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About The Nebraska advertiser. (Nemaha City, Neb.) 18??-1909 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 30, 1907)
CHAPTER III. Continued. While every other man In the crowd was at a high tension of excitement, Barry Conant was as calm as though standing in the center of a ten-ncro daisy field cutting off the helpless flow ors' heads with every swing of his arm. Switching stock gamblers into eternity had grown to bo a pastime to Barry Conant. Hero was Bob thunder ing with terrific emphasis "78 for 5, 000," "77 for 5,000," "75 for 5,000," "74 for 5,000," "73 for 5,000," "72 for 5,000," seemingly expecting through sheer power of voice to crush his opponent into silence. But with tho regularity of atrip-hammer Barry Conant's right hand, raised in unhurried gesture, and his cloar calm "Sold" met Bob's every retreating bid. It was a battle royal a king on one side, a Richelieu on the other. Though there was frantic buy ing and selling all around these two generals, the trading was gauged by the trend of their battle. All knew that if Bob should be beaten down by this concentrated modern finance devil, a panic would ensue and Sugar would go none could say how low. But if Bob should play him to a stand still by exhausting his selling power, Sugar would quickly soar to even higher figures than before. It was known that Barry Conant's usual order from his clients, tho "System" mas ters, for such an occasion as the pres ent was "Break the price at any cost." On the other hand, every one knew that Randolph & Randolph were usual ly behind Bob's big operations; this was evidently one of his biggest, and every man there knew that Randolph & Randolph were seldom backed down by any force. As Bob made his bid "72 for 5,000," and got it, I saw a quick flash of pain shoot across his face, and realized that It probably meant ho was nearing the end of my last order. I sized It up that there was deviltry of more than usual significance behind this selling movement; that Barry Conant must have unlimited orders to sell and smash. My final order of 50,000 brought our total up to 150,000 shares, a large amount for oven Randolph & Randolph to buy of a stock selling at nearly $200 a share. I then and there decided that whatever happened would go no further. Just then Bob's wild eye caught mine, and there was in it a piteous appeal, such an appeal as one sees' In the eye of the wounded doe when she gives up her attempt to swim to shore and waits tho coming of the pursuing hunter's canoe. I sad ly signaled that I was through. As Bob caught the sign, he threw his head back and bellowed a deep, hoarse "70 for 10,000." I know then that he had already bought 40,000, and that this was, the last ditch stand. Barry Conant must have caught the mean ing, too. Instantly, like a revolver re port, came his "Sold!" Then tho com pact, miniature mass of human springs and wires, which had until now been held in perfect control, sud denly burst from Its clamps and Barry Conant was the fiend his Wall street reputation pictured him. His five feet five inches seemed to loom to the height of a giant. His arms, with their fate-pointing fingers, rose and fell with bewildering rapidity as his piercing voice rang out "5,000 at 69, 68, 65," "10,000 at 63," ""25,000 at 60." Pandemonium reigned. -Every man In the crowd seemed to have tho capital stock of the Sugar trust to sell, and at any price. A score seemed to bo bent on selling as low as possible in stead of for as much as they could got. These were the shorts who had been punished the day before by Bob's up lift. Poor Bob, he was forgotten! An In stant after he made his last effort he was the dead cock In tho pit. Frenzied gamblers of the stock exchange have no more use for tho dead cocks than have Mexicans for tho real birds when they get the fatal gaff. The day after tho contest, or even that same night at Dolmonlco's and tho clubs, these men would moan for poor Bob; Barry Con ant's moan would be tho loudest of them all, and, what Is more, it would be sincere. But on battle day away to the dump with tho fallen bird, tho bird that could not win! I saw a look of deep, terrible agony spread over Bob's face; and then in a flash ho was tho Bob Brownley who I always boast ed had the courage and tho brain to do the right thing in all circumstances. To the astonishment of every man in the crowd he let loose one wild yell, a cross between tho war-whoop of an Indian and tho bay of a deep-lunged hound regaining a lost scent. Then ho begau to throw over Sugar stock, right and left, in big and little amounts. He slaughtered tho price, undor-cuttlng Barry Conant's every of fer and filling every bid, For 20 min utes ho was a madman, then ho stopped. Sugar was falling rapidly to mo price it nnauy reacneu, uu, ana tho panic was In full swing, but panics seemed now to hnvo no interest for Bob. He pushed his way through the crowd and, joining me, said: "Jim, forgive mo. I have dragged you Into an enormous loss, havo ruined Beulah Sands, her father and myself. I think at tho last moment I did the only thing possible. I threw over the 150, 000 shares and so cut off some of our loss. Let us go to the ofllco and see where we stand." He was strangely, unnaturally calm after that heart-crush ing, nerve-tearing day. I tried to toll him how I admired his cool nerve and pluck in about facing and doing tho only thing there was left to do; to tell him that requirod more real courage and level-headedness than all tho rest of the day's doings; but he stopped mo: "Jim, don't talk to me. My conceit The Look of Desperation is gone. I have learned my lesson to day. My plans were all right, and sound, but poor fool that 1 was, I did not take Into consideration the loaded dice of the master thieves. I knew what they could do, have seen them scores of times, as you have, at their slaughter; seen them crush out the hearts of other men just as good as you or I; seen them take them out and skin and quarter-slice them, unmind ful of tho agony of those who wero dear to and dependent on their own ers, but it never seemed to strike me home. It was not my heart, and some how, I looked at it as a part of tho game and let it go at that. To day I know what it means to bo put on tho chopping block of tho 'System' butch ers. I know what It Is to see my heart and tho heart of ono I love and youra, too, Jim systematically skewered to those of the hundreds and thousands of victims who have gone before. Jim, we must bo three millions losers, and tho men who have our money havo so many, many millions that they can't Hvo long enough oven to thumb them over. Men who will uso our money on tho gambling table, at tho race tracks, squander It on stage harlots, or, In turning their wives and daugh ters or their neighbors' wives and daughters into worse than stage har lots. Men, Jim, who are not fit, meas ured by any standard of decency, to walk tho same earth as you and Judge Sands. Men whose painted pets pol lute tho very air that such as Beulah Sands must breathe. I've learned my lecsnn to-day. 1 thought I knew the game of finance, but I'm suddenly awaketied to a realization of the dense Ignorance I wallowed In. Jim, but tor 11. p loading of the dice, I should niv llF'e been taking Bnulah Sands to hor father with the money that the hellish 'System' stole from him. Later 1 should have taken her to tho altar, and after, who knows but that I should havo had tho happiest home and family In all tho world, and lived as her people and mine havo lived for generations, hon est, God-fearing, law-abiding, neighbor-loving men and women, and then died as men should dlo? But now, Jim, I see a bluck, awful plctifre. No, I'm not morbid, I'm going to make a heroic effort to put tho picture out of sight; but I'm afraid, Jim, I'm afraid." He stopped as we pulled up on tho sidewalk In front of Randolph & Ran dolph's office. "Here It Is on the bul letin. See what did the trick, Jim. They held tho Sugar meeting last night Instead of waiting till to-morrow, and cut the dividend instead of in creasing it. The world won't know It until to-morrow. Then they will know It, then they will know It. Tlioy will read It In the headlines of the papers a fow suicides, a few defaulters, a few new convicts, nn unclaimed corpse or two at tho morguo; a few innocent girls, whose fathers' fortunes havo gone to swell Cnmemeycr's and Stand ard Oil's already uncountable gold, turned Into street-walkers; a few now palaces on Fifth avenue, and a fow now libraries given to communities that formerly took pride In building them from their honestly earned sav ings. A roport or two of record-breaking diamond sales by Tiffany to the kings and czars of dollar royalty, then front-page news stories of clawing, mauling, and halr-pulling wrangles among tho stage harlots for the pos session of these diamonds. They were not quite sure that the dividend cut alone would do the trick, and they Faded from Bob's Face. were taking no chances, these mighty warriors of the 'System,' so their hire ling sonato committee held a session last night and unanimously reported to put sugar on the free list. The peo pie will read that in the morning, and probably the day after they'll be told that tho committee held another ses slon to-night and unanimously roport ed to take It off the free list. By that time these honorable statesmen will have loaded up with the stock that you and I and Beulah Sands sold, and that other poor devils will slaughter to-morrow after reading their morning papers." Bob's bitterness was terrible. My heart was torn as I listened. He stalked through the ofllco and Into that of Beulah Sands. I followed. Sho was at her desk, and when sho looked up, her great eyes opened In wonderment as they took In Hob, his grim, set face, tho defiant, sullen desperation of the big brown eyes, tho disheveled hair and clothes. For an Instant she stood as ono who had seen an appari tlon. "Look me over, Beulah Sands," he saiu, "iook me over io yuur ueari s content, for you may never again see tne rooi ot loois in an me worm, ino fool who thought himself competent to copo with men of braluB, with men who really know how to play tho game of dollars as it is played in this Chris tlan age. Don't ask mo not to call you Beulah; that what I tried to do was for you is tho ono streak of light In all this black holl. Boulah, Beulah, we aro rulnod, you, your father, and I, ruined, and I'm tho fool who did It." She rose from her desk with all tho quiet, calm dignity that we had been admiring for tnrou month), nnd ntaol facing Bob. She did not sesm to sec me; sho saw nothing but the man who had gone out that morning the person ification of hope, who new stood be fore her tho picture of black despair, and sho must havo though',, "It was all for nv." Suddenly she took tho lapels of his torn coat In olther hand. Sho had to reach up to do It, this winsome little Virginia lady. With her big, calm blue eyes looking straight into his, sho said: "Bob." That was all, but tho word seemed to change the vory atmosphere In tho room. Tho look of desperation faded from Bob's face, and as though the words had sprung the hidden catch to the doors of tho storehouse of pent-up misery, his eyes filled with hot, blind lng tears. Ills great chest was con vulsed with sobs. Again clear, calm, fearless, and tender, came tho ono syllable, "Hob." And at that Hob's Bolf-control slipped tho leash. With a hoarse cry, ho threw his arms around her and crushed her to his breast, (TO BE CONTINUED.) LION CLEARED THE YARD. Pet c Minneapolis Man was Death to the Dogs. Mr. Nelson, who was much annoyed by stray dogs burying bones in his garden at Linden Hills, secured a lion while ho was in Europe last summer, paying $287.50 for a rather weathor beaten king of beasts, but ono that was guaranteed In overy rcspoct. Tho Hon became a great pot on tho way over and came to know his master's volco and obey It. its name was Honry. Arrived at Linden Hills Mr. Nelson lot Honry out Into tho back yard and simply waited. At 7:30 on tho first morning a Newfoundland dog as largo as a small garage walked Into tho yard to stop on tho flower beds as usual and to tip over tho garbage can. Tho Hon saw tho dog ontor tho yard and tho dog lust barely saw tho Hon. 'Crunch!" That was all. It was tho sound made by Henry eating tho dog. At 8:10 a monster bulldog smellod his way into tho garden to rip up a yard of soli among tho potunlas. "Kl-yl! "Crunch!" The bulldog had gono hence. By 11:30 Henry's scoro stood: Ono Newfoundland, ono bull, four fox terriers, nn Irish setter, and two plain dogs. Evorythlng that came into tho yard collided with tho lion and lo, it was not. Mr. Nelson was so Joyous over tho experiment that he could not go to work that day, but Just sat around and felt good. In six weeks tho dogs were olther all In or wero avoiding tho place by going two blocks tho other way. Then tho cir cus camo around and tho Hon was so fat and gloBsy that Mr. Nelson dis posed of him to tho menagerie depart ment for $327.75. Minneapolis Jour nal. Copper In Africa. It is believed by some that tho greatest copper industry in tho world will be developed In tho Tanganyika region, whero tho properties are of great potential value, and may provo to bo one of tho greatest factors In carrying civilization into tho heart of Africa. Much time is required for de velopmentft. Becauso of tho heavy speculation in the shares theso may suffer much before tho properties be come dividend earning. Tho Ben gueles railway cannot well bo com pleted for fivo years or so, and oven tho Rhodesia railways extensions aro now to require a couplo of years oro they can reach the property. Robort Williams Is tho pioneer and, In a great measure, tho organizer of this vast undertaking, ono of the most re markablo of modern times. Precocious Children. In the world of music we find many Instances of boys giving an oarly Indication of a remarkablo career. Handel and Mozart eaoh showed liking for music when young In years, and soon made their mark. Handel began composing a church sorvlco for voices and Instruments when only nine years old, and boforo ho was 15 ho had composed three operas Mozart began tho piano at throe, and at seven ho taught himself tho violin. At nine years of ago ho visited Eng land, and on his departure ho gavo a farewell concert, of which nil tho symphonies wore composed by him self. Fires Never Extinguished. In Slam is a fire which not only lasts for years, but has "lineal de scondants." In a Buddhist temple at Bangkok the priests overy fourth new voar Unlit a fresh Hro In a big bra zler. This fire Is kept alive for four year3 anj extinguished after supply inc a i.rand to light Its successor, Tll0 I)ractice has been carried on for mor0 nim two centuries, so that in a aonso the Bangkok fire Is the oldest in tho world. Not Quite the Same. Three-year-old Robort and his fa tlior wero good friends. Tho latter often used to say "wo aro chums. Ono day to demonstrate his affection for his father to some visitors, Rob ert throw his arms around his father' neck, exclaiming, "Papa and I chumps," The Two Reports of the Spies SundaySchoolLeisonlor Sept. 1, 1907 Specially Prepared for This Paper LESSON TEXT. - Number 13:17-2"). 2.1-3.1. Memory vimcm 30, 31. GOLDEN TEXT. -"The Lord Is with us ; four them not." Num. 14:9. TLME.-.liily or August, "Tho Time of tho lli-flt rlpo Ki-upcH" (Num. 13:20); li. C. H90 by tho common chronology. TIuh was two or three months after they left Slnul on tho 20th tiny of the second month, .somctlmo In May. PLACE. Kodo.Mi-bnrncn. An 11-daya Journey (Dout. 1;2) of continued travel, as modern truvcliMH have found (Itobln son wns exactly 11 day); I. o 100 or 170 inllea route from HI mil . It Ih GO miles .south of Kcershchn on the Houthern border of I'atcHtlnc. Comment and Suggestive Thought For two or three months tho poo- plo of Israel, men, women, and chil dren, slowly marched through "the groat and terrible wilderness" from Sinai, a Journey which ordinary trav elers could make In olovon days. Tho slow march and long rests woro noc- essary both on account of the children nnd the Hocks, and on account of tho need of longer training. Moroovor, tho difficulties and privations of tho desert would make them more nnx lous to enter the "land flowing with milk and honey." Kadosh-barnen. At length, somo lino In July or August, they reached Kadesh-harnea, Aln Qadoes, 50 miles south of Beershoba, just at tho foot of the range of hills which aro tho south ern boundary of Palestine. "From Kadesh tho people can neo, rising before them toward tho north west, the stoop ascent which lends nto the hill country, the destined In leritanco of tho tribe of Judah." The gates to their now homo woro boforo them, wide open. Tho fertllo oasis to which they had como was a foretaste of their Inheritance. Only a teop climb and thoy can Hot their feet on tho land of promise. Then Moses said unto them: "Bo- hold, Jehovah thy God hath set tho land before theo; go up, take posses sion, as Jehovah, tho God of thy fa thers, hath spoken unto thee; foar not, neither bo dismayed. (Dout, 1:21.) They had only to tnwt God and go forward, and In less than two yearn from leaving Egypt the land would havo boon theirs. The God who had delivered them with a mighty hand, who had made a path through tho sea, who had rained manna, nnd brought wator from n rock, and spokon from Sinai, and entored into covenant with them, and was leading thorn by his visible presence, ho hade them go up and take possession of tho prom ised land. Tho people were afraid to go for ward. They wero not a warlike peo ple. Abraham's attack on Chedorlno mor and his army In rescue of Lot, In the far distant past, and their battlo with tho Amalekltes, a year before this time, are tho only bnttles record ed in the whole history of their raco. Tho whole people (Dent. 1:22) asked Moses to first send out spies to In vostlgate. This was wise undor tho circumstances, that Is, tho next wisest thing to going forward trusting In God, and thcieforo Mosos agreed to tho plan (Deut. 1:23), and it was so directed by God (Num. 13:1, 2). The Committee of Investigation. Accordingly, Moses selected twelve leading men best fitted for tho aor vice, whose names are given in vs. 4-15. "Spy Out the Land." The object of thiB expedition was (1) to learn what were the attractions of the coun try; (2) the difficulties in tho way of taking possession; (IS) the best wayB of reaching tho country; (4) the prep arations it was necessary to make. "Get you up this way southward." Bet ter as in R. V., by the south, not re ferring at all to the direction form the Israollto's camp, but to a well-defined tract of territory forming the south ernmost and least fertllo portion of the land of Canaan. It wns called "The Negeb" or the South Country, literally, "the dryness." In tho same way we speak of "tho South,' no matter In what direction we npproach It. The Two Reports. The timid spies were like Kllsha's servant (2 Kings G:1G, 17), who saw tho enemy, but did not see the heavenly chariots and horsemen ranged on tho hills round about. They saw the giants, but were blind to God. Tho report was evil because It omitted the essential factor In tho case. Tho minority report of Caleb and Joshua was a good report becauso, while it accepted all tho material facts of tho other, it ombodied the one essential of faith in God with Its outcome of obedience and courage. Tho difference between tho two lny in this: that tho ton looked at God through tho difficulties, as whon you look at tho sun through a reversed telescope, and It seoms indefinitely distant and shorn of Its glory; while tho two looked at difficulties through God. F. B. Meyor.