.” ; “But I had an experienced messenger to show me the ropes.” “Well, you kin show them to me, can’t you? You ought to be experienced by this time.” 7 “You forget I was hired to take that boy’s place, and that’s how I was able to get the advan- ~ tage of his knowledge.” : j es “Well, I’m goin’ around to hunt up « job, and — then you kin make me wise to the ropes, a8 you call ’em.” i J HA “No broker would hire you under such an ar- rangement.” “Wouldn’t he? How do you know that?” : “Because it would take you a week at least be- — : fore you’d be able to carry a message in any kind of time.” “What’s a week? That’s only seven days.:-No- broker would. miss that time.” re Sager lis “But no broker can afford to wait till you — learned the business.” - . “Say, what do you want to throw cald water _ on a feller for? Don’t you want me in town?” espe? eet ay
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me. 14 ’ “Vd be glad to have you here, and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t stay if you'll look up another kind of a job.” “What other kind of a job?” “Something that doesn’t require experience to start with.” a “Give it a name and, by gum! I'll hunt it up if it’s in town.” : At that moment the cashier called Will. There was a note for him to ‘take to the Exchange to Mr. Douglas. yy “T’ve got to: go over to the Stock Exchange. You’d better come with me.” On the way to the Exchange Nat gazed around with staring eyes and open mouth. He was so interested in all that was going on around him that he didn’t look where he was putting his No. 10 shoes; the result was he fell over the curb. As he picked himself up his sharp eyes spied a pocket- book within his reach. “By gum! I’ye found somethin’,” he said to Will, holding the wallet up. : “Gracious! You’re lucky,” eried Will in sur- prise. “I reckon I was born so. Let’s see whats’ in it. There was a five-dollar bill and a slip of paper in it. : “You kin have half that’ five, Will. There ain’t nothin’ mean about me.” = “No, I don’t want it. It’s yours, for you found it. Let me see that paper.” ' Nat handed it to him, Will opened it, thinking it might furnish a clue to the owner of the book. This is what he read: “Paradise, Nevada. “Dear Hank: You remember the old Harlequin Silver Mine that never was nothing more than a prospect? Well, me and a few other geezers bought the title up for next door to nothing a _ while ago and we’ve been prospecting it for a vein of ore we was told was there. We was about giv- ing the thing up as*a bad job when we discovered ‘a lead of silver that will make us. all Monte Cristos in six months hence. Now, there’s 20,000 shares of Harlequin stock somewhere in New York. At the present minute it ain’t worth the paper it’s printed on to anybody but ourselves, ’?eause nobody knows yet about the strike. If you can find that stock freeze on to it quicker than a flash of lightning. It will be worth a dollar or more a share inside of a month, as soon as we give out the news. Get a hustle on and look for it. It will be worth all the trouble it may take you to locate it. You ought to buy it for a cent a share, as Harlequin is known as a dead mine, and there isn’t nothing deader than a busted mine that I know of. A nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse, so get busy. “Yours for luck, Tom Brady.” “What does it say?” asked Nat. ; “Something about a discovery of silver ore in a dead mine out West. I’ll keep it if you don’t mind.” ; es eee: 5 “Gosh! You kin have it.. If’ ain’t no good to Don’t you want half of this bill?” “Ne. Nat. I’ve got all the funds I want.” “By gum! You’re lucky. If I had all I want- ‘Ing at Nat Peaseley. BULLING THE MARKET ed I’d need a freight car to take it home. What the dickens is that noise? Where is it comin’ from?” “The Stock Exchange.” . “You don’t say. What’s broke loose in there?” - “The bulls and bears are having ‘it out,” : Jaughed Will. “Gosh all hemlock! I’d like to look on.” “So you shall. Follow me.” They walked in at the messengers’ entrance, “Great gimeracks!” cried Nat, loud enough to call the attention of the other messengers to him. “Is there a dog fight goin’ on ’round that there pole, Will?” “No,” laughed the young messenger. “Those are brokers buying and selling X. & Z. stock.” “X. & Z. stock? What kind is that? ; see nothin’ but a mob of fells shaking’ their fists at one another and hollerin’ to beat the band.” “Hello, hayseed!” cried an A. D. T. boy, look- ° “Ain't you afraid of get- ting lost without a tag?” : “If you’re tryin’ to make fun of me you'll find you’ve got the wrong pig by the tail, by gum!” replied Nat indignantly. i A roar of laughter from the crowd of messen- gers greeted his words. One of them got down on his hands and knees behind him while a com- panion gave Nat a shove that caused him to tum- ble over\the other’s back. “Hold on. fellows!” cried Will. friend of mine.” Nat sprang to his feet, his eyes blazing with anger. Then something happened that caused an uproar in the entrance. Nat went for the crowd like a catapult. He was as strong as a horse and he meant business. He tumbled the messen- gers over like nine-pins, and fired half of ther onto the sidewalk head over heels before Will was able to restrain him or an attendant interfere. “Come on with the rest of ’em!” roared Nat. dancing around. “I kin lick all Wall Street, by gum!” A the fun. : j “This is a I can’t — crowd of traders rushed to the railing to see - “Cool down, Nat. -You’ll be hauled off to jail if _ you don’t cut this business out. rumpus enough now to cause your arrest twice - over.” said Will. “T don’t care. Nobody kin play fool tricks with me if I do come ffm the country. Gol darn it! I’m mad enough to chew hay.” Will pushed Nat- into a corner and explained matters to a couple of attend@nts who came up” to grab Peaseley and hand him to an oiticer. It took a whole lot of argument on Will’s part to save his friend. Finally Will delivered his note to Mr. Douglas and he and Nat left, the other. messengers looking after the country boy with considerable respect for his muscle. . { i I didn’t say © ‘nothin’ to nobody, and. they upsot me on the floor. You’ve made _ CHAPTER XI.—Will Buys Somd Defunct Min- « ’ ing Shares Cheap. the stenographer, Miss Sanborn to him. The pret- ty girl showed him how the typewriter worked. | foie Will took Nat back to the office. He introduced It was hard to tell which interested the coun- try boy the most—the machine or the fair stenog- :
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‘' BULLING THE MARKET 15 rapher herself. Will was sodn <¢eild on to go out again, and he took Nat with him. He point- ‘ed out many of the office buildings and told Nat their names. Finally Mr. Douglas came in the office and Will told him he had a visitor from the country who had come expecting to get work as a messenger in Wall Street. “T suppose all the boys of Millbank want to come to \Vall Street, since they’ve heard that you are getting on so well.” he said. “Not all the boys,” replied Will. “Some of them, no doubi. Nat Peasely has been crazy to come here for a long time, and he’s been worse on the subject since I have made a success ‘of it.” “What are you going to do with him?” - “J don’t know; sir. ~I’d like to get him back home, but_he seems to have come to stay. I told him that he mustn’t expect to get a position in Wall Street. Probably he may be willing to look elsewhere for something to do. He’s a worker, and would make a first-class porter. I should think.” “A friend-of mine, a merchant’ on Beaver Street, needs an assistant helper. I’ll write a note to him recommending your friend. You can take him around to his store.” “All right, sir. I’m much obliged to you.” Mr. Douglas sent for his stenographer and dic- tated a note to the merchant. “Come along, Nat. I’ve got a note that may get you a job. How would you like to work for a merchant?” said Will. : ' “By gum! I jest as lief work for him as any- body else, so long as I git paid for it.” Will took Nat to the store on Beaver Street and. handed the letter to the merchant. The gen- tleman questioned Nat on his general capabili- ties, and finally hired him at $10 a week, direct- ing him to come in the morning at seven o’clock. ; “By gum! Will, that’s more money than you’re gittin’ at your place,” grinned Nat. : . “That’s right. Now VIL take you up to my boarding-house. There’s a vacant room you can have for $150 without board.” a - “Without board! Gol darn it, Will! I’ve got _- to eat, hain’t 1?” “Of course. We'll see the missus about that. She doesn’t take boarders asa rule. She took me as a special favor. Maybe I can persuade her to take you. If not, there’s a restaurant half a block away where you can get your hash cheap.” “Al right.” j Will introduced Nat. to his landlady, and she finally agreed to board him, so that matter was settled. ‘ take the Ninth Avenue train to Battery Place and then walk over to Beaver Street. He said he’d find the store all right, and he did. Will had forgotten all about the note referring to the Har- lequin Silver Mine of Paradise, Nevada, but he found it in his pocket on®the following morning Soon after he reached the offiec. “Gee! I’d like to get hold of those 20,000 shares of the stock,” he said to himself. “I wonder who owns the certificates? Maybe half a dozen people or brokers who have long since looked on that ' mine as a dead issue. I think I’ll make some in- quiries about the stock. It won’t do any harm.” So when Will went around among the brokers that day he inquired at every office where he called about Harlequin mining stock. No one had The broker laughed. | Will explained to Nat how he should any of it, nor had they had inquiries about it for eighteen months or more. It was a dead mine, he was told, long since stricken from the market lists, and of no value whatever. “Not worth a cent a share,” said one trader. “I never handled any of it, for it never was any- thing but a prospect, and prospects, as a rule, ‘aren’t worth bothering with.” “Harlequin Mine?” said another. “Don’t know anything about it. Got no use for dead issues. Don’t believe it ever amounted to anything.” “I guess those shares are held by some people outside of Wall Street,” thought Will, after he had exhausted all his available means of inquiry. Finally he thought he’d ask the cashier of the ~ office about the stock. He didn’t look for any re- sults from the inqiury, however. “Mr. Trask, did you ever hear about a mining stock called Harlequin?” he asked. “Harlequin! Yes. It was a prospect that went out of existence two or three years ago.” “Know anybody who has any of it on hand?” “T believe Jacob Dean, on this floor, has a block of 20,000 shares in his safe.” Will’s heart gave a bound. “Do you think he’d sell it cheap?” he asked eagerly. “Sell it! Why, he couldn’t give it away. No- body wants a valueless stock.” “He must consider it of some value or he wouldn’t lumber his safe up with it.” “Oh, he’s one of those brokers who would hold on to a scrap of paper on the chance that some- body might want to buy it some day.” | “How did he get hold of a stock that has no value?” “A man-left it with him as security for a small loan. That was when it was in the mining lists, and had a nominal value of five cents a share. The man never called to repay the money, and _ never will. He died in one of the city hospitals soon after from the effects of an operation.” “Tf you say Mr. Dean couldn’t give it away he might be willing to sell it cheap.” “Who wants it?” . Ji E do.”’ “What do you want with a useless stock?” asked the cashier in surprise. “I'm making a collection of defunct mining shares,” grinned Will. ° / “You ought to be able to find enough of that kind in Wall Street to fill a good-sized cellar.” “May I go in and ask him what he wants for - the stock?” “You may; but don’t let him think you want it bad, for if you do he’ll ask you a good price.” Will walked down the corridor to Broker Dean’s office. The trader was in and received him in his private office. i “What can I do for you, young man?” he in- quired. ee “Vm making a collection of certificates of bursted mines. I was told that you have some Harlequin mining shares.” : “Who told you so?” “Mr. Trask, of our office.” “I’ve got four certificates of 5,000 shares each. If you'll take them all I’ll let you have them cheap.’ “What do you call cheap?” “One hundred dollars.” ‘~
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al 16 “That’s too much. The stock isn’t worth any- thing.” “What do you want with it?” “Keep it asa curiosity. I'll give you $10 for one of the certificates.” “Take the four and you may have them for 3? - “[’m afraid I can’t afford it.” “How much can you afford?” “Twenty-five dollars.” “Hand me the money and you can have them.” Will counted out $25, and Mr. Dean went out- side and after a few minutes returned with the certificates. ’ “Going to frame them?” he asked with a _ chuckle as he handed them to the boy. “I may. By the way, give me a receipt for the money, will you?” “What for? You’ve got the certificates. What more do you want?” “T’d like some evidence to show that I paid $25 for them.” “Why?” ‘i “People might think I got them for nothing.” “What difference does it make what they think?” “77d like to be able to prove that I really did pay something for them.” Broker Dean drew up a receipt stating that he had that day sold Will Wicker four certificates _ of Harlequin mining stock for $25 cash. “Thank you, sir,” said Will. “Good-day.” “Good-day,” chuckled the trader, and the door elosed after the boy. CHAPTER XIi.—News from the Harlequin Silver Mine. “lve got the stock,” said Will, exhibiting the four certificates to Mr. Trask. the cashier, on his return to the office. “What did you pay for them?” = “Twenty-five dollars. He asked me $100 at rst. “Upon my word, young man, you must have money to throw away. I told you that the stock of that mine is worthles.” . “It may pan out yet.” ; “There isn’t one chance in a hundred of it doing 0. “Don’t be too sure of that, Mr. Trask,” replied Will significantly. , “Have you pond anything about that mine?” asked the cashier, noticing 'the young messenger’s tone and manner. “T have.” “What did you hear about it?” asked Mr. Trask with an air of some interest. - “T heard that a fine vein of sifver ore had been discovered in the mine.” . . “You did?” ejaculated the cashier in surprise. “When and how did you get hold of the infor- mation?” , “I would prefer not to say just at present.” ' “Did yousee it in one of the financial papers?” . “No, sir.” . “Hear any broker talking about it?” “No, siz.” “ : “Then I don’t see how——” Leet “Maybe you'll ase a report of the discovery in ~“ tf ; = : i BULLING THE MARKET the papers before thirty days. At any rate I consider my information worth risking $25 on. If it should amount to nothing I won’t go broke.” Will watched the financial papers after that every day for some indication of the report of the discovery of silver in the Harlequin mine. Day after day went by and nothing happened. At the end of three weeks the boy began to won- der if the letter containing the alleged informa- tion amounted to anything after all. Nat Pease- ley was getting acquainted with the city fast. He and Will traveled around together every night and on Sunday and had a good time together. Nat liked his job, which he filled ‘satisfactorily, and he was tickled to death with the big wages he was getting. His hours were pretty long, as com- pared with Will’s, but he didn’t mind that for a cent, as he was used to working long hours on his father’s farm in the country. It was about this time that Will, while eager'y awaiting some sign in the papers about the Harlequin Silver Mine, found out one afternoon that a pool had been formed to boom L. & M. stock. Satisfied that he had got hold of a gilt-edged tip, he went to the little bank and bought 70 shares of the stock, putting up all his money on margin. L. & M. was going at 71 when he went in on the deal, and a few days later it was up to 75. At the beginning of the following week it was up to 80, and Will watched the market closely so that he might be able to judge when it was best for him to unload. The boom set in — on Wednesday and the brokers became greatly excited as they always did over a boom or a slump. Finally the price reached 91, and the young messenger gave the bank instructions to sell him out. . His stock went at a little over 91, and after commisions were paid he figured up his profit at $1,400, which raised his capital to $2,100. L. & M. went to 93, and the insiders got rid of their holdings without causing any flurry, and after their support was withdrawn from the stock it gradually went down to 75. This dea was hardly finished before Will saw a paragraph in one of the Wall Street papers re- ferring to Harlequin Silver Mine. The truth had come out at last, and when a fuller story was published on the follownig day, confirming the discovery of one of the richest léads of silver ore in the State of Nevada, considerable excitement was shown on the Curb. The brokers began mak- ing inquirieS for the stock, but nobody had any. Several members of the Curb Exchange started around among the offices to try and find some of it: They met with no success, but their efforts spread the news that something was doing in the old dead mine. About two o’clock in the afternoon Broker Ja- cob Dean, who had sold the 20,000 shares to Will, heard the news of the silver strike. not read the account if? the morning paper be- cause his attention had been taken up with other matters. The broker who told-him in a casual way about the discovery at the mine said the news was printed in full in the “Wall Street Argus.” Broker Dean couldn’t believe there was He had anything in the report, but as soon as he got. back to his office he looked, up the story in the “Argus.” He was nearly paralyzed by what he saw. > r ™ “I must get that stock back from the boy before Zz 4 we » : aie . a Aw me
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A aa BULLING THE MARKET iT he hears about this news,” he said to himself in feverish eagerness. “Just to think of me selling those shares for $25 on the eve of such a discov- ery after keeping them all these years in my safe, and having that $200 loan marked up to profit and loss. That stock will be put back on the lists again, and may be quoted as high as 50 centS a share if the ore vein turns out to be half as valuable as it is reported. I simply must get the stock back at all ahzards. Why, that boy would make $10,000 off a $25 investment, if he didn’t make even more. What a donkey I was to sell it, and I thought I had done pretty well to get $25 for four apparently worthless certifi- cates.” : Mr. Dean put on his hat and hurried in to Mr. - Dougias’s office. He looked around for Will, but didn’t see him. “Where’s your. messenger boy?” he asked the cashier. “T sent him out on an errand.” “Will you send him in to my office as soon as he returns?” - “T will, Mr. Dean,” replied the cashier. Mr. Trask chuckled as the trader walked out, looking Jike a man in great sweat. Will had showed him the story about the Harlequin Mine printed in that morning’s “Argus,” and the ¢ash- jer had duly congratulated the young messenger on his good luck, which, under the circumstances, promised to be phenomenal. Will returned to the office in about ten minutes. - “Mr. Dean was in here looking for you,” said Mr. Trask. “That so?” replied Will. “What did he want with me?” © “He didn’t say, but I guess he’s réad about the discovery of ore in the Harlequin Mine and he is , trying to get those 20,000 shares back.” ~ “I’m ‘afraid he won’t get them back from me.” “Well, he said he wanted to see you in his office as soon as you got back, so you’d better go in there now. for I may have to send you out again in a few minutes.” ; So Will hastened in to see what Mr. Dean wanted with him. : “Take a seat, Wicker,” ‘said Dean. “I want to speak to you about that mining stock I sold you the other day.” “What about it?” asked Will. “T’ve just discovered that I had no right to sell it to you.” ; ss “No right?” ; “No. It was hypothecated with me some time ago as security for a $200 loan. I thought the loan had run out, but find I made a mistake. I’ll have to ask you to return me the certificates. Ill allow you $25 for your trouble in the matter.” “Do you expect the man to whom you made the loan to come back and claim the stock?” “T am looking for him to do so.” . “Then you believe that dead people can revisit this earth, do you?” : “Dead people!. What do you mean?” . ““The man you made the loan to has been dead these two years.” E “Who told you that?” glared Broker Dean. “Mr. Trask, our cashier,” replied Will coolly. “Mr. Trask knows nothing about my business,” said Mr. Dean angrily. i 7 » “Then I’m to understand that the man is not dead?” ‘ “Certainly, he is not.” “I’m afraid in that case you'll have to settle the matter with him yourself. I bought the cer- tificates from you in good faith, and I’m going to hold them.” ; “But I must have them. IVll give you $100 if you will release them to me.” “No; Siz; cash, nor $5,000, at this moment. I have learned that a rich vein of silver has just been discovered in the mine, and the stock may be worth $10,000 a month from now. I know a good thing when I see it, and I don’t propose to let it get away from me. “You can’t keep that stock, young man. I’ll call on your employer and he will make you give it © u “You’re at liberty to call on him if you want to, but he can’t make me turn my own property over to you.” : “If he doesn’t I’ll have you arrested for retain- ing property that belongs to another,” cried Jacob . Dean furiously. “All right, Have me arrested. I’ll bet you won’t get the stock back, just the same. I’m willing to submit the case to any magistrate in the city. I bought the stock from you, and it is mine as much as this suit of clothes is mine. You cannot fright- en me by such a threat as that. I wasn’t born yesterday.” “We'll see, you impertinent little monkey. I’ve offered you $100 for its. return. If it isn’t in my office by ten to-morrow morning you will_find yourself in the hands of a.policeman on your way to jail,” roared the broker, who was as mad as a hatter. Will made no reply to this speech, but got up and left the office. Fifteen minutes later he met Broker Arden on the street and laid the matter before him. : “The stock is your property beyond any doubt,” said Arden. “You were smart to get that receipt for the $25 from him. That will clinch the matter in any court of law. How came you to buy that stock, anyway?” he added curiously. “Vl tell you.some time, Mr. Arden. At present all I can say is that I came into advance informa- tion about the discovery of silver ore in the mine, and I looked around to find some of the stock, for I thought it would be a good thing to have.” “Youre an uncommonly lucky boy, Wicker. You may make $1,000 profit. on every dollar you invested in the stock. Everything will depend on the richness of the ore and whether it lasts or not, Should it peter out the stock will return you noth- ing. On the other hand should this mine prove to be a new Eldorado you will be in a position to make 1,000 per cent. profit, if not more.” Be “I expect that Mr. Dean will try to make trouble for me.” * “Pay no attention to him. He can’t do anythin in the matter. The sale was a bona fide one aie will stand.” oe ; _ Will thanked him and walked off. Next morn- ing at eleven o’clock, as Will was coming out of the messengers’. entrance to the Exchange he was confronted by Broker Dean and a policeman. They had evidently been waiting for-him to come out 7 : = I wouldn’t take $1,000 for them in: if) Ca
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18 BULLING THE MARKET “There he is now,” said Dean. “Arrest that boy.” The policeman laid his hand on Will’s shoulder, saying: : “You'll have to come with me, young man.” — “What for? What am I charged with?” “You are a thief!” roared Dean. shaking his fist in Will’s face. “You have mining stock belonging to me in your possession. You will give it now or go to jail.” : CHAPTER XIII.—Nat Pleasley Makes a Haul in the Market. “T haven’t anything belonging to you, Mr. Dean. The mining stock you refer to I purchased from you for $25, as you well know. Because it promises to be worth something now you want to get it away from me. Well, you won’t get it. I know my rights, and intend to stand up for them.” “Take him to the station, officer,’ said the bro- ker in a rage. : _ “Jt strikes me that you’ll regret having me ar- rested, Mr. Dean,” said Will, as a crowd of mes- senger boys and others began to gather, attracted by the disturbance and the presence of the police- man. “What's this mean, Mr. Dean?” demanded Bro- ker Arden, stepping up, suspecting at once the cause of the boy’s trouble. “Mr. Dean has caused my arrest on the charge of retaining that mining stock I told you about yesterday afternoon,” explained Will, | “That boy’s arrest is an outrage!” ejaculated Edwin Arden, looking angrily at Dean. “He is a thief!” cried Broker Dean doggedly. “He is no more a thief than you are yourself,” replied Arden, standing up loyally for Will. ‘Aha! You wish té insult me!” cried Dean, shaking his fist in the face of the boy’s defender. The young broker knocked his arm aside, sprang at him, and struck him a heavy blow in’ the mouth, knocking him down. The messenger boys who formed the inner line of spectators gave a shout of glee. It looked as if the two brokers were about to indulge in a scrap on the sidewalk, and that was an exhibition that was just to their linking. . - They were disappointed, however, as Broker Dean, though a bigger man than Broker Arden, had the heart of a mouse. Besides, Dean knew that Arden was a boxer and an all-around ath- lete, and that he stood no show whatever in a serap with the younger man. He picked himself -up, glared at Arden, but made no beligerent move. . “Officer,” said Arden, “have you a warrant for this boy’s arrest?” : ; “T have.” “Will you let me See it, please?” = The policeman exhibited the warrant, which charged Will Wicker with approprratnig prup- erty, to wit: Four certificates of 5,000 shares each of the Harlequin Silver Mining Company, of Paradise, Nevada, which did not belong to him rightfully. — - NePhis Tee bought and paid for that stock, of- ficer, and he holds a receipt from this man Dean for the purchase price of the shares. It is simply ridiculous to arrest him on such a charge,” said Azden. : ; “Jt is not my place to pass upon the merits of the case,” replidd the policeman. “I have been sent to execute the warrant.” “Tf you push this charge, Mr. Dean,” said Ar- den, “it will do you no good, and only serve to make you the laughing-stock of the Street. Wicker bought that stock of you at your own fig- ures. It was absolutely worthless at the time of the sale—not worth the price you charged him. Now you want to get it back because of a»news- paper report stating that a rich discovery of ore has been made in the mine. If that stock turns out to be valuable this boy will rightfully be the gainer. If he is taken to the station I will go there and bail him out, and I will see that he afterwards brings a suit. against you for false imprisonment.” Dean began to wake up to the fact that he was acting like a fool, so he told the policeman to let Will go. The policeman, however, entertained some doubts about releasing the boy on account of the warrant, which it was his duty to execute, Dean then directed him to bring Will over to his — office. When they arrived there he handed the officer a bill. - ; “Report to the court that the case has been set- tled,” he said, and the policeman went away. ot He then offered Will $500 for the return of the certificates, but the boy declined to part with them, so that ended the interview. The fact that Will owned 20,000 shares of the Harlequin Mine reached the ears of his employer, although the boy himself said nothing about the matter to any one but the cashier, and Mr. Trask did not think it necessary to inform Mr. Douglas. Mrr. Arden told Douglas about it, as he thought that the way Will had got possession of the shares was very clever indeed. Douglas laughed at the story of Broker Dean’s discomfiture in his futile effort to regain possession of the stock as soon as he learned that the mine was likely to turn out a winner after all. When he saw Will he con- gratulated him about the matter. Will told him how he had acquired it, and he advised his messenger to hold on to it. : Mr. Douglas entered his office and Will began to build air castles around his Harlequin mining stock. A few days later Will was listening to some brokers talking in the reception-room while waiting to get an interview with Mr. Douglas. He was the only one in the room besides themselves, and as he was apparently absorbed in the columns of the “Daily Argus” they paid no attention to. his presence. : ‘He soon learned that they were discussing the chances of big money to be made out of a com- bination in which they were interested to boom H. & O. stock, which was then going at 56. Will lis- tened attentively to all they said. and when the four brothers were admitted to Mr. Douglas’s sanctum he was satisfied he had got hold of a fine tip. That afternoon on his way home he left an or- der at the little bank for the purchase of 200 shares of H. & O. at the market, and his order’ was filled first thing in the morning after the Ex- change opened for business. Will didn’t look for the stock to rise right away, as it would take some days for the syndicate to buy in the shares on the — outside before its brokers got busy on the Ex- change. That evening he asked Nat if he wanted to make a little money on the outside. = et
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BULLING THE MARKET “By gum! I’m always ready to make money - on any side, Will, whether it’s on the outside or the inside,” he replied. s “As long as it’s not the wrong side, eh? Well, have you got $50?” “T have.” g “Give it to me and I’ll buy you five shares of H. & O. stock. I’ve bought as many shares myself as) my pile will let me, and I expect to make a good thing out of it.” “If you expect to. make money out of it I’m with you. I don’t know nothin’. ’bout stocks, but you ought to know a hull lot by this time, and whatever you say goes with me, bet your bottom - dollar.” “Nat came up with $50, and next day Will bought five more shares in his own name for his friend’s account. Three days later H. & O. was up to 58, and Will told Nat that he was $10 better off on paper. than he had been at the time he put ~ up the $50. “What do ait mean by I’m better off on pa- — per?” asked Nat. “Well, your five shares of stock are worth $10 _ more than when I bought them for you. We call that paper profit, because nobody is certain of it ~ until he realizes the cash in hand.” : “7 reekon I see. the point,” said Nat, nodding his head sagely. ‘(How much do you think I’m ~goin’ to make out of this thing?” | “You may make $15 or $20 clear.” : - “Gosh! That’s fine. I’d like to be in one of these here deals every day. I’d soon be rich - enough\to buy a farm for myself.” = “To you intend to go back to the country one of these days and settle down?” S “T ain’t quite sure what I’ll do. This here $10 a - week I’m gittin’ down on Beaver Street is a - mighty strong inducement for me to stay in the - city for a good while to come.” $ ' “Yoy’re bound to get a raise by and by if you attend strictly to business. That is an old estab- lished ‘house you’re with. The boss of a place of ’ that kind. always takes care of his employees as long as they do the right thing.” 4T don’t want no one to take care of me. By gum! I kin take care care of myself.” “What I mean is that Mr. Dazian will give you” a sqare deal.” ~ "Oh, that’s: it. _more.” On Friday of that week H. & O. began to boom in earnest.. At length it reached 75 3-4, at which figure Will sold out his own shares and.the five he bought for Nat. On Tuesday evening when his friend went up to his room with him he handed him. $147.50. : : i ; “What's this?” asked Nat, looking at the roll in. surprise. “The $50 you gave me ‘rest is your profit.” “B’gosh! You don’t mean to-say I’ve made $97.50?” gasped the country lad. “That’s what you made on the deal.” 3 4 “Sufferin’ giglamps!” ejaculated Nat, gaping at the money.. “I-never had so much before in alt my life. I’m goin’ down to Millbank next Sunday along with you, and by gum! IJ’ll make the gals look some, bet your boots. I'll get a new suit and * Well, I don’t ask for nothin’ to put up en H.& 0. The ey a new. hat and a new tie. I reckon I'll have the ta hull town by the ears. How much did you make, } Wilk?” a Nat,” laughed the agent. © 19 “T made $3,900.” “B’gosh! You must -be worth a_ hull money now.” : “I’m worth $6,000, and 20,000 shares of mining stock that some day may be worth a dollar or more a share.” lot of CHAPTER XIV.—How Fortune Favors Will. When Sunday came around Will and Nat went down to Millbank together. They were both dress- ed in their best clothes, but Nat looked mee ee gorgeous in his new suit, with a glass diamon in his four-in-hand tie, and a silk handkerchief sticking out of the upper outside pocket of his coat. He looked the countryman -all over, in spite of his city outfit, while no one would have guessed that Will was anything but a regular New York- er. This time Will carried a cane, and Nat car- ried one also, because he didn’t want his friend to have anything on him, as the saying is, When they got off the car at Millbank Station the agent nearly had a fit when he recognized Nat. “Well, you’re coming out for fair, Nat,” he said with a grin. “By gum! I rather guess there’s some style about me now,” replied Nat bg rial “Me and Will are the goods, bet your ife.” “I'm afraid the girls won’t do a thing to you, “VIL bet they won’t, b’gosh!” “Come on, Nat, we’ve got no time to fool here. We've got to get back to the city some time to- night,” said Will, pulling his companion ster g at only walked a short distance with Will, as is home lay in another direction, but it was easy see that his appearance in town was creating a sensation. What would happen when the old man. saw the dudish appearance of his son Will could only surmise, but he judged there would be something doing on the farm. Will went straight to the hotel, where he was received with open arms by Mr. Crimp and Bessie, and with unusual respect and considera- tion by Mrs. Crimp. He had a whole lot to tell them, and when he showed them a certificate’ of deposit for $6,000 on the little bank in Nassau Street, nfade out in his name, the three looked at him -with wonder. oe “But that isn’t all I’m worth,” he said. “I own 20,000 sharés of mining stock that I picked up at a bargain which I expect will stand me in $20,000 oné of these days. It wasn’t worth anything: when. » I bought it, but silver was discovered on the prop- erty, and that means I am going to make a good thing out of it.” * “And you wasn’t worth $10 when you left here six months ago,” said Mr. Crimp. “That’s right, pop. One of these days I hope’ to a be worth as much as Mr. Douglas, or Mr. ‘Arden, © or any of the brokers.” “How much are they worth?” “Anywhere from $100,000 to half a million or more.” ; Will brought up the question of Bessie’s de-— parture for New York at dinner. Mrs. Crimp ees glum and said she hated to part with the girl. c ply & “Haven’t you found another yet?” “T can’t find no.gal that’s willin’ ‘to work for me,” she. replied: iY come and
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20 Will was not surprised: at this admission on her part, for he guessed that everybody in Millbank and the neighborhood knew that Mrs. Crimp was not an easy woman to work for. “Me and Bessie is gettin’ on all right nowadays. I wish you’d let her stay awhile longer,” said the lady of the house. “Are you willing to stay, Bessie?” asked Will. “To you want me to?”-she asked wistfully. “Well, if Mrs. Crimp is treating you fairly I think you’d better stay for the present. Ill come down often to see you. I’m not stuck on having you go to work in New York. There’s no occasion for you to make money, for I intend to provide for you one of these days when I get well off.” So it was decided that Bessie was to remain at the hotel, much to Mrs. Crimp’s satisfaction. Will made Mr. Crimp a present of $25 for himself and gave a similar amount to Mrs. Crimp. He gave Bessie $50 to expend on herself in any way she chose. “If you don’t find somebody you like better- than me, sweetheart,” he said, “some day you shall have all the money you can get away with.” “T shall never find anybody I’ll like better than you, Will,” she said, putting her arms about his neck and laying her head on his shoulder. “Sure of that, are you?” “Yes. I love you very dearly.” “And I love you better than anybody in all the wide world,” he replied, kissing her. “To you, Will?. I am so eee te At seven o’clock Will met Nat at the station. The country lad looked as if he’d been having the time of his life. : “The old man had a fit when he seen. me,” grin- ned Nat. : “J was afraid something would drop on the. farm when you got there,” laughed Will. : “And mam, she nearly fainted. As for the gals, Sukey andMoll, they jest laughed till the tears ran down their eyes. I tell you they got all the fatted calf on the table purty dern quick. I was the hull thing, and they didn’t want me to go back. I gave pop and mam $10 apiece, and each of the gals a fiver. They think I own a bank in the city, and I let ’em think so, b’gosh!” As Nat concluded the train came in and they boarded it. At the end of the coming week Will saw by the Goldfield market report that the Har- lequin mine had been put on the list and was quoted at 40 cents. “That makes my block of stock worth $8,000. But I don’t intend to sell it at that price.” he said to himself. A weck later it was up to 60 cents, and by the end of the month it had gone to $1.25 a share. By degrees it rose to $1.52, and as it seemed to hang around that figure Will concluded to sell it. He got rid of it to four different brokers at $1.50, end thus added $80,000 to his capital. It ‘seemed as if good fortune was running Will’s way in shoals, for hardly had he disposed of his min- ~ ing shares before he got hold of a tip on S. & T. that looked like a winner. He bought 3,000 shares at 65, and a week later it was going at 75. He ’ also got 15 shares for Nat. > “This is a gilt-edged stock, and the tip is a - gilt-edged one, too,” he told Nat at the time he ~- proposed that his friend should make his ‘second -_/yenture. “I know some of the brokers who: are - booming it, and they are able to keep it up as _ always insisted on his accepting. As for Bessie, a floor of one of the new office buildings, and thera BULLING THE MARKET long as they please. They’re going to make a ~ mint of money out of the rise, and I propose to get a slice out of it myself.” “Tf I made $97.50 out of $50,” said Nat, “I ought to make three times as much out of $150, b’gosh!”” ae probably will if things go right as I ex- pect.” S. & T. continued to rise steadily for several days, and at the end of that time it was up to 85 and a fraction. Judging by what he heard about — the Street that it was time for him to sell he left _ an order with the bank to do so. His profit amounted to $60,000, while Nat cap- tured $300. Nat was tickled to death, and he wanted to know how much Will had made out of the deal, but this time the young messenger wouldn’t tell him. “He’d drop dead if he knew I was worth $96,- 000,” chuckled Will. “He’d be after me all the time to make another deal for him whether I saw a good chance or not, because he’d want to make $96,000 himself right off the reel.” The possession of nearly $100,000 didn’t seem to make a whole lot of difference with Will Wick- er, not half so much, in fact, as the change that $450 did in Nat. It was as much as Will could. do to hold Nat in. One would have thought he was _ a millionaire from his conversation and the style © he put on. Will was now in high favor with Mrs; © Crimp, for every time he came down’ he brought — her a nice present; and she reckoned him a kind~ of walking gold mine. Mr. Crimp was always sincerely glad to see _ him without any regard to the present that Will of course she was very happy when he came down to Millbank, for Will was everything to her as he declared she was to him. Thus several months passed away and early summe2 came aroun. Will had made several quick deals at a profit of three or four points on each, and his, — capital had increased to a little over $150,000. Then the chance came to him to get in on the big-_ best deal of his young career. aS CHAPTER XV.—Will Buys Some Trolley Shares. One day Will was returning from an errand to the Mills Building. An old white-haired gentle- man was walking right ahead of him. He was a well-known character in Wall Street and his — name was Andrew Hardcastle. No one knew his~ exact age, but it was known to be over eighty. Most men of his wealth, for he was a millionaire, would have retired from active service years since. Andrew Hardcastle, however, couldn’t tear — himself away from the financial district. He hadigrown up with it from a boy of fifteen, - when he entered a big brokerage house as office — boy, and graduated from it as a broker himself, — Subsequently he turned his attention to loaning | money to brokers at the prevailing rate of inter- — est, and he found this so profitable that he stuck — to it. Every messenger boy as well as habitue of — Wall Street knew the old man, and naturally Will — Tenpauized his figure as soon as he saw it. taht Andrew Hardcastle had an office on the fifth — 3 he could be found every working day from ten 7 aS
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- three. His bookkeeper was a man almost as old as himself, who had been him for over. forty years, and his stenographer was a little gray- - haired lady of perhaps fifty. Even his office boy ~ and messenger was a little wizened old fellow of _ sixty-odd, who seemed to be quite as nimble on his ‘ es as most of the boys who filled similar posi- tions. : ‘Will was perhaps a yard behind the old gentle- _.man when something caused him to glance up- - ward. It might have been a loud warning cry borne down to the sidewalk by the wind which had -. caught his ear and attention. However, he never remembered what had caused him to look up. _ What he saw, however, caused him to eatch his - breath, spring. forward, seize Old Andrew Hard- castle in his young and sinewy arms and swing him off his feet. Almost at the same instant there was a terrific crash, and a heavy iron girder struck the walk where the old man would have been but for Will’s presence of mind. q It went through the concrete sidewalk as _ though this obstruction were nothing but paper, ; and continued on into the cellar, and thence - through the floor to the sub-cellar of the office _ building, where it extended beyond the building line, leaving a big gapping hole in the walk, and another below. Andrew Hardcastle was one of ” those men whose wits are keen even in old age. He realized at once the peril he had escaped, and. after gazing blankly at the hole two feet Slee for a moment he turned to see who it was that had saved his life. Spectators came running to the spot from all quarters, and great excite- ment prevailed in the street. ~ - “Young man, I.am grateful to you,” he said, in ae pew voice, astonishing under the circum- ¥ stances, and Will was amazed to find that his . handclasp was as firm as though nothing unusual _ had occurred to stir‘the old man’s feelings to the very depth of his being. f “You are welcome, sir,’ replied Will rather -tremulously, for he was not unmoved himself by he thrilling and terrifying incident, although he had just enacted the part of a hero in saving the old gentleman’s life. A crowd. gathered around _ them in a moment, t “Shall I.see you as far as your office, Mr. Hard- 4 eastle?” asked Will politely. “Yes. I shall want to thank you more fully than I can do it here.” The crowd, regarding both with wonder, not unmixed with admiration, opened to let them pass through just as a big policeman came up. The officer wanted to know a few particulars for his ‘notebook, and was soon jotting down Mr. Hard- castle’s name as well as Will’s Then followed their business addresses and a question or two. Will and the old man were then permitted to go “on their way, while the policeman proceeded to try and find out the cause of the accident. The young messenger accompanied his aged companion to the Altemus Office Building and up- stairs to his office. Here Mr. Hardcastle had a - short talk with the boy, and finally dismissed him with the request that Will must call on him occa- sionally, and if he could ever be of any assist- ~ ance to him he must not fail to let him know. The ‘Papers had a full account of the incident, and eee ill Wicker full credit for saying the old _&entleman’s life. : : For the next thirty-six hours Will was the Sas eo SRR, Spee nay Hite ge eee ne Bre ee Seas AUS Lt aS BULLING THE MARKET “castle at half-past three. 21 most talked of boy in the city, and his presence of mind and-nerve were loudly praised by all the traders. Then the matter was forgotten in the giddy whirl of Wall Street affairs. Not long af- terward Will learned that a number of capitalists were organizing a pool to buy the stock of a small trolley line which was operating about three miles of road between two towns in Westchester County. The road owned a 99-year franchise, but it was not paying, nor had it paid since the day it went into commission. The capitalists, who were only moderately well off men, and not particularly well known in the financial world, intended to enlist the services of certain politicians in a scheme to extend the road to a certain town where connec- tions could be made with a big trolley company, and then sell the combined franchises to the other company at a big price, It was known that the president of the small road, called the Westches- ter & Northern Trolley Line, was anxious to sell out his controlling interest, and the capitalists proposed to buy him out, and as much of the rest mete stock as they could pick up at bargain rates. Will immediately saw the chance to make a good haul by getting in ahead of the pool. He as- certained that the road was capitalized for $3,- 000,000, all of which had been sold at par for $50. a share, making 60,000 shares of stock that had been issued. The stock, however, had gone down in value and was quoted at 25. Will immediately went to the little bank, had a talk with the cashier, and told him that he had $150,000 that he wanted invested in stock of the W.& N. Trolley Line, on a 10 per cent margin, and. agreeably to Will’s request, in an hour from _that time the little bank had purchased 15,000. shares of the W. & N. line for an average price of 24, and notified Will by messenger that the stock was held subject to his order. CHAPTER XVI.—How Will Worked a Corner. That afternoon Will called on Andrew Hard- He had sent the oid gentleman word that he would be there at that hour, and asked him to wait, as he wanted to see him on a matter of great importance. After they had greeted each other Will said: “Would it surprise you to learn that I am worth $150,000, Mr. Hardcastle?” “Are you really worth that much?” asked the old gentleman in surprise. “T was this morning, but-I have put it up as maTein on 15,000 shares of the W. & N. Trolley ine.” . Mr. Hardeastle looked at Will as if he thought he was not in his right mind, He knew all about the financial condition of the trolley line, and, it happened, he held in his safe at that moment ~ 81,000 shares of the road, the controlling interest of the president of the company, which had been hypothecated by that gentleman three months be- fore to raise his»share of the assessment necess- ary to meet the January interest. “Will: you explain why you bought 15,000 - shares of this line on margin?” he asked Will. “I don’t believe a speculator in the Street could be found willing to take such a desperate risk,
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~_ 000 22 Without knowing your reasons I should term it the rankest kind of folly, for the road is practical- ly insolvent.” “T will tell you the grounds for the deal. I know all about the condition of the road, but I also know something which the Street does not know at present,” said Will, who thereupon explained to Mr. Hardcastle about the syndicate that was being formed to take over the road at bedfock prices, secure another franchise extending the line to Williamsport, and sell out to the H. & N. H. interests. : “Bfforts have been made by the W. & N. road to extend the road themselves to Williamsport, but it has always been blocked by Senator Smith, because they would not ante up his figure,” said Will. “Well, Senator Smith is in this syndicate and the franchise will go through as sure as . fate.” < Mr. Hardeastle was now much interested in - Will’s statement of the case, and he was surprised that the boy had been able to secure such valuable inside information. He was more surprised pres- ently when the young errand boy outlined the ob- ject of his visit. @ : ) “J have, as I just told you, acquired a grip on a quarter interest in the road’s stock. What I want to do is to secure as much of the stock as I - ean get. I understand that the president of the road has offered his controlling interest for 24. Yd like to get it. Will you buy it for me on the strength of what I told you and divide the prolt with me?” : : “Before I give you my answer we- will go into this matter a little closer. And first of all perhaps you will tell me how you come to be worth $150,- ” * Will accordingly told him how he had been brought up in the country; how he came to New York to accept an offer from Broker Douglas to enter his office as messenger, and how he had started speculating in the_miarket with $20 on two shares of D. & G. stock in a messenger boys _ pool. Mr. Hardeastle was particularly interested in the way he obtained the 20,000 shares of Harlequin mining stock for $25, and then realized $30,000 out of it. : ; “Upon my word, young man, I believe you’re a born speculator,” he said. “At any rate you have had extraordinary luck with your speculations. Does Mr. Douglas know what you have been do- ing, and how much you’re worth?” “Al] he knows is about the mining stock specu- lation. He believes I have the $30,000 I made in that deposited in.savings banks.” _ : They then went into a consideration of the trol- ley road project. : ' “Your purpose seems to be to effect a corner in that stock,” said the old man: _ “That’s exactly what I am aiming at.” “What then?” i “{ intend to call on Senator Smith and make him a special proposition for securing a franchise on a line to Williamsport. I think I can do better by him than the syndicate, provided you will see me through.” : : Will went into all the details of the scheme as far as he had thought them out, and they struck Vir. Hardeastle so favorably that he consented to back Will with all the money necessary to put the ~ deal through. ‘ : fea Si - “ have Mz, Wynn's controlling interest in the. wy See _ ne ’ BULLING THE MARKET t line in my safe now” he ‘told the boy, “and I wil! send him word at once that I can get him 22 for the whole block. If he is willing to take it I will! buy the stock outright for you. That will give you — three-quarters of the shares. To-morrow you can . tell Mr. Douglas to buy every share of the road’s stock he can get at 24, and deliver it C. O. D. to me. Before the end of the week you ought to have the stock completely cornered, then you can try to put your csheme through.” Two days later Mr. Hardcastle sent his ancient messenger to Will with a note telling him that he had bought the president’s interest in the trolley line at 22. By Saturday Will had secured control _ of 55,000 of the 60,000 shares of stock, and had worked a corner that put the destiny of the trol- — ley road in his hands. When the syndicate got busy the members of it found that their plans. were completely blocked. Will then had an interview with Senator Smith at Mr. Hardeastle’s office, in which the old man took part, and showed the senator how it would be to his interest to drop out of the useless syn- dicate and come in with young Wicker. An agree- ment was drawn up with the senator, an big politician immediately set the wires going to get the new franchise through the Legislature. As soon as this was effected Mr. Hardcastle com- municated with the H. & N. H. franchise to Williamsport. It was some time before an agreement could be reached, but finally the H. & N. H. road ed to buy the 55,000 shares of stock from Will for 40, or $2,200,000. That left $880,000 over and above what Will had paid for the stock. Will got $500,000, Senator Smith got $250,000, and the bal- ance went for the expenses and interest on the money advanced by Mr. Hardcastle and the bank, the old gentleman refusing to share in the profits. Will then tendered his resignation to Mr. Doug- las, on the ground that an errand boy worth $650,000 was out of place in his office. “What are you going to do, Willi?” asked his employer. “I’m going into partnership with Mr. Arden.” “He never said a word to thing.” “T know it. We wanted to surprise you.” - “You've done it, all right. Well, I wish you luck.” e A few days later the sign on Mr. Arden’s of- fice was changed to “Arden & Wicker, Stocic Brokers,” and the news created a big sensation when it reached Millbank. When Will next vis- ited the village he was received with great defer- ence, and the inhabitants regarded him with pride and satisfaction. They looked upon him as a self-made product of the little town, and were never tired of talking about his wonderful success in Wall Street. Some years later there was a big wedding at the hotel, when Will was married to — Bessie. To-day Will is the managing, partner of Next week’s issue will contain “AFTER THE 3 BIG BLUE STONE; OR. THE TREASURE OF ~ Arden & Wicker. He lives with Bessie and three children in a magnificent residence on End Avenue, New York. THE JUNGLE.” SO a Se the. me about such a eople and made them an offer of the W. & N. trolley line and the — SER) Ayre heac mee kt el ee Th ee a mith
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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY TRUE GRIT An Engineer at Eighteen By Gaston Garne (A Serial Story.) CHAPTER XXI.— (Continued) “Hits you on a weak spot, does it?” persisted the engineer wickedly: “Kind of soft on the gal, eh? Well, I think you’ve got a nerve to shine up to people above you. You’ve got to scratch for your livin’ same as me. Chet King is a gent. He don’t. have to soil his hands. That’s what gals like Miss Kent is lookin’ for, see? You’re only wastin’ your time. I guess she’s playin’ you for -*-a chump, all right.” 3 “Mr. Crewe,” said _ you’d change the subject.” The engineer grinned spitefully. “I yeckon you don’t care to hear the truth.” — “As you seem to be so interested in the affairs of Chet King, I can tell you one thing, and that 2 is, I happen to know that Miss Kent has very lit- tle use for him. Money and fine clothes doesn’t al- ways win a girl’s friendship.” _- he engineer didn’t reply, as they Were ap- proaching Avalanche station. The shrill whistle : of the express awoke the echoes of the mountains, Bob indignantly, “T wish + and presently the little village, which nestled in % a nook in the rugged range, swept by and van- ished behind. ; It was now down-grade for the rest of the way ‘to the distant foothills, and so Bob had an easy 4 time of it, as steam was cut off from the cylin- ders. ‘ 3 Bob noticed plenty of indications that the ~ Round Top Railroad would by and by have a ‘parallel track over the mountains. Gangs of men ~ were frequently met with blasting the rocks and working at the roadbed to accommodate another line of rails and sleepers. New sidings had been built to help out the running of the additional trains, made necessary by increased business. Bob had heard that the second track would be begun from Vinol to Paradise in a month. All this meant the employment of more engines and en- _ gineers, and Bob hoped to get an appointment just as soon as the force should be materially in- creased. : He was hanging out of the cab window when _-the express rushed into Long Tunnel, and the blackness of night enveloped the train. The only * light in the cab came from around the furnace door in dull, red streaks. he clickety-clack of the rails sounded some- - thing like the muffled roar of a heavy surf on the seashore after a storm. Fie : _ At that moment Bob felt himself gripped from behind by a pair of strong arms, and before he could offer any resistance he was dragged to the opening between the cab and the tender, and a powerful effort seemed to be exerted to push him out into,the tunnel. — 5 Sees He grabbed at the ide of the cab, but his fin- gers slid along the smooth surface of the iron. = Nee ee Nie <i _ sanity or something of that sort,” said the con: 23 Then he tried to squirm loose, but the engineer, for Bob knew that he must be his assailant, had him at such a disadvantage that he couldn’t turn about. : ’ With an evil laugh Ralph Crewe finally raised him of his feet and flung him out of the opening. CHAPTER XXII. ’ Trapped by Fire. As he felt himself falling Bob threw out his hands wildly in a last effort to save himself, and the fingers of his left hand closed conclusively about the iron handle-grip on the outside of the cab, and for an instant he swung helplessly by that hold alone. Then with the agility of-a monkey, as his presence of mind asserted itself, he placed his feet on one of the iron steps and struck out heavily at the stomach of the engineer, as he stood glowering down upon him, with such good effect that the man staggered back against the side of the tender. Before he recovered Bob was back in the cab and in a position to defend himself against an- other attack. : f It came at once, for Crewe leaped at him like a tiger just as the train emerged from the tunnel. The fire of an awful rage blazed in the man’s eyes at that moment. ; ; He knew that the attempt he had made on the boy’s life had failed, and that his career on the Round Top Railroad was over unlesss he could ac- complish the job in the light of day and then eid a that Bob had accidentally fallen out of the’ cab. : Bob struck him full between the eyes with his fist, sending him back a couple of feet. “What in thunder do you mean by attacking me in this way?” demanded the angry boy. Crewe made no reply, but sprang at him again with even greater fury. 3 Bob dueked and hit him another hard blow, — this time on the point of the chin, and the engi- neer went down as though he had been shot. While he lay all in a heap, dazed by the blow, Bob dropped the reverse lever, put on the air-. brakes and whistled for help. + As the conductor came out of the express car and leaped on the tender, Crewe staggered to his feet. He realized that the game was up. With a final desperate effort he seized a heavy wrench and struck Bob a blow on the head that came near smashing in his skull, but he dodged, and so escaped with a severe scalp wound. : As both he and the conductor tried to grapple the infuriated engineer, he eluded their efforts by springing from the cab, and the last «een of his body was a tumbling object bound‘n: down the mountainside into the ravine far below. “What the dickens does this all mean?” asked the conductor, in astonishment. “T can’t tell myself, sir,” said Bob, wiping the ~ blood from his face. “The engines! showed a - singular animosity toward me from ¢ 4 first mo- ment we met in the enb at the row *-house, T- never saw him before this morning. iut all the. same, he appeared to have a grudge against me,” — “He must have had an attack of emotional in-
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24 ductor, as he helped the boy tie up the wound on his head? _ “He first came at me in the tunnel and suc- ebeecd within a hair. of throwing me out of the cab. “The deuce you say!” exclaimed the astonished official. “Yes, sir, I just saved myself by the skin of my teeth. I was entirely off my guard at the siren or he never would have handled me as he id. “What are we going to do now?” said the con- ductor, scratching his head in a perplexed man- ner as the train was gradually slowing up. “No oo of getting an engineer this side of Para- ise. “I can take the train through to Vinol without any trouble if you’ll scare up a man to fire.” . “You!” ejaculated the conductor doubtfully. “Yes, sir. I am sure I ¢an do it as well as a regular.” “I'm willing to take chances with you as far as Paradise; in fact, I’ve got to, but I must have a regular man from there on. Go on now. I'll send a brakeman to help you out.” “Then I’m to pull up at Paradise, am I?” “Exactly. Stop there, and I'll wire for instruc- tions.” The express had almost come to a stop when Bob released the brakes and started Ninety-nine again, and by the time the brakeman assigned to the cab arrived the train was gliding along again at regulation speed; “What was all the trouble about, and where is Crewe?” asked the brakeman, after he had - dumpd a couple of shovelfuls of coal into the fur- nace. “T can’t go into particulars now,” replied Bob, who wag not anxious to enter again upon the sub- ect. “All I can say is that the engineer must ave suddenly gone out of his mind, for he tried to fling me out of the cab back there in the tunnel, and failing in that he fetched me a clip on the head with that wrench, and when the conductor eame in answer to my whistle the fellow flung” himself down the mountain, a short distance this side of the tunnel.” ‘ “Committed suicide, eh? He must have been of his chump.” : 3 ‘Hello!” cried Bob suddenly. ‘What’s all that smoke yonder?” , : “Might be a fire in the woods somewhere beyond the gulch,” said the brakeman. “The great pine forest that borders on the line ig in that direction. A fire there would be a seri- ous matter.” ; _ “It would that,” admitted the brakeman. “But that’s miles and miles away, just this side of the canyon and the upper trestle. Now I should say that that smoke showed ‘a fire not far below Rocky Gulch.” “J pelieve it’s much farther than that,” said Bob positively. “There’s the gulch now, with ‘an east-bound freight on the siding, and that smoke looks as far off as, ever.” With a rush and a roar the express passed Rocky Gulch station and fifteen minutes later was whirling around Bald Eagle cliffs. Bob had let Ninety-nine out a bit in order to recover the few minutes lost time, for he was desirous of bringing the train into Paradise exactly on time. : a A S-¢ + ia Paty is Wi FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY “You’ve had some experience running a loco- motive, haven’t you?” asked his assistant. “You are holding her down to work like a regular.” “When I was put on Thirty-three to fire for . Beckley the old man let me into all the wrinkles of the business, and allowed me to take his place at the throttle time and time again. In fact, I learned more about locomotive engineering from him than I could have picked up on my own hook in two or three years. He saw I was anxious to learn, and he did all he could to boost me ahead. You don’t meet such men every day.” “T’ll bet you don’t. Beckley was an old reli- able, and the road lost one of its best men when he turned up his toes. You were in the cab with him when he went off his hooks, wasn’t you?” “Yes,” and Bob told him how the old man died. The smoke, which they had lost sight of for a while, now came into view again, and it was not only nearer, but much denser than before, as though the fire, whatever it chanced to be, was spreading over considerable space. “J don’t like the looks of it,” said Bob anx- iously. “It’s too near the vicinity of the pine for- est, if it isn’t actually in it, to be pleasant to think of.” “Suppose it is? It dvesn’t follow that it’s near the track.” ; “T hope not. If that trestle burned down it. would put the Round Top Railroad out of busi- ness for a while. It’s a fierce blaze, wherever it Bob kept his eye skinned for danger signals. If the fire was drawing near the track he expected to be flagged in time to haul up. The next block signal house was about midway between the up- per and lower trestles that spanned the canyon. The operator at that point could send out either of the switchmen who were employed at the siding. As they swung around a curve a mile above the canyon, they could see the smoke rolling across the landscape away above the track. Still no signal was in sight. The grade being slight for several miles ahead, Bob put on steam and got Niiety-nine down to a gait of fifty miles an hour. The dull roar of a mighty conflagration now reached Bob’s ears, and in five minutes the train came humming around the last curve above the trestle. . Then without the slightest warning the day ex- press rushed into a seething area of flame and smoke that cut off even the track from view. “Great Scott! It’s the pine forest!” exclaimed | Bob in. dismay. “I see our finish!” CHAPTER XXIII. Abe Pindar Turns Over a New Leaf. It was the pine forest, sure enough. The hot breath and angry roar of a gigantic furnace seemed to envelop the entire train in a moment. ; rita Great tongues of flame reached at the cars, and under their scorching touch the paint shriveled up and the woodwork blackened. Be eee The air was full of flying branches, with their coating of needles all ablaze.. The track itself was thickly littered with burning debris, 4d a “ ’ . S:". VS. 7
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The wind, fortunately, was neither strong nor steady, and the line of fire wavered in its encroachment upon the road. * by this sudden transformation of conditions, he was quick-witted enough to realize that the only hope of taking the train through this fearful peril was to speed Ninety-nine up to the top notch. es By good luck his post was on the off side from the fire; had the train been headed east it would have been different. He quickly slammed to the sliding window on the fireman’s side of the cab, and then pulled the throttle out to the limit. “Give her coal somehow and leave the door - open for draught,” Bob shouted to his assistant, . who was crouching on the floor of the cab. ~The man roused himself and obeyed . orders, though it was something of an ordeal. And now the locomotive driving-wheels began to gather added speed, and the connecting bars rose and fell like flashes of light. Ninety-nine was getting down to work at a -_ seventy-a-mile-an-hour clip. How far the fire extended Bob could not guess, but he hoped not far. If it had got as far as the upper trestle and got hold on that structure their position would be little short of desperate. By this time the fierce draught of the rushing train had set every car, as well as the engine cab ~ itself/ on fire on one side. What Bob and his fireman suffered during those few awful moments the express was passing _ through that zone of fire »must be imagined, it eannot be described. At last Ninety-nine drew its,blazing line of * eoaches and Pullman drawing-room cars clear _ of the fire, which was still some distance east of the trestle, and Bob put on brakes, reversed his drivers and sanded the track to check the terrific speed he had reached. Sy They passed the trestle at a high rate, the great beams creaking and shivering under the weight and momentum of the cars. But the Westinghouse brakes gradually over- -eame the forward motion, and Bob brought the train to a stop opposite block signal house 13. A more frightehed lot of passengers never scrambled out of a train. The train crew soon mastered the ~~ burning spots upon the cars. Then everybody re- - turned to his seat and the express continued on _ to Paradise without further incident. 3 -. The conductor got in communication with Jake Ticket, the division superintendent, who ordered him to go on with Bob at the throttle. At Vino, engine Ninety-nine, as usual, went to he round-house, and our young fireman, who had brought his train in promptly on time, went to. supper. Later on Job Singleton wired him to con- tinue in charge of Ninety-nine, which would of ourse, be coupled onto next morning’s east-bound express as soon as that train came in from Den- er, 3 A large force had been sent to keep the pine orest fire within certain limits. When Bob re- ssed the scene of yesterday’s fierce ordeal he ‘ound only a burned and blackened reach of trees, thile the fire still raged fiercely at a distance. __ The day express reached Rushville Junction to the minute, the D. P. & Q. Eastern express com- mg in a minute luter,*according to schedule. Bob home in time for supper. Before he had a; FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY Bewildered as the young acting engineer was: 25 - finished a knock came at the door, and, much to his surprise, in walked Abe Pindar. : ~ “Sit down, Mr. Pindar. W ill you have a ‘cup of tea?” asked Mrs. Blake, hospitably. - Abe declined, hoped they were all well, and finally said he had something of impportance to tell Bob. “We'll go out in the yard, if you don’t mind,” said Abe, when Bob had satisfied his appetite. “Ail right,” said Bob, and he reached for, his ap. “Weil,” said Pindar, when they were outside, “T guess you’re kinder surprised to see me, seeing ~ as we haven’t been any too thick of late. Isn’t that so?” . . 7. — admitted that he hadn’t expected to see e. “T might as well admit right now that I’ve treated you dead mean,” confessed young Pindar, frankly. Our young fireman was surprised at this can- did admission, but he made no remark. “The fact of the matter is, if you: will take my word for it, I’ve been too thick with Chet King for my own good. But we’ve had a run-in—ldok at my eye—and I am done with him.” ‘ Abe’s left optic certainly looked as if it had’ met with an accident. Pindar might have added, though he didn’t, that his father had interviewee ~ him in a pretty effective manner in the woodshed for keeping late hours and conducting himself in a way altogether too reckless for the head of the family to stand. “And now I want to tell you something for your own good,” continued Abe. “You want to look out for an engineer named Crewe. He’s a distant cousin or something of the King family. et has filled him up with a lot of stuff about you, and has promised him money if he can make things unpleasant for you on the road. I’ve met him, and it’s my opinion he’s a bad man to have for an enemy. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he tried to lay you out for keeps. So watch out for him.” “Ralph Crewe has done me all the injury he ever will do in this world,” said Bob, solemnly. “What do you mean? Has he been discharged?” “He is dead.” “No.!’ ejaculated Pindar, ‘in great astonish- - ment. - Then Bob told him what the reader knows abou the trouble in the cab of Ninety-nine. ; “Gee whiz!” said Abe, “but you had a close call.” “About as close as anything I’ve been up against, and I think things haven’t been slow with me in the last two months.” “T should say not. Chet, I know, is dead sore on you over Myrtle King. He likes her more than “he does any girl in town. Last night he called on her, but the servant told him that she was out, though he knew she was home. He’s baen wild ever since, and one thing or another led to the racket with me.. You may as well know also that he put up that job on you Decoration Day. He got a fellow to tamper with your wheel.” “I am not surprised,” said Bob, coolly. “Of ou you didn’t know anything about it at the © ime???’ j _ “Yes, I did, and I ought to be Kicked for being in the scheme. I s’pose you’ll tell the fellows, and I'll be bounced from the club.” (To be continued.) :
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26 Fame and Fortune Weekly NEW YORK, APRIL 30, 1926 TERMS TO SUBSCRIBERS Single Copies................... Postage Free 8 cents One Copy 'hree Months ....... . “$1.00 One Copy Six Months .......... a xe 2.0¢ One Copy One Year ............ x 5 4.00 Canada, $4.50; Foreign, $5.00. HOW TO SEND MONEY—At our risk send P. O. Money Order, Check or Registered Letter; remittances in any other way are at your risk. We aceept Postage Stamps the same as cash. When sending silver wrap the Coin im a separate piece of paper to avoid cutting the envelope. Write your name and address plainty. Address letters to : HARRY E. WOLFF, Harry E. Wolff, Pres, Charles E. Nylander, Sea L. F. Wilzin, Treas, Publisher, Inc., 166 W. 23d St., N. Y. ITEMS OF INTERES FIRST QUARTZ WINDOW The first clear fused quartz window glass ever made will be used in the sun-room of the Johns- Hopkins Hospital at Baltimore, Md. It excels ‘ordinary window glass in that it transmits ultra- violet or health-giving rays. ’ COW BONES FOR MAH-JONG Three carloads of shinbones from cows slaugh- tered at a Chicago packing plant have been ‘shipped from Galveston to China, where they will be used in the manufacture of Mah-Jong sets. OPERATION ON LION A veterinary lanced and treated a big boil that had developed between the eyes of one of the lions in the Hamburg, Germany, Zoo. The attendants feared trouble, but the lion submitted quietly to a fifteen-inch incision, suffered the veterinary to clean the wound and when released quietly re- sumed its cage life. GENERATED BY CLOUDS OF SUGAR ; Investigating the ignition of factory dust, it has been found that sugar clouds stirred up in the air may become positively charged with elec- tricity up to 10,000 volts While most of this is lost by silent discharge, there may be sparking ‘and ignition, favored by ozone formation. Oxy- gen is strongly absorbed by some organic parti- cles, the oxygen being ozonized with the formation ‘also of nitric oxide, and the heating and spark- ing may suffice to ignite the dust. ELECTRICITY BIRDS THAT BUILD PLAYHOUSES Some birds, like all children, like to play, and Australia and New Guinea produce the “bower bird,” which builds regular playhouses. These houses are not a part of their nests, but are con- structed usually in the shape of covered arch- ways of little boughs two or three feet long, eighteen inches high and about as wide. They use these houses simply for their games, as if they were clubhouses. Generally these playhouses are decorated with bright colored shells and feathers. 3 FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY REDWOOD TREE IS PADLOCKED; HAR- BORED CALIFORNIA STILL For harboring an illicit liquor still, a redwood tree in the far reaches of Humboldt County, Northern California, has been padlocked. Prohibition Agents W. R. Paget and James Falin discovered the lawbreaking tree six miles from Dyerville. It is a redwood 24 feet in diame- ter. A hollow chamber in its base concealed a fifty-gallon still, running at full blast. Kerosene was used as fuel, and the slight smoke disappeared through a fiue amid the foliage. En- trance to the chamber was concealed by a canvas painted to resemble the bark of the tree. The “padlock” is a notice on the side of the pe ag eae all that the tree is in the hands of the law. LAUGHS “Among the Quakers,” said Miss Wise, “I be- i lieve the men wear their hats in church.” “How ridiculous!” exclaimed Miss Gidday. “As if any — one could possibly be interested in men’s hats!” Jaggles—Do you think there will ever be any radical change in the style of men’s hats? Wag- gles—Not unless somebody invents a hat that will coyer the bald spot on the back of the head. ‘Hey, boy!”” Where’s your brother?” “In the barn, shoein’ horses.” “Where’s your mother?” “In the back yard, shooin’ chickens.” “Where’s — your father?” “In the hammock, shooin’ flies.” De Lush—McSosh told Dr. Weise that he ex- © perienced great difficulty in walking, and asked him what he could take. Von Stoo—What did the doctor advise—water? De Lush—No—a taxi. “George, I saw that Singleton woman to-day — carrying the silk umbrella that she borrowed from me at the club card party.” “Why didn’t you ask © her for it?” “I was just going to, when I remem- bered that I borrowed it from Mrs. Trumper.” “Common politeness should teach men to give up their seats to a lady at all times.” “Oh, I don’t know. How about the man who paid $90,000 for his seat on the New York Stock Exchange? I guess he wouldn’t give it up to a lady in a hurry.” “Billy Green’s nothing but a coward.” “Is he?” “Yep. I called him a coward right to his face, I did, an’ he didn’t dast say nothin’.” “Then he is _a coward.” “You bet he is, An’ the next time I | call him a coward I'll say it right out loud so’s he can hear it.” ; A little girl was being put to bed one summer night, and after she had said her prayers her mother kissed her good-night, and said: “Now go to sleep, dear. while the mother and father were at tea, a sma voice from upstairs was heard “Mamma!” “Yes, little one. What is it?” ‘God’s angels are buzzing _ around, and one’s bitten me!” Don’t be afraid, for God’s angels are watching over you.” In a short time, Cre
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Taken By a Pretty Face The following is a story of the gang of Brock- - way, the counterfeiter, as told me by a friend of - Mmine—a veteran of the United States secret ser- vice, told in his own words: : William E. Brockway is the most notorious - eounterfeiter of modern times, and he has been _- very successful for fully thirty years; but during - that time he has twice been arrested, tried, con- _ victed, and served two terms of imprisonment. — He - was in Chicago during Jim Doyle’s trial. Since _ Doyle was tried Brockway has not been here. _ Brockway was arrested n the fall of 1880, for counterfeiting United States bonds, but he made terms with “the powers that be,’ and upon his _ surrendering his plates and tools he was liberated under a suspended sentence. Foster, one of the - gang, makes his home at Colorado Springs, Col., and this summer he was‘in Chicago most of the - time, while his wife was living in Kewanee, Ill. and we were pretty well posted as to what he was up to. Foster joined Brockway and Lew Martin - in Brooklyn in September. Foster is a brother-in-law of Jim Doyle, who was caught in October, 1881, and sentenced to - twelve years in the Chester Penitentiary. That man really had two hundred and four thousand _ dollars in United States bonds on his person when _ I “pinched” him. - It is of a man called Jed Bronson, who was at _ one time the engraver of the gang, of which I am obvious reasons, will develop themselves as I pro- ceed, I do not often tell. _ Our agency was hot on the trail of the gang, and our investigations developed the fact that - Jed Bronson was at work for the gang in Eng- land; that isto say, he did the engraving there _ and the counterfeit government bonds, which he _ made a speciality of, were struck across the water and smuggled to the gang in this country in a - way we could not detect. fs __ I was detailed to cross the pond and track Mr. - Bronson down. It was my object to secure his plates, as well as himself, as without them his con- -viction, backed as he was by money, would be an exceedingly difficult matter. i -_ LT arrived in Liverpool in May, and proceeded to _ London, where I hoped to strike the trail, as a - letter from Bronson, which had fallen into our _ hands before I left America, bore the London _ postmark. I spent four weeks in a fruitless search of the British metropolis, aided by an expert from - Scotland Yard. Finally I made up my mind that _ the bird had flown, and I determined to seek him _ elsewhere. ; Just at this time I received the very “pointer” most wanted. This came in the shape of a cable- gram from New York, and it informed me tkat the department had just intercepted another let- ’ ter from Bronson, which was postmarked ‘“Clen- - ning, Berkshire, England.” ge oa may be sure I did not waste any more time In London. The very day I received the New York the beauty of the country round about the little oad Nhe of g af st FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY _ The detectives were watching him all summer,. - going to relate a little story, and one which, for, eablegram I was en route for Clenning. I reached e town at mid-day, and I was impressed with 27 sleepy town, so far from the bustle and strife of the busy cities, that it seemed like another world. The dwellings were old, and of a fashion to be found in none save the more ancient of England’s country villages. The only @public house was an ancient “inn,” which had stood since the days of the dashin gentry of the King’s Highway; and as I arrive before it and glanced up at the faded sign of a ortly personage with an exceedingly rubicund ace, which was supposed to be a representation. of a former proprietor of the ancient hostelry, and, noting. the watering-trough under thé sign before the tap-door, I could not help thinking that only a dashing horseman like Claude Duval, Dick Turpin, or some other gallant robber, was wanting to complete the picture; and just at that moment I should have thought it exceedingly probes if one of the old-time knights of the road ad ridden up and watered his horse before the pe of “The King’s Own,” as the inn was christ- ened. But no jolly highwayman appeared, The door of the house opened, and a portly personage, who announced himself as Peter Petrick, the host of the King’s Own, escorted me into the hostelry. I had provided myself with a couple of hand sample- cases such as commercial travelers in the notion line carry, and this was the character which I had chosen to represent on this occasion. : I had a juicy steak and a pint of old ale, and was smoking a cigar in the tap-room, gossipi with my somewhat talkative host, in the hope picking up some information regarding the busi- ness which had brought me to Clenning, when my assistant, the officer from Scotland Yard, came in. When we left London—as we did in company, though I didn’t say so—we agreed not to seem ac- quainted when we reached our destination. Brad- wood was attired as a country merchant, and he- represented himself as a wool buyer. Gentlemen who followed the occupation of purchasing what prompts the shearing of the sheep, were wont to make a pilgrimage to this part of the country at this time each year, as Mr. Bradwood had inform- ed himself. ; That afternoon we took a walk about the place and we shadowed the post-office when the mail came in, but no man answering the description of Bronson was seen} though a very pretty little woman,.as plump as a partridge, and with a pair of as bright eyes and rosy cheeks as ever made a man’s heart thump, visited the post-office. As she passed Bradwood and myself she favored ~ us with a close scrutiny, and we congratulated ourselves that our ‘distinguished appearance had impressed this fair country damsel. : “A verygpretty girl,” said Bradwood to me, in a voice whic® must have reached the pretty girl’s ear’s ears, for she turned quickly and bestowed upon us a ravishing smile, while at the same time she blushed modestly and: tripped away. “She is charming—a perfect Hebe; and were I a single man I should make her acquaintance be- fore I shook the dust of Chenning from my feet,” ° said Bradford. ( It chanced that, at the date of which I am’ speaking, I was a bachelor, jolly and gay. I there- fore mentally resolved that I would see more of our divinity of the post-office ere I quitted the vil- lage which was her abiding place. That evening “oy ‘ t
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28 Bradwood and I conversed about our detective work, and laid our plans for the next day. We occupied the back parlor, and several times I heard the heavy tread of the landlord as he passed the door. Next morning after breakfast, which I took before Bradwood was out of bed, as I stepped out of the inn with my Cigar in my mouth, for a walk and a smoke, Peter Petrick, my host, followed me. “Hi wants to tell ’e suthin’ sir. Hi begs yer honor’s parding, but Hi overheard the ’tother gent call yer a hofficer, hand Hi’s got some’at on me mind,” he said, raising his hand. “Go ahead and get it off your mind.” “Very well, sir; see that house across the way, the one with the window open?” “Vag.” “There be some ’at wrong there, I think.” “How so?” I asked, now really interested. “Yl tell ’e, sir. There be a gal there nobody knows anything about, and I do think she be held against her will. She never comes out except an Sold hag is somewhere behind her, and the only time she is seen on the street is when she goes to the post office. The old woman then either walks hehind the gal or opposite her on the other side of the si#eet. The girl be a comely one, wi’ roses on her cheeks, and bright eyes enough to set the lads of all the country-side in love wi’ her; but ne one ever gets a chance to speak to her. She never answers a question. “Took! Look! There she be now!” suddenly cried the landlord of the inn. 3 - I glanced at the window to which he pointed, and at the open.casement. I saw the face of the very girl whose beauty had impressed Bradwood and myself the night before. Yes, the mysterious girl was really the divinity of the post-office; and now I remembered that I saw an old woman on the street opposite the post-office building when the girl passed us. ; Presently a small white hand was thrust out, and J saw abit of paper flutter down upon the ground beneath it. I glanced up and and down the street. There was not a soul in sight, for it was very early, and like a flash I darted across the street, and picked up the paper which*had been dropped from the window. I concealed it in my hand, and. returning to the porch of the inn, I perused the few lines of writing which were traced with a pencil upon the paper in a very neat female hand. : “I am a prisoner, guarded by an old woman who watches me all the time. Be under my window at twelve to-night to aid me, and then I will ex- plain all. I met you at post-office last night, and I feel that I can trust you. Do not fail a friend- less girl.” : . ¢ Not a word of this did I say to Bradwood or the landlord. Oh, no, I kept my secret, and it seemed to me that day was a terribly long one, al- though we devoted it to a fruitless search for Bronson. - “The man must have ‘skipped’ again, I think,” said Bradwood, as, somewhat put.out at our want of success, we discussed the situation over our ale mugs in the back parlor of the King’s Own, that evening. : - J agreed with him, but just at that moment I was thinking more of the pretty face I had seen - im the window that morning than of Bronson, the FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY counterfeiter.. At twelve o’clock that night, ac-. cording to the young girl’s request, I was under. her window. Promptly she pushed aside the lattice and appeared. : “Thank heayen you have come!” she said. I had brought a rope ladder with me, and I threw it up to her, and in a moment she came: down it, with a heavy satchel in her arms. I took the satchel, and we hurried away. - ‘ . “Where do you desire to go? I will serve you in any way in-my power,” I said, as I felt her — clinging to my arm and saw her look up trustingly into my face, while my heart beat faster than usual, : eae “I want to take the train northward which - reaches here at 12:30. My old aunt seeks to keep me a prisoner, so that I cannot obtain possession ~ of an inheritance which my father left me. I shall. go to my father’s lawyer, and once with him, I. shall be safe. Will you aid me?” “T will. I shall only be glad to.” “Then escort me to the depot, and keep the secret of my flight. Upon this card is the address of my father’s lawyer, and I hope you will call upon me there.” the girl said. ad Then I told her my name, and she returned the — confidence. It seemed to me that the satchel was terribly heavy, and I so remarked: cS “Yes, it contains so many things—almost all my ersonal possessions,” said the girl, with a little. — augh. aes, We reached the depot at last, and I saw her — safely on board the train. But I will not weary. you with the relation of the foolish things I said, Suffice it to say I kissed heras we parted, so-you see I progressed very rapidly in my wooing. Ag I was returning to the inn two-men suddenly — leaped upon me, and then came a blank, as I re- ceived a terrible blow on the head, and fell, face — downward, in the deserted street. : When I returned to consciousness, after a peri- _ od of oblivion of considerable length, I found my “4 self in a cellar, securely bound, and Jed bronson, the counterfeiter, and a man who was a Stranger to me, sat watching me. ee “Much obliged to you for escorting Mrs. Bron- _ son, to the depot and carrying the very plates you 4 3 - wanted so badly for her. We ‘twigged’ you when — and your pal from Scotland Yard first struck the — town, and you’ve been taken in by a pretty face. Oh, that wife of mine is a jewel, and before you get free she will be beyond your reach, and so will we. I must tell you for your satisfaction that I was disguised as an old woman while here, and _ you saw me the first night of your arrival when you visited the post-office. Don’t you blame the — landlord of the King’s Own, for he is innocent of any complicity in the job which we put up on you, — Hereafter, Mr. Detective, don’t let.a pretty face — lead you astray; and give my affectionate regards to your pal Bradwood when you get out of this. Ta, ta!” and with a mocking bow Bronson and his companion left the cellar, and I was left alone, — bound hand and foot, and gagged so that I could _ make no outery. ca I remained there a day, and when at last I suc- vanished as completely as though swallowed him. At last I ran ‘him down, and-it-— Was my*turn to laugh when I snapped the brace- — lets on him and he was my prisoner’ = aes
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FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY 29 INTERESTING ARTICLES ELECTRICAL DINER. The “Flying Scotsman,” a train that runs be- tween London and Edinburgh, has recently in- stalled a complete electrical kitchen in its diner, says Popular Science Monthly. The electricity is supplied by means of a dynamo run by the motion of the train. . ; Cooking by pressing buttons enables the kitchen to oceupy the minimum of space, which obvious! is of great importance in diner construction. All - temperatures can be regulated exactly and the kitchen kept spotlessly clean. BEARS DEVOUR FIVE MEN. ‘A dispatch from Nooya, in the valley of. the - Lena River in Siberia, says that five huntsmen in that district have been killed and eaten by bears. A sixth hunter, who was also attacked by the ani- - mals, returned so mauled and lacerated that he could scarcely tell of the fate which had overtaken his companions. Heavy snows and lack of food" have caused bears and other wild animals in many parts of Se es eee | 3 : t and approach towns in search of food. AMASSED FORTUNES BY ‘SALE’ OF TROOPS _ Investigation into the manner in which some of the fortunes of Germany’s former royal houses were acquired, in connection with the question of mdemnification by the republic, has disclosed that German princelings up to the nineteenth century had “sold” 296,166 of their subjects for $3,750,- 000 to England for army service against the - American Colonies, the French and other enemies. sent 4,300 men to. England for $38 a head, it is disclosed, with an additional indemnity. of $22 a head for each man killed in action, three wounded men to be counted.as one dead. Landgrave Frederick II of Hesse “sold” 12,000 Hessians at $75 a head, with an annual “rental” fee of $500,000. There has been produced a letter from the Landgrave of Hessen-Cassel to Baron Hohendorf, his commanding officer in the American Colonies, n which the writer commended the Baron “for _ dorf, who, according: to dispatches, succeeded in saving his battalion of Hessians.” REATEST CROW ROOKERY ON EARTH Arlington is the largest and most beautiful of ur many National Cemeteries. It lies high shave the banks of the Potomac on the Virginia eye of the.river opposite the National Capital, where its giant forest trees shade the graves of any thousands of the Nation’s heroes. The rich Russia to leave their usual haunts this Winter- Duke Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand of Braunschweig. shades of green in Spring and the gorgeous hues. of Autumn form a wondrously sky line to the » west of the city. All the year round flying above those trees, silhouetted against the western sky, birds flock in countless thousands—especially crows—for it is, besides being the pecnner cemetery, also from time immemorial the greatest crow rookerey on earth. Ever since the advent of the white man, and how many years’ before that no one’ knows, those acres on the banks of the Potomac have been pre- empted and been the favorite gathering place for that crafty denizen of the air, the crow. Improve- ments or the presence of man deters him not. It is his by rights of discovery and with the Indian he calls it his own; but unlike the Indian he will not give it up. Just why Jim Crow prefers that particular hillside when there are other places near at hand, that would seem to us humans as being equally attractive, is known only to Jim and his cohorts. There is no time of year like the present to study him in his convocations, because when at dusk they gathered from 40 or more miles around, where they have gone on their foraging expedi- tions, it is just like a hugh political convention. They chatter-and “gossip” with almost human voice, and indeed, act almost human. Crows can be taught to talk, you know, and it is not much of a stretch of the imagination to listen to them tell of their day’s experience. The racket is at times deafening. As many as 40,000 have been roughly counted in one of their “conventions” near the mast of the battleship “Maine.” : For centuries people have -been sayin things about the crafty, intelligent crow. have defended him. Up in the Province of Ontario a heated von- troversy is raging as to whether the well-known ‘bad — thers crow does or does not have a right to life, liberty — and the pursuit of food. “Those who are against the crow maintain that it eats chiefly song birds, _ chickens, and» corn. Those who-are in favor of the crow maintain that it eats ornborers, grass- hoppers, wire worms, cutworms, and other noxious worms and insects when those are to be found, indulging in its cannibalistic habits merely when it can’t get the succulent pests. But that is “another story.” Arlington rookery is not now so crowded as it Was some years past. There has been times when the chatter was great enough to drown one’s - voice, But evil days come upon them—they have troubles of their own. Nature is not always the gentle deity who arranges all for the best. The more we delve into wild life the more we learn of the trials of the furred and feathered creatures. On several occasions a great epidemic of roup has invaded the crowded city of the eréw and carried off thousands. And in the exessively cold days the corners of their eyes have been frozen render- ing them blind, so that they starved to» death. Birds haye no eyelid to close over the delicate tissues of the eye, but only a thin translucent sort of membrane of skin, insufficient to prcetect the eye against very low temperatures. But no matter what befalls, the Arlington rook- ery will no doubt be the great crow city as long as: trees" stand -on the beautiful acres. me
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THEATRES AND CHURCHES There are 204,000 churches in the United States and 24,000 theatres, music halls and concert halls. RANCHES FOR: “DUDES” PAY “Dudes” from the East have displayed cattle as : the mainstay of many Western ranches, the House Public Lands Committee was informed to- 4 day. ; A “dude ranch” proprietor, C. C. Moore of Dubois, Wyo., said that vacationists seeking scenery and recreation were more profitable and also more easily handled and satisfied than. cattle seeking forage. BARKLESS DOGS Thoroughly muzzled “hot dog eclairs” have made their appearance at Detroit. First waffle batter is poured into a specially constructed grid moulded to the shape of a full-grown raw “dog.” As the first tinge of golden brown comes over the * batter, the cook drops in the canine. Another spoonful of batter completely incases the barkless barker. BASEBALL FAN - is attributed to Chris Von der Ahe, then owner of the St. Louis Browns. It is alleged that he - ealled Charles Haas the greatest fanatic in base- pall that he had seen. Newspapermen began to - call these enthusiasts “fanatics,” and in a short - time cut it down to “fans.” BOYS ENLISTED IN CHINA A Chinese boy brigade is the latest civil war ~ anomaly in Tsing-tao. The local commander or- ganized the youngsters with the promise of regu- jar rice rations. Applicants must be more than 13 years old, sound and sturdy. ; The little fellows in their bagey regimentals do not appear soldierly, and often are seen playing hopscotch and other “kid” games. How they would bé used in repelling the enemy has not de- _ veloped. . : THROWING SHOES | The custom of throwing shoes after a departing bride and bridegroom originated so_far back in _ the past that its origin is in doubt. By some it is thought to typify an assault and is a lingering trace of.the custom of carrying the bride away, found among savage tribes, by violence. Others claim that it has the likeness to a Jewish custom mentioned in the Bible. In the Book of Ruth, when the kinsman of Boaz gave up his claim to the inheritance of Ruth, also, he indicated his as- ‘sent by plucking off his shoe and giving it to Boaz. Also in Deuteronomy, it is stated that when the “brother of a dead man refused to arry his widow she asserted her independence him by loosing his shoe.” - CAUGHT A RATTLER BAREHANDED in 11-year-old youngster of Monroe, Orange unty, N. ¥., is the first person known in that Ba: FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY : GOOD READING The first use of the expression “baseball fan” - 31 section to have caught and made prisoner a live rattler, without having been bitten. One day in August the little fellow took it into his head to go up among the hills on a pleasure trip. He had no companions with him. The entire region surrounding Mombasia Lake is wild, hilly and covered with woods, among which are innumer- able rocks. The region is infested with rattle- snakes, blacksnakes and copperheads, as well as others of the harmless varieties. The only snakes considered poisonous are the rattlers and copper- heads. The little fellow was tramping around the rocks with no special purpose, and suddenly ran across a large rattlesnake that was lying motionless on a flat rock near some bushes. Without stopping to consider the danger of a close approach to the serpent the boy walked cautiously up and seized it around the body just behind the head. The snake squirmed and attempted” to release itself, but the boy held on with grit and determination until the snake coiled itself about the boy’s body. With the snake in that position the boy walked back to the village and caused constérnation among the natives when he approached several that he knew with the snake still squirming about him and its mouth open to its full capacity. When the boy was told that he was holding a deadly rattlesnake in his hand he suddenly got alarmed, and would have released his hold had he not been warned to cling tight and avoid heing bitten. The snake was finally secured around.the head and rendered helpless, after which he war uncoiled and placed in a large box with a glass window in it. On making an examination it was found that the snake had nine rattles and a but- ton. The snake is still confined in a box, and is on-exhibition in one of the village stores. The way the people account for the boy’s escape is for the fact that rattlesnakes shed their skins in August, at which time they are very stupid and partly blind. The little fellow was barefooted at the time, and that may have saved him. On hearing the account of the boy’s daring exploit his mother took him to a doctor to be examined, thinking he might have been bitten on the body, but she was assured that he was all right. BE A DETECTIVE Warn Big Money. Work home or travel. Make secret investigations, Fascinating work. Ex- cellent opportunity. Experience Unnecessary, Particulars free. Write, GEORGE R. WAG- NER. former Government Detective, 1963 ,Broadway, New York. _“Moving Picture Stories” A Weekly Magazine Devoted to Photoplays and Players | PRICE TEN CENTS PER COPY Each number contains Three Stories of the Best Films on the Screen—Elegant Half-tone Scenes from the Playg ~~Interesting Articles About Prominent. People in th x Films—Doings of Actors and Actresses in the Studio ang Lessons in Scenario Writing. ETHEL ROSEMAN, PuBLIsHER AND Evrror 219 Seventh Avenue, New York, N. ¥._
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