Show STORIES of WALL STREET A ft FAB V By ' LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE Copyright by Street HE quiet of the breakfast room was disturbed only by the subdued rustle of the paper la West's hands of the cofand the purring fee machine by his wife's elbow Frowning slightly In her the woman preoccupation remarked the silence and a passed It over It was part of her daily life — had been a part of it ever since ten years before the curtain had fallen upon their honeymoon to say that for She was accustomed ten hourB of the day from eight In the morning to six In the evening Tom West was a mere machine with no end in life save the of the market no conmanipulation ception of anything in the world save divibank and railway ' statements dends tickers and the ebb and flow from 6 p m Afterwards) of prices to 8 a m he was a normal human being with almost human Interests cluding a wife Therein "she did West Justice and In point of fact the some injustice man adored his wife after business hours ' Btlt It was most true that he throughout the forgot her completely Wall street working day And to that perhaps may be attributed his remarkable success — to the absolute concentration of all his faculties upon the matter in hand which generally consisted in the “bearing” of some securbut ity which other men admired which West looked upon with the Jaundiced eye of the skeptic confirmed In his pessimism so far as stock values were concerned As for his wife for the time being her thoughts as well as her slim white Angers were busied about the tall copper pot in which the coffee brewed Now with a little nod of satisfaction she placed the extinguisher over the flame of the alcohol lamp and glanced tentatively toward her husband as hfm though fearful of disturbing Of West only his fingers were visiblunt heavy fingers ble that conveyed a distinct impression of the man’s character as the world saw It They gripped almost fiercely the edges of the morning paper which he to held outspread so as thoroughly curtain himself from his wife’s gaze Behind it he maintained an unbroken his big broad brow thrust silence forward aggressively his Ups set and tense his gray eyes fairly dancing up and down the serried columns of figures as he — to use his own phrase-t- ore the heart out of the market report The woman gazed upon the fingers with a tenderness glowing deep in her eyes somehow they suggested to her very clearly the man she knew so well —that man whom the street reckoned ruthless but whom she loved with all her being and who loved her in return almost womanish-af- ter with a devotion business hours again In time West lowered the paper until Its upper edge was level with the He stared at her bridge of his nose the creature man was asserting its desire for refreshman was business ment though the lost in a pondering of men and measures “Coffee ready?" he demanded and promptly returned his gaze to the Ust of the previous day’s transactions “Ready" she replied quickly and “and waiting Tom” She clearly two lumps dropped the indispensable of sugar into West’s cup added the it with the oream then brimmed steaming black liquor she As she had anticipated — for studied the man closely —the sound of her voice and the stir of the tableware distracted the current of his Reluctantly he folded the thoughts news sheet and laid It at the side of Ms plate accepted the cup and began to stir the coffee with hls spoon Moas though he feared it notonously might lose virtue through inaction meanwhile glaring at hls plate she She forebore to question him knew tbat before long he would begin to talk Always ever since she could hls Interlarded had he remember discussion breakfast with a a running comment on the ways of the street and on the part he happened to be playing therein at tlw particular timeit came to pass And so' Inevitably Presently he dropped the spoon and and "Funny began to use hls fork he observed talkBelden” about thing ing more at than to her “Yes?’’ — with the rising Inflection "Yes Funny thing about Belden and myself We’ve been fighting tooth and nail for the last five years or so and now It Just happens that we’re Coboth hard up at the lame time incidence" "How do you know he Is hard up?" “Don’t know it" He was looking at her now and interestedly but she saw that he had forgotten her The of logical deduction enthusiasm hls imaginahim thoroughly: tion was wrapped with the Joy of penesecret He trating a rival operator’s into phrases was happily formulating the tele that yesterday’s ticker tape A Smith and today’s market report had told to him “Don’t know it from Belden’s But he’s rigging own Ups that Is ComNet the market— ballooning ” mon Common?" she Inquired "Net puzzled "New England Transit common" he translated Impatiently “hls pet stock He wants to boost It by wash sales aa high as the market will stand and then he's going to unload at a big He plans to add the Benningprofit ton extension to the New England Transit system and he needs money to buy in the bond Issue Bennington extension” he contlued as though trying to make It perfectly clear to himself beyond possibility of error “is a big independent trolley line running It’s practically north out of Hartford bankrupt and will default on the Interest due on the first for Its first Belden bonds mortgage wants to buy them in so that he can foreclose on the minute and make Bennington extension a part of New England Transit Slick Isn’t he?” But West was not asking a question alto be answered for he continued most without a break: “Belden found out that he wouldn’t get ’em for a song yesterday” he said chuckling "Bennington Fours are selling at and a drug on the market at that But I’m holding a block on behalf of a Western syndicate and Belden has agreed to pay me eighty for ’em I gave him to understand that they’d never be a cent cheaper so he and pass me had to knuckle under hls word to the deal” "Yes" she breathed vaguely not greatly interested West paused to swallow hls coffee then sat back and watched the curJune tains bellying in the warm breez£ that had access through the open window “Tell you what" he broke out se“it was a great relief to me riously when I closed the transaction I stand to get three or four hundred thousand out of it and I need ready money the worst way myself That last rise ln Ontario pinched me badly and tho banks are beginning to fight shy of teetering abmy paper” He frowned stractedly on two legs of hls chair then suddenly pulled out his watch "I’ll have to announced “Hello!” he hustle ’By Bess” West arose came around to her chair and bent over to kiss hls wife She lifted her lips to his and they were barely parted her eyelids droopand she sighed faintly ed heavily For the Instant ten years dropped from their lives West’s gaze glorified the firm curve of her cheek the full and he sweep of her bare throat caught at his breath sharply anxious Also he noticed a little pucker between her brows for which he laid the blame at the door of the oppressive wpather nor understood In the least that fear for him chilled her heart ra’dear” he suggested tone as he practical “Don’t you think up you’d better run up to Newport?” alone to “And leave you here stand the heat? No” she decided “When Tom West takes a firmly Meanwhile) vacation hls wife will nothing worries me so much as the that you are working too knowledge hard — slaving your life out dear Be careful today won’t you — for my sake?” "For no one else’s Bess” he laughed lightly To dress for the evening was an ordeal but one to be faced with a smile For Toni liked to find her Just so It wsb good to him when he had sloughed the cares of the day to see her fresh unwilted Later she Recalled that it was while she struggled to attire herself with the of a cross maid grudged assistance that she was suddenly convinced by a subtly psychic womanly Intuition that amiss either with Tom something was or with Tom’s affairs But forebodings such as that are sternly to be relegated to the limbo of superstitions until the event proves their excuse She was at the head of the stairs and West when the door opened into the butler’s slumped forward arms crumpled enervated crushed by the withering heat In another stant she was by hls side abruptly mistress of herself and of composed for this was what she had her fears been awaiting this that contingency the fear of which had held her by her boy's side when she might have been materially comfortable at the seashore His forehead was like a hot tile to her palm dry hard slightly glazed Hls face was a pallid mask hls lips feverish and dry ahd cracked like a she knew stale crust Instinctively what was first to be done "Ice water!” she demanded of the servants as she ripped West’s collar "And cracked Ice — from his shirt quick! Telephone for Dr Dexter tell It’s — It’s life him to come at once " or death At midnight she was sitting by hls “Look here a severely straightened In bedside gazing hungrily Into hls set features waiting for the arrival of the nurse whom Dexter was to send The physician had been an hour gone leaving her in a state more tranquil Reassured West was by no means out of danger but the chances were In hls favor The man was In a drugged stupor strychnine spurring hls laggard heart action morphine soothing him Presently the woman bent forward very and slipped the clinical cautiously thermometer between hls parted Ups West stirred uneasily and hls teeth clicked against the glass tube Then again he lapsed into coma She withdrew the thermometer saw that it recorded an even one hundred and was glad without A second later entirely warning West had cast the blankets aside and was sitting bolt upright The Jabbering In a frenzy of delirium woman gave a hurried orde'r to the waiting servant to telephone Dexter and returned to her husband’s side “Belden——" he was Iterating with Be“Belden— savage emphasis lden—" “Hush dear" Gently she forced him back until hls head rested upon the pillow and as gently sponged hls moist brow with Ice water He proved tractable enough and seemed gratebut the ful for the cold applications morphine was stimulating hls unhelmed imagination with a wavelike and he would talk and did by fits and starts ' By degrees listening intently she began to piece together a comprehensive statement of what lay upon hls mind that had sapped hls strength until the sun had found him an easy vicOne tim phrase — “Belden broke faith” — served as a starting point with It as a guide she was able to select fragments from West’s incoherent ramblings and to Join them tountil she undergether stood it all "Belden broke faith — promised to — hls contract-s- aid at broke eighty buy he’d examined roadbed and rollthat ing stock — come to conclusion bonds were not worth the market— would pay sixty— damned scoundrel-ne- ed cash for Ontario deal — square with him — desperate fix— million put me on my feet easy — make him pay " par Under the treatment of the physician and the nurse West subsided into silence But the woman had heard enough to enable her to grasp the situation very completely She debated the matter throughout the long dreary night an odd hard light gleaming In her eyes ee said falhtly “If you don’t mind Tom Belden and Tauslg swore Including ” to find that it was worth I’ll go amazedly “There’s "No stay!” he commanded only one hundred and one And then while this panicky feeling something funny going on and I prothousand-sharknow covered held Hollwedel to what It Is Now Hollpose having deftly " —one lot to a broker" through other brokers hls ten thous- wedel and shorts suddenly proclaimed with Tauslg arose and waddled out grinstammered Hollwedel Belden resumed hls pacing to a loud voice that he had twenty-fivning “Well much" he said "that and fro scowling at the floor Pres- thousand Net Common to dispose of I had to do with the deal" he added man ently he stopped at the ticker again after a hastily “Matter of fact I only acted It was as If a strong and remained there fingering the fast- long and exhausting run had abruptly as an agent under orders Of course for several minutes flowing ribbon been set upon by an per- y§n understand I thought they were motionless as a statue Then he scur- son with an ax and a desire for the your orders and obeyed them imried hastily over to hls desk and press- strong man’s life Net Common drop- plicitly" ed a little button on ped like a log —Hollwedel selling and “Orders?" queried West Its edge covering and selling again with most Mrs West averted her face "I want Mr Chellborg" he snarled relentless activity "I— I hope you won’t be angry at the boy who answered hls SumAbout the New Transit Tom" Bhe faltered tremulously England mons men came on floor the Exchange post “I’ll be angry If I don’t get this "Mr Chellborg" he told one of hls to blows in their efforts to dispose of from said the beginning" straight confidential brokers who presently ap- a stock for which It seemed no one West “Go on Hollwedel I promise peared “I want you to find out who is had the slightest use in the world to control myself and not to interFours and— and buying Bennington and the Other securities especially rupt" who the devil Is selling Net Com- more weak ones suffered proportionand stop"Well” said Hollwedel mon!" because of the shock to public ped “Well!” he plunged desperately The ticker chattered off the Informa- ately clock In at his narrative “the morning confidence the When big after tion that somebody had sold “Net" hour forth boomed the tower Trinity’s you were sunstruck Mrs West called five hundred shares at one hundred of three a long deep sigh of relief at the office Mind you I hadn’t any and nineteen and somebody pise had was almost a gasp went up from notion that you were even ailing She bonds at that nervous bought “B Fours” eighty the Street Net Common was said that you had broken your arm— ten It was Just at your right arm” Just at that moment an obliging In the private office of Mr Belden “Why?” demanded the startled con Central had established telephonic was gloom valescent connection between the uptown branch of Belden & Tauslg there The two partners were limp and un“To explain why you couldn’t send near the of William across each other the happy me facing written instructions by your own & Wise Sons bankers and brokers office of the basket that held miles and miles of hand” suggested Hollwedel and the main downtown of details with the same concern “Yes” assented Mrs West timidly It was a fairly reputa- paper tape stamped BelIrreparable ble house one doing a large commis- disaster "And” the broker continued "it was den’s sallow face was dark and forseveral sion to get around Belden You business through he kept a dogged silence necessary bidding branches some of which- and In parhad given her full details of how I was of while conned written he the reports ticular that one near the Waldorf Mrs West to go about the business on hls lieutenants Tauslg the other Instructed me I thought that it was room customers’ boasted a “special hand had lost a great deal of hls rudfor ladles” risky but that made it seem and he mighty appearance On the uptown end of the wire was dy wholesome all the more as though It came from Both a somewhat excited and excitable but muttered curses automatically you West It was a scheme to knock had forgotten for the time being that the bottom out of Net Common in on young man who acted as experienced He ear- there was such a security as Benningder to keep Belden on the anxious manager of the branch office ton Fours on the list After a while while we quietly bought up a maseat nestly desired a word with the head of exasperated by Belden’s continued re- jority of the Bennington Fours I obthe firm and was presently accommoticence Tausiz snapped at him a quesdated jected because we hadn’t ready money — for the hundredth time: tion Just what he had to say is not of but Mrs enough to put it through “Who did it?” was rerecord but hls cbmmunicatlon West overcame that by pledging he Belden glanced at him slowly In- personal fortune to old Wlnant That ceived with attentive respect by Mr curiously William Wise who at once consulted to with” us operate gave enough “How do I know?” he asked Tauthe ticker with an air of alarmed in“Bess" cried West “you— you did ana- that terest " comprehensive Then he sat down and rocked slg replied by thema of Thomas West and all hls in hls desk chair frowning at the cell“You “Walt!” advised Hollwedel said patiently Belden “It promised to go easy Mrs West starting for the space of three minutes by works the clock After which he summoned wasn’t West I tell you he’s out of hls ed the ball rolling by going to Wise’S and desired In- head” hls head bookkeeper uptown room and selling five hundred formation "Then who was It?" howled Tauslg Net Common short Inasmuch as you "John” he inquired “how much Net "HollwedeJ?” were known to have been conferring Common are we carrying for our perBelden shook hls head with Belden the day before and Mrs sonal account?" “Hollwedel sold no more than half West being your wife presumably taHe was told five thousand shares “Bea dozen others” he answered king a flyer for pin money on you "I think” Wise meditated after the sides he’d be afraid” advice young Wise jumped at the conclerk had departed "that all things Tauslg gathered himself together clusion that Net Common was due to we may consider the rise hls considered ha emotion with break — just as we had figured big frame We will He waved an shaking fist In the air would In Net a thing of the past He telephoned hls papa and Impotent sell before the break comes and while and there were tears 'in hls eyes as the Wise clique unloaded on the minbe a good he demanded — the one hundred and ute That staggered Belden and beThat morning the market opened we are about it It might or three thous- first time fore he got over It everybody was firm Net Common was In demand at scheme to lump in two one hundred and nineteen an advance and shares short” “Then who the hell was It?” bearing Net I sold ten thousand memboard And the he telephoned short Jvist to help things along and of two points o Benrtlngton to effect that using Belden took the count Then I soaked Fours had dropped four points to ber of the firm She had been preparing herself them with twenty-fivthe firm’s private wire to the Exthousand shares against It for ten long days yet it was and Net dropped like a sinker She Belden smiled grimly as he scanned change floor and carefully modulating man with a feeling akin to terror that Mrs one no so voice the hls but that closed at with Belden on the To the opening prices hls tape saw Hollwedel shutting behind choking to death and we covered and ears the gossip of the ticker was at the other end of the wire could pos- West bedhim the door to her husband’s cashed in to a beautiful tune sweet music everything was going as sibly overhear hls Instructions hls first visit Not wishing to alarm the market room when he made I’d been cabling “In the meantime he had wished Nothing could be betafter he had received the English investors for their of a few of condolence and so lose the advantage ter from hls point of view and got a big block from He dropped the paper ribbons into fractions of a point he waited a rea- the news of his partner's misfortune min— five time of sonable fully over there besides what I picked up period the ticker basket and began to pace board Temporarily Mrs West was afraid on the Street during the slump and up and down the length of his private utes —In order to permit the before of Hollwedel the man was frank and while Belden was getting hls second office with a stealthy catlike tread member to execute hls orders customers of the firm might be counted upon to blurt out wind the advising somefrom with side to side Finally I had corraled over glancing things which are preferably left un- half the bond issue which Mrs West of course) to "unload thing furtive In hls manner His bands (confidentially the last man and I locked up in our safe deposit were clasped behind his back and he on Net Common and sell short for a said She considered him she whom would of her acquaintance quick break” allowed hls head to droop as he chuckvault Pretty soon — day or two— select tp “break It gently” to anyone Belden came In the meantime Belden having said he’s reconaround led sourly bereaved And so thinking she rose sidered that he’d take our block at Tauslg hls partner read the covert viewed with disgust hls pet's loss of and made as she would leavef though decided on one market a himIn the price agreed upon — eighty I told manner Belden’s point and strong triumph — futllely however two the — together it trifle to “to We held boost the price a him just how things stood give self consulted the tape He likewise howed “Mrs West!” Hollwedel but we the majority of the Fours smiled a broad contented smile as he a dose of tonic” as Tauslg put it In We didn’t care to turned away from the basket but a order to accomplish his desire Mr "Don’t go please" he addedme almost didn’t want them dear” foreclose twelve pleasantly And “Stay with some commissioned Belden I told him he could have moment later he began to think West seconded In a thin brittle voice them at par He swore he’d have to exebrokers who were accustomed “Belden" he began aggressively She cast one your blood West — and gave in Perforce she yielded He He was his partner’s precise antithe- cute hls orders without “giving up” to sell Imploring the name of their principal glance upon Ilbllwedel — had to I don’t know where fie got the sis — a heavy rotund "pushsat money but Ido know that we cleared Net Common in amounts varying from which he failed to catch — and ing" type down very sedately folding her hands nearly a million on the operation And “Eh?" Belden desired to know one hundred to one thousand shares And at the in her lap and playing with her wedIn all twenty thousand your wife’s responsible" stopping and facing him numdiffding ring the while a nervous Hollwedel stopped Tauslg doffed hls aggressiveness un- same time he instructed an equal to abruptly Mrs buy ident smile betrayed her inward agita- West started and quivered "How ber of similarly trained traders der that searching scrutiny a little tion Contrasted the two men bulked with a fearful gladness — that she had much higher are you going to let Net in a like manner— big — even the convalescent gaunt and done this thing for him for her husgo?" he inquired with plaintive defer- Net Common this haggard though he was was massive Barring untoward developments ence band But she feared to meet hls eye transaction by which Belden’s right and sturdy by her side who seemed so West remained still in hls chair star"Before I decide to liquidate?” asked Belden leering "Well say orre hand sold to Belden’s left— a practlso frailly feminine Anxiety and the ing at the celling After a while — a sales by match wearing watches of long nights had tense silent interval — he “washing hundred and twenty-fivTauslg Then nicknamed passed hls and ruled wasted her we can begin to unload — quietly you orders” by the Street hand over hls eyes To prove that he was not wholly know— and besides Bennington Fours against by the governing committee — said "My wife!” he softly and a genmust in Vest needs out down and would have rise resulted creating will be down to fifty by that time” arose He took a step or two toward Tauslg sucked uneasily at an ex- eral impresslomthat Net Common was from his Invalid chair and advance to her and paused “A million!" he whisvery greatly desired on all hands adgreet Hollwedel “Oh good Lord!” He pensive cigar pered "Sit down old man” he said “and vanced until he towered “I thought you said you would cash above her Unfortunately just as this yas IniWilliam Wise & Sons tell me all about It You can't know while she sat with bowed head and a tiated Messrs in this morning" he defended me am Tell see Common I how to the thousand you Net offered eight glad film of dimness clouding her vision surlily so that the supply exceeded the mo- truth — I can’t get anything out of Bess “My wife!” said West breathlessly Belden “I did I did” squeaked ” "But things happen you know I’ve mentary demand and the price Inevi- or Dexter beyond that ‘It’s all right’ Bess I think now it’s tably "slumped” Within the next ten and that you turned the tables on BelShe looked up at him her face shinchanged my mind safe to boost Net Common a little minutes Mr Wise’s customers acting den in great shape Tell me how you ing eleven did advice it” dumped higher and to hold off on the bonds a on hls kindly “I “I — I had to dear” she said He sank "Eh?” gasped Hollwedel thousand two hundred shares on the wee bit longer” couldn’t help It— things were so desAnd Into a chair with the air of an astonfloor causing a further decline demand Tauslg "Why?” flatly perate Something had to be done ” became ished elephant and looked confusedly unknown a timid somebody "There’s West would me and It seemed to that you at Mrs West “Haven’t you heard the news?” Belscared and decided to sell and somehave done Just that" West’s temper was worn thin by den’s tone was expreq-dvof extreme body else came to the same conclu"But — but how could you know how of the surprise "West’s out of the running sion and yet another somebody caught days of maddening Iteration flank to Belden” we’ve got a clear traclx ahead of us” of distrust the result statement that he was too weak to the infection Tom? “How could I help knowing “What struck West f” Tauslg’s small being that Net Common was quoted talk about business she defended herself “For ten years "Don’t say ’Eh!”’ he cried peevishat one hundred thirteen eyes widened me Just what to do been you’ve telling news of for the I’m "Man to sun and Belden “The ly starving struck West" sneered glued Tauslg — Just how you were acting in similar Belden "He went away from here ticker’s side by an Invincible dismay the Street Don’t act as though-—- ” I didn’t know It until rather excited yesterday afternoon He swore and considered ways and means He ftopped hls eyes lighting savagely emergencies came but you’ve educated didn’t seem to think I had treated him by which they might "peg” the price In their deep sockets “My God!” he the time of the "Have they lied to me? Isn’t me thoroughly In the ways I could prettily I suppose Je ran around and meaning to fix It beyond possibility of cried do Street dear and the least " But before they had it true that Belden got overheated — lt none of my bus- further declines for you was to make use of the knowl“Belden" said Hollwedel recovering time to make up their minds as to the iness" Belden waved a deprecating had me!” which given you edge hand disclaiming responsibility "But wisest course to be pursued hastily “is meek as a little lamb sob West She broke off with a half he’s flat on his bacf and the Street board member of Hollwedel & He’s been taught a lesson all right but West amiably assaulted Net Common —I didn’t have much to do with it I Stared amazed doesn't know why” a “Do you mean” he stammered Indeed he “Umm” Tauslg mumbled hls grati- with a sandbag —ten thousand shares don't understand this” obstructof sensation as choking Bel— bewildered was evidently somewhat queer which landing in the midriff of fication "And Holl yedel” he added ” ing his utterance “Do you mean that naming West’s partner "is a shrimp: den’s “pet” knocked out of it a deal "Hasn’t Mrs West told you Mrs West looked at him beseech-Inl- Just by talking to you in the mornings He hasn’t got the “serve to attempt of wind and four points from the marthis time he saw It and stopped sweetheart ” But I never thought This in Its turn had the reprisals without Test to back him ket price you cared agape effect of shaking out a large number up That’s very nice— very" of stop orders whereupon the Street “Why “Yes" Belden whined agreement I never suspected but that “Yes” she replied vaguely Suddenly hls arms were about her “and West won’t get over fifty for hU In a fit of genuine hysterics poured ——" he blundered " West began an Hollwedel heard him cry brokenly "I'll go mad bonds — If I decide to allow him that” selling orders Into the Exchange so "Why Bess!” And then Hollwedel He sidled over to the ticker and furiously that the traders were stam- grily went to the window and stood there His wife Interrupted “One hundred and peded and glad to get rid of Net Comfondled the tat Tell him all Mr Hollwedel” she looking out for a long time twenty" he announced drearily "You mon at any old price and everybody In Tauslg how the Street believes me” He laughed nastily “Send out to sell ten thousand when we orders strike 'em In "Sell he added lots you know |