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-The Project Gutenberg eBook of A corner in corn; or How a Chicago boy
-did the trick, by Self-Made Man
-
-This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and
-most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
-whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms
-of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at
-www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you
-will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before
-using this eBook.
-
-Title: A corner in corn; or How a Chicago boy did the trick
-       Fame and Fortune Weekly, No. 3, October 20, 1905
-
-Author: Self-Made Man
-
-Release Date: July 24, 2022 [eBook #68605]
-
-Language: English
-
-Produced by: David Edwards, SF2001, and the Online Distributed
-             Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (Northern
-             Illinois University Digital Library)
-
-*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A CORNER IN CORN; OR HOW A
-CHICAGO BOY DID THE TRICK ***
-
-
-
-
-
- Fame and Fortune Weekly
-
- STORIES OF BOYS WHO MAKE MONEY
-
-_Issued Weekly--By Subscription $2.50 per year. Entered according to
-Act of Congress, in the year 1905, in the office of the Librarian of
-Congress, Washington, D. C., by Frank Tousey, Publisher, 24 Union
-Square, New York._
-
- =No. 3=      OCTOBER 20, 1905.      =Price 5 Cents=
-
-
- A Corner in Corn;
- OR,
- HOW A CHICAGO BOY DID THE TRICK.
-
- =By A SELF-MADE MAN.=
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER I.
-
-IN THE ROOKERY BUILDING.
-
-
-“Has Vance returned yet?” asked Jared Whitemore, a stout,
-florid-complexioned man of sixty-five, opening the door of his private
-office and glancing into the outside room.
-
-“No, sir,” replied Edgar Vyce, his bookkeeper and office manager--a
-tall, saturnine-looking man, who had been in his employ several years.
-
-“Send him in as soon as he comes back.”
-
-The bookkeeper nodded carelessly and resumed his writing.
-
-“Miss Brown,” said Jared to his stenographer and typewriter, a very
-pretty brown-eyed girl of seventeen, the only other occupant of the
-room, whose desk stood close to one of the windows overlooking La Salle
-Street.
-
-She immediately left her machine and followed her employer into the
-inner sanctum.
-
-Mr. Whitemore was a well-known speculator, one of the shrewdest and
-most successful operators on the Chicago Board of Trade.
-
-He owned some of the best business sites in the city, and his ground
-rents brought him in many thousands a year.
-
-Accounted a millionaire many times over, no one could with any degree
-of certainty say exactly what he was worth.
-
-His plainly furnished office was on an upper floor of the Rookery
-Building.
-
-He did business for nobody but himself. Jarboe, Willicutt & Co., whose
-offices were on the ground floor of the Board of Trade Building, were
-his brokers.
-
-The office clock chimed the hour of five as the bookkeeper, with a
-frown, laid down his pen, rested his elbow on the corner of his tall
-desk and glanced down into the busy thoroughfare.
-
-At that moment the office door opened and a messenger boy entered.
-
-Mr. Vyce came to the railing and received an envelope addressed to
-himself.
-
-He signed for it, tore it open, read the contents, which were brief,
-with a corrugated brow, and then, with much deliberation, tore the
-paper into fine particles and tossed them into the waste-basket.
-
-For a moment or two he paced up and down before his desk, with his
-hands thrust into his trousers pockets, and then resumed his work
-just as the door opened again and admitted a stalwart, good-looking
-lad, with a frank, alert countenance and a breezy manner, who entered
-briskly with a handful of pamphlets and papers.
-
-“Mr. Whitemore wants you to report in his office at once, Thornton,”
-said the bookkeeper, in a surly kind of voice, accompanied with a look
-which plainly showed that he was not particularly well disposed toward
-the boy.
-
-“All right,” answered Vance, cheerily, turning toward the private
-office, on the door of which he knocked, and then entered on being told
-to come in.
-
-“I hate him!” muttered Mr. Vyce, following the boy’s retreating figure
-with a dark scowl. “He’s a thorn in my path. He’s altogether too thick
-with Whitemore. I can’t understand what the old man sees in him. For
-the last three months I’ve noticed that my hold here is slipping away,
-and just when I need it the most. Just when things were coming my
-way, too. Now, with a fortune in sight, this boy is crowding me to
-the wall. Curse him! I can’t understand what it means. Is it possible
-Whitemore suspects me? Pshaw! Am I not an old and trusted employee?
-I’ve always been in his confidence to a large extent, but of late he
-has been keeping things from me--matters I ought to know--especially in
-reference to this deal he has on. Those corn options are on the point
-of expiring, and I expected ere this to have been sent West to settle
-with the elevator people and get the receipts, for corn is on the rise
-and the old man is ahead at this stage of the game. I strongly suspect
-he means to corner the market this time. He’s got the dust to attempt
-it with, and already he holds options on nearly half of the visible
-supply in Kansas and Nebraska, besides what he has stored here. There
-is no telling what he has been doing during the last thirty days, as
-not a word about corn has passed between us during that time. It’s not
-like Whitemore to act this way with me. Something is up, and by George!
-I’ll find out what it is.”
-
-Mr. Vyce drove his pen savagely into a little glass receptacle filled
-with small shot and turned to the window again, after glancing at the
-clock.
-
-Bessie Brown came out of the inner office with her notebook in her hand
-and sat down at her machine to transcribe her notes.
-
-In a few moments Mr. Vyce came over to her desk and, taking up his
-station where he could catch a glance of what she was writing, remarked:
-
-“Are you working overtime to-night, Miss Brown?”
-
-“Excuse me, Mr. Vyce,” she said, covering the paper with her hands,
-“this is strictly confidential.”
-
-“I beg your pardon,” he said, between his teeth, altering his position.
-“But you haven’t answered my question.”
-
-“I expect to be busy until six,” she replied, without looking at him.
-
-“I have tickets for McVickar’s,” he continued. “Would you honor me with
-your company there this evening? It is not necessary that you return
-home to dress. We can dine at Palmer’s.”
-
-“You must excuse me,” she replied, with a heightened color, “but I
-never go anywhere without my mother’s knowledge and permission.”
-
-“But you went to the Auditorium two weeks ago with Thornton,” he said,
-in a tone of chagrin.
-
-“Mr. Thornton asked mamma if I could go, and she consented.”
-
-“You never invited me to call at your home, so I could become
-acquainted with your mother,” persisted Mr. Vyce, who was evidently
-jealous of the intimacy which existed between Vance and the young lady.
-
-Bessie said nothing to this, but applied herself more attentively to
-her work.
-
-“Aren’t you going to extend that privilege to me, Miss Brown?” he
-continued, fondling his heavy black mustache.
-
-“Mr. Vyce, I am very busy just now,” she replied, with some
-embarrassment.
-
-The bookkeeper gave her a savage glance and then walked away without
-another word.
-
-Much to her relief, he soon put on his hat and left the office
-abruptly, shutting the door with a slam.
-
-At the same moment Vance came out of the private office and stepped up
-beside the pretty typewriter.
-
-She looked up with a smile and did not offer to hide from his gaze the
-long typewritten letter on which she was engaged.
-
-Evidently there was nothing there Vance ought not to know.
-
-“Will you please turn on the light, Vance?” she asked, sweetly, her
-fingers never leaving the keys for a moment.
-
-“Certainly, Bessie,” he replied, with alacrity, raising his hand to the
-shaded electric bulb above her machine and turning the key, whereupon
-the slender wires burst into a white glow. “How much more have you to
-do?”
-
-“Another page, almost,” she answered, with another quick glance into
-his bright, eager young face.
-
-“I won’t be able to see you to the car to-night,” he said, regretfully.
-
-That was a pleasure the young man had for some time appropriated to
-himself and Bessie as willingly accorded.
-
-“You are going to stay downtown, then, for a while?” she asked.
-
-“Yes; I shall be here for an hour yet, perhaps. After supper I’ve got
-to meet Mr. Whitemore in his rooms at the Grand Pacific. I’ve got to
-notify mother of the fact by telephone.”
-
-Vance went over to the booth in the corner of the office and rang up a
-drug store in the vicinity of his home, on the North Side.
-
-Outside the shades of night were beginning to fall.
-
-From the windows of the office one could see directly up La Salle
-Street.
-
-The cars, as they made the turn into or out of the street at the corner
-of Monroe, flashed their momentary glares of red and green lights, and
-filled the air continually with the jangle of their bells.
-
-The sidewalks were filled with a dense crowd that poured out
-continually from the street entrances of the office buildings.
-
-They streamed out of the brokers’ offices and commission houses on
-either side of La Salle Street, and the tide set toward the upper end
-of the thoroughfare, where stood the girders and cables of the La Salle
-Street bridge.
-
-Vance took all this in with a brief survey from the window, after he
-had sent his message across the river.
-
-“What do you think?” said Bessie, as he paused once more beside her.
-“Mr. Vyce asked me to go to the theatre with him to-night. Hasn’t he a
-cheek?”
-
-“Of course you accepted?” said Vance with a grin.
-
-“Of course I did no such thing,” she answered, pausing for an instant
-in her work, as she looked up with an indignant flush on her creamy
-cheeks. “You know better than that, Vance. You just want to provoke
-me,” with a charming pout.
-
-“That’s right,” he answered, with a quiet chuckle, “but you mustn’t
-mind me.”
-
-She smiled her forgiveness and went on with her work.
-
-“There, that’s done,” she said, in a few moments, pushing back her
-chair. “I hope I haven’t made any mistakes,” as she rose to take the
-sheets into the inner office.
-
-“No fear of that, I guess,” said the boy, encouragingly. “You’re about
-as accurate as they come, Bessie.”
-
-She paused on the threshold of the door to flash him back a look of
-appreciation for the compliment and then disappeared within.
-
-Presently she returned and started to put on her things.
-
-“It looks a little bit like rain, doesn’t it?” she asked, glancing at
-the darkened sky, where not a star was visible.
-
-“You can have my umbrella, if you wish,” Vance offered, “but I guess it
-won’t rain yet awhile.”
-
-“Never mind; I’ll chance it. Good night, Vance.”
-
-“Good night, Bessie,” and the outside door closed behind her.
-
-Vance returned to his desk and proceeded to make copious extracts from
-a pile of pamphlets and reports he had taken from a closet.
-
-In half an hour Mr. Whitemore came out of his sanctum with his hat on.
-
-“You’d better go to supper now, Vance. Meet me promptly at eight
-o’clock at my rooms,” he said, “and bring everything with you.”
-
-“Yes, sir.”
-
-Mr. Whitemore left, and the lad, making a bundle of his notes and such
-papers as he knew were wanted by his employer, turned out the electric
-lights and locked up the office.
-
-He didn’t know it then, but this was the last time for many days he was
-to see the inside of the Rookery Building.
-
-Nor did he dream of the tragedy that awaited his return to the office.
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER II.
-
-BOUND WEST.
-
-
-Vance went to a Clark Street restaurant and had supper.
-
-It was all right, but the boy did not enjoy it as much as he would have
-done at home.
-
-The Thorntons lived in a small house, one of a row, on the North Side,
-which Mrs. Thornton owned.
-
-They had once been wealthy, for Mr. Thornton had at one time been a
-successful member of the Chicago Board of Trade.
-
-But a few months before his death, which had occurred ten years
-previously, he had been caught in a short deal and squeezed.
-
-He extricated himself at the cost of his entire fortune.
-
-Everything was swept away except the one little house, the property
-of Mrs. Thornton, to which the family immediately moved, and a few
-thousand dollars banked in the wife’s name.
-
-After Mr. Thornton’s death the widow devoted herself to her children,
-and when Vance graduated from the public school, she made application
-to Mr. Whitemore, with whom her husband had had business relations, for
-a position for her son in his office.
-
-The application being made at a lucky moment, the lad was taken on, and
-had in every way proved himself worthy of Jared Whitemore’s confidence.
-
-Promptly at eight o’clock Vance was shown up to Mr. Whitemore’s rooms
-in the Grand Pacific Hotel.
-
-The corn operator was in his sitting-room before a table that was
-scattered over with papers and telegraph blanks.
-
-It was a cool evening, but Jared Whitemore was in his shirt sleeves,
-and, although the windows were down at the top, his face was red and he
-was perspiring furiously.
-
-A half-smoked cigar projected between his lips, and several discarded
-stumps lay on a lacquer tray that held one of the hotel pitchers of ice
-water.
-
-“You have the government report on the visible supply in that bundle,
-have you?” asked Jared Whitemore, as soon as he became aware of the
-boy’s presence in the room.
-
-“Yes, sir.”
-
-“Let me have it,” with an impatient gesture.
-
-Vance had it before his employer in a twinkling.
-
-“Your notes, please,” said the operator, after he had studied the
-report for several minutes.
-
-The boy laid them before him.
-
-“Put the pamphlets down there. Now, take the evening paper and go over
-there by the window and sit down.”
-
-Vance did so, and there was perfect silence in the room for the next
-half hour, when it was broken by a knock on the door.
-
-“See who that is,” almost snapped Whitemore, jerking his thumb in the
-direction of the entrance.
-
-Vance found a telegraph boy outside, signed for the yellow envelope and
-brought it to his employer.
-
-Two more dispatches arrived before the little marble clock on the
-mantel chimed the hour of nine.
-
-Another half hour of almost perfect silence ensued, during which two
-more cigar stumps were added to the collection on the dish; and Vance
-was beginning to wonder why he was being held there by Mr. Whitemore,
-when the operator rose from his seat, mopped his forehead with his
-familiar bandana handkerchief and then sat down again.
-
-“Vance.”
-
-“Yes, sir,” answered the boy, springing up.
-
-“Come here.”
-
-The tones were short, sharp and incisive.
-
-“Sit down here alongside of me.”
-
-Vance obeyed this order with military promptness.
-
-“When can you start for Omaha?”
-
-“Sir!” said the boy, almost speechless from amazement.
-
-“I asked you when you could leave for Omaha?” repeated the operator,
-brusquely.
-
-“By the eight o’clock train in the morning, if you particularly wish
-it,” answered the astonished lad.
-
-“Very well; make your arrangements to that effect. Now, Vance, I want
-to speak to you. Heretofore I have always closed my dealings with the
-elevator people through Mr. Vyce. For reasons which I need not discuss
-with you I am going to send you to do the business for me this time.”
-
-The boy’s eyes expanded to the size of saucers at this information.
-
-It simply meant a most remarkable expression of confidence on Mr.
-Whitemore’s part in his youthful office assistant.
-
-Confidence not only in the boy’s business sagacity, but even more so in
-his integrity, for he would be obliged to handle checks signed in blank
-for a very large sum of money; just how large would, of course, depend
-on the amount of corn the options covered.
-
-That it ran into several millions of bushels the lad already knew.
-
-“I am taking this unusual course,” continued Mr. Whitemore, lighting
-a fresh cigar and regarding Vance keenly, “for several reasons. To
-begin with, since I started this deal I have in hand I have met with
-opposition from a most unexpected quarter. It could only have developed
-through information furnished by some one who had an insight to my
-plans. In order to test the accuracy of my suspicions in a certain
-direction I cut off all information from that quarter. The result
-has been confusion in the ranks of the opposition. I’m, therefore,
-convinced I can at any time put my finger on the traitor to my
-interests. To continue the further development of my scheme, I have
-decided to substitute you for Mr. Vyce, so far as the settlement of
-my Western corn options are concerned. During the last five or six
-weeks you have probably noticed that I have employed you on business
-of a confidential nature. This was to test you for the purpose I had
-in view. On one occasion I so arranged matters that you were forced to
-retain in your possession over Sunday a very large sum of money. I had
-no doubts as to your honesty, but I wished to see how you would proceed
-under the responsibility. The result was perfectly satisfactory to me.
-Vance, I knew your father well. We had many business dealings, and I
-found him a man on whom I could implicitly rely. I believe you are his
-duplicate.”
-
-“Thank you, sir,” said Vance, gratefully, as Mr. Whitemore paused for a
-moment.
-
-“Now to business. Here is a power of attorney, which will give you all
-the necessary authority to represent me on this Western trip. Here are
-your general instructions,” and he handed Vance the two typewritten
-pages Bessie Brown had executed just before she left the office for the
-night.
-
-“You will go to Omaha first, thence to Kansas City, and so on. Here
-are letters of introduction addressed to the elevator firms. Some of
-them are personally acquainted with me. These are the vouchers for the
-options. You will insist on all settlements at the figures given in
-the options, which, as you will see, are below the market quotations.
-Now, as to the payments of the balances, here is a small check-book of
-the Chicago National Bank. I have made out and signed sixteen checks
-in blank, one of each payable to the order of the elevator firm; all
-you will have to do is to fill in the amount after the difference has
-been computed. Immediately after each settlement you will mail me
-by registered letter, care of the Chicago National Bank, the firm’s
-receipt for the amount of money represented by the check, together with
-the warehouse receipt. Now, read your instructions over carefully, and
-if there is anything you have to suggest, I will listen to you.”
-
-Vance went over the two-page letter and found that it covered every
-emergency, so far as he could see.
-
-The boy was especially directed to visit certain out-of-the-way places,
-where elevators, reported as disused or empty, were known to exist, and
-to ascertain by every artifice in his power whether any corn had been
-received there for storage during the past three months. This was one
-of the most important objects of his journey.
-
-“Here are a couple of hundred dollars to cover incidental expenses,”
-said Mr. Whitemore, handing Vance a roll of bills. “I hardly need to
-tell you that I am reposing an almost unlimited confidence in your
-honor and business sagacity--a somewhat unusual thing to do with one so
-young as you. But I am rarely mistaken in my estimate of character, and
-I feel satisfied you will fill the bill to the letter. I may say right
-here that you have studied the corn market to advantage. Such details
-as I have asked you to look into for me you have gone over and reduced
-to practical results with astonishing clearness and dispatch for one
-of your years and limited experience with Board of Trade methods. You
-seem to be a born speculator, like your father. I have long wished to
-associate with me a young man of nerve and accurate foresight in whom
-I could thoroughly depend. You appear to combine all the qualities in
-question. On this trip you are bound to acquire knowledge of the most
-confidential nature--information that could not but seriously embarrass
-me if it became known to my business opponents. Do you understand?”
-
-“Yes, sir,” said Vance, with a serious face.
-
-“You see how much I depend on your loyalty?”
-
-“You need have no fear but I will fulfil your trust down to the
-smallest degree,” answered Vance, earnestly.
-
-“I am sure of it, Vance. The proof of the pudding is that I am sending
-you West on this business. One thing your age, and, I hope, your wit
-and cautiousness, are particularly adapted to, and that is acquiring
-the information about the possible contents of those elevators reported
-to be empty. On the thoroughness of your report as regards these
-properties will depend one of my most important moves on the corn
-market.”
-
-“I will find out the truth, if that be within the bounds of
-possibility.”
-
-“Now, Vance, another thing. Your mother will naturally want to know
-where you are going, but it will be necessary for you to withhold
-that information, for I have an idea that as soon as your absence is
-noted at the office she will be approached on the subject by some one
-interested in tracing your movements. You will simply tell her you are
-going out of town on business for me and will be back in a few days.
-Do not write to any one in Chicago, not even your folks, while you are
-away. Do you understand me?”
-
-“Yes, sir.”
-
-“Should you find it necessary to communicate with me at any time, call
-up Mr. Walcott, of the Chicago National Bank, on the long-distance
-telephone, and he will send for me.”
-
-“Very well, sir.”
-
-“I believe there is nothing further, so I will say good
-bye till I see you at the office after your
-return.”
-
-“Good-bye, sir.”
-
-Vance took up his hat, after carefully putting all the papers and the
-check-book of the Chicago National Bank in an inside pocket of his
-coat, and left the hotel.
-
-When he reached home an hour later he duly astonished his mother and
-sister with the information that he was going out of town on business
-for his employer.
-
-Of course the first thing they wanted to know was his destination.
-
-“I am sorry, mother, I can’t tell you. Where I am going, as well as the
-object of the trip, is a business secret.”
-
-“But we ought to know, Vance,” expostulated his pretty sister Elsie.
-“Unless you tell us we shall be worried to death about you.”
-
-“Sorry, sis,” he replied, taking her face in his two hands and kissing
-her cherry-red, pouting lips; “but I am under strict orders not to say
-a word about it.”
-
-“It’s real mean of you. You know neither mamma nor I would say a word
-if you told us not to,” she persisted, throwing her arms about his neck
-coaxingly.
-
-“Don’t blame me, Elsie--blame the boss. Let me tell you one thing,
-dear. I feel sure this trip is the chance of my life. Mr. Whitemore as
-good as said so.”
-
-And with that the gentle mother and loving sister had to be content.
-
-Next morning Vance boarded a Pullman drawing-room car and left Chicago
-over the C. B. & Q. railroad for Omaha.
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER III.
-
-TAKING UP THE OPTIONS.
-
-
-Vance arrived at Omaha on the following morning and registered at the
-Great Western Hotel, where he had breakfast.
-
-Then he went to the reading-room and looked over the papers,
-particularly noting the corn situation.
-
-It was now time for him to be about his business.
-
-He procured a large, oblong manilla envelope, in which he enclosed his
-letter of instruction, all but one of his letters of introduction,
-option vouchers and his check-book, and after removing a single
-specific check marked by a perforated capital “A,” he sealed up the
-package, addressed it to himself and deposited it in the hotel safe.
-
-Then he sallied forth on the streets of Omaha.
-
-The hotel clerk had directed him where to find the elevator buildings,
-which were located at various points along the river front.
-
-He took a car to the nearest point and then inquired his way to the
-office of Flint, Peabody & Co., who controlled three of the elevators.
-
-Their counting-room was in Elevator A.
-
-“I should like to see Mr. Peabody,” he said to a clerk who asked him
-his business.
-
-“He is busy at present. Take a seat.”
-
-After waiting half an hour he was shown into the private office.
-
-“Mr. Peabody?” asked Vance of a little, white-haired old gentleman
-seated at a mahogany desk alongside a window overlooking the Missouri
-river.
-
-“Yes; what can I do for you?”
-
-Vance handed him his card, in one corner of which was printed Jared
-Whitemore in small type.
-
-“Mr. Thornton, eh?” exclaimed the busy head of the establishment,
-regarding him with some surprise as he sized him up from head to foot.
-
-“Yes, sir.”
-
-“I’ve been expecting a representative of Mr. Whitemore, as those corn
-options expire at noon to-day. I am bound to say I looked for an older
-person than you. I presume you have a power of attorney to act for
-him?” said Mr. Peabody, holding out his hand.
-
-Vance produced the paper, which the gentleman very carefully examined.
-
-“How am I to know that you are really the person set forth in this
-document--that you are actually Mr. Whitemore’s representative? It
-may be a forgery, and you may be acting for people opposed to that
-gentleman’s interests,” said Mr. Peabody sharply.
-
-“I have a letter of introduction which ought to cover that point,”
-answered Vance, promptly producing an envelope addressed to the person
-he was talking to.
-
-“Hum!” said Mr. Peabody, glancing it over. “Seems to be all right.
-However, as his option is a large one covering grain in our three
-elevators, I’ve got to be careful. Excuse me a moment.”
-
-“Are you going to call up Mr. Whitemore?” asked Vance as the gentleman
-rose from his desk.
-
-“Why do you ask?” asked Mr. Peabody abruptly, casting a suspicious look
-at the boy.
-
-“Because, for business reasons he expressly desires that you should
-call up Mr. Walcott of the Chicago National Bank and ask for him. He
-does not want any communication at his office direct.”
-
-“Very well,” replied the gentleman, who easily surmised Mr. Whitemore’s
-reasons.
-
-The elevator magnate entered a telephone booth at the end of the room
-and sat there a matter of fifteen minutes.
-
-“I am satisfied that you are Mr. Whitemore’s representative,” he said
-as he reseated himself at his desk. “Now, young man, we will talk
-business. Of course you don’t expect me to close with you except at the
-market price?”
-
-“I expect to settle with you at the price named in the option, less the
-amount paid to secure it,” said Vance promptly.
-
-“You ought to know that corn is several points above the figure stated
-in the option. We cannot close on those terms.”
-
-“Do I understand that you refuse to make a settlement of this
-transaction according to the terms of the option?” asked Vance, rising
-to his feet.
-
-“Sit down, young man,” said the elevator magnate. “You have the voucher
-for the option with you, I suppose?”
-
-“Certainly.”
-
-“I should like to see it.”
-
-“You are prepared to redeem the option now, are you?” and Mr. Peabody
-glanced at the clock, which indicated close on to the noon hour.
-
-“Yes, sir.”
-
-The gentleman considered the matter for several minutes, during which
-he cast penetrating looks at Vance’s clear-cut, determined face.
-
-“Does Mr. Whitemore propose to hold this corn in storage here?”
-
-“I have no instructions as to its immediate removal,” replied Vance;
-“that is all I can say.”
-
-“Very well. Have you Mr. Whitemore’s check for the difference?”
-
-“I have Mr. Whitemore’s signed check, made out to your order, which I
-will hand you as soon as the amount has been computed.”
-
-“It is possible there will be a difference in our figures,” said Mr.
-Peabody, with a grim smile.
-
-“That’s all right,” replied Vance, briskly. “The amount has been left
-to me to fill in.”
-
-“Eh?” exclaimed Mr. Peabody, in a tone of surprise.
-
-Vance repeated his remark.
-
-“By George, young man, he seems to place implicit confidence in you!”
-and the head of the elevator firm once more looked Vance over, and with
-some curiosity.
-
-Mr. Peabody, having decided to close up the transaction on the terms
-of the option, which he was legally bound to do, since Vance could
-not be bluffed into accepting less favorable ones, the differences
-were calculated, and the boy filled in the check designated as “A,”
-requesting a receipt for the amount, which was immediately made out and
-handed to him.
-
-Mr. Whitemore thus became the owner of something over a million bushels
-of corn stored in elevators A, B, and C.
-
-This completed Vance’s business in Omaha.
-
-On his way back to the hotel he stopped at the postoffice, and
-forwarded to his employer, in care of the Chicago National Bank, the
-receipt for the money covered by the check.
-
-Then he went to dinner, after which he spent an hour viewing some of
-the sights of the western city.
-
-At four o’clock he took a cab for the Union Depot, bought a ticket for
-Kansas City, and took his seat in a Pullman sleeper.
-
-He arrived at his destination about midnight, drove to one of the
-principal hotels and went to bed, after taking the precaution to
-deposit his valuable papers in the office safe.
-
-There were three different elevator firms he had to visit in this city.
-
-He presented himself at the first at ten o’clock.
-
-Here his youth was also unfavorably commented on in a transaction
-which involved 600,000 bushels of grain, and the head of the firm was
-inclined to hold off, until Vance insisted that he should communicate
-with his employer in Chicago.
-
-Not being able to get Mr. Walcott on the long-distance ’phone, Vance
-suggested that he call up Flint, Peabody & Co., of Omaha.
-
-The gentleman, after some demur, consented to do this, being personally
-acquainted with Mr. Peabody, and the result of the confab was so
-satisfactory that Vance completed his business with him, getting a call
-on the corn, as the option did not expire until the next day.
-
-At the offices of the other two elevators Vance had very little
-trouble, his power of attorney and letters of introduction being
-accepted without question, and no attempt being made to evade the terms
-of the option.
-
-“That winds up this town,” he said in a tone of satisfaction as he left
-the last place. “It is easier than I expected. Now for the postoffice.”
-
-He inquired the way there, purchased a stamped envelope, and sent off
-the three receipts by registered mail, according to his instructions.
-
-“I’ve got lots of time now, as the next option at Grainville does not
-expire until Friday,” he reflected as he took a car for his hotel.
-“Guess I’ll take in a show to-night.”
-
-He reached the hotel in time for lunch.
-
-While he was in the dining-room a smart, dapper-looking young man
-entered the hotel rotunda and walked briskly up to the office counter.
-
-Taking possession of the registry book, he glanced rapidly over the
-day’s arrivals.
-
-His nervous finger-tips paused for an instant at Vance Thornton’s name,
-which, in clear handwriting, stood almost at the top of the first page.
-
-The young man noted the number of the room to which the boy had been
-assigned, and then glanced sharply at the numbered pigeon-holes where
-the room keys were deposited.
-
-“He’s here, all right,” he muttered, as he turned away with a singular
-smile, “and is not in his room. He reached here early this morning, as
-his name is right under the date. He ought to be an easy proposition
-for Sadie to work. I must have those corn options and whatever
-warehouse receipts he has secured. Old Whitemore was pretty slick to
-send this young chap instead of Vyce, whom we depended on. But the old
-fox is up against a crowd as slick as himself this time, and he’s
-going to be squeezed good and hard.”
-
-Thus speaking to himself, the dapper young man pulled a cigar from his
-pocket, bit off the end, and lit it.
-
-Then he walked over and seated himself in a chair that commanded a view
-of the office.
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER IV.
-
-MR. GUY DUDLEY.
-
-
-The dapper young man had almost finished his cigar when Vance came into
-the rotunda from the dining-room.
-
-The stranger recognized the boy at once, which was not at all
-surprising, since he had met Vance probably fifty times in Chicago in
-the course of business.
-
-“Why, hello, Thornton!” he exclaimed, walking briskly up to the lad
-and extending his hand in a cordial manner; “this is a surprise. What
-brings you out west, eh?”
-
-“Mr. Dudley!” ejaculated Vance, somewhat taken back by the encounter.
-
-The circumstance annoyed him greatly.
-
-“Pshaw!” said the dapper gentleman, whose age might have been
-twenty-three. “Why the handle? I’m Guy to my friends, don’t you know!
-Aren’t you going to shake?”
-
-Common politeness compelled Vance to accept the young man’s hand,
-though it was with some reluctance.
-
-“You’re about the last chap I’d have thought of meeting out here in
-Kansas, ‘pon my word,” continued Dudley, volubly. “But I’m deuced glad
-to see you, all the same.”
-
-The reverse was the case with Vance, though of course he did not so
-express himself.
-
-He was inclined to regard the meeting as unfortunate.
-
-“I had no idea of seeing you here, either,” said Vance, with no great
-enthusiasm.
-
-“I s’pose not,” said Dudley, showing his fine set of teeth with a sort
-of feline smile. “It’s always the unexpected what happens, don’t you
-know. Have a smoke?” and he offered Vance a cigar.
-
-“Thank you, I don’t smoke.”
-
-“Come over to the Criterion, then, and I’ll blow you off,” and Dudley
-grabbed him by the arm in a friendly way.
-
-“You’ll have to excuse me. I do not drink,” replied Vance firmly.
-
-“You don’t mean it, do you?” said Dudley, clearly disappointed.
-“A fellow can’t drink alone, don’t you know? Take a soda or a
-sarsaparilla--anything, just to seem social.”
-
-The dapper young man did not appear inclined to be easily shaken off.
-
-Vance hesitated, and Dudley, taking advantage of his momentary
-indecision, pressed him so strongly that the boy, not wishing to appear
-rude, agreed to accompany his undesirable acquaintance across the
-street to the swell establishment known as the Criterion.
-
-“I’ve only just come to town,” said Guy Dudley as they ranged up
-alongside the mahogany bar, rather an unusual experience for Vance,
-who never frequented such places in Chicago. “You see, the governor,
-my father, you know, has a big interest in one of the flour mills out
-here, and as he couldn’t come himself, he sent me to look after a
-matter of importance which affects his control of the business.”
-
-Vance nodded politely.
-
-“I s’pose you’re here on business connected with your boss, Whitemore,
-eh?”
-
-The speaker’s sharp eyes glinted curiously.
-
-“What makes you think so?” asked Vance cautiously.
-
-“Why, what else should bring you to Kansas City?”
-
-“There might be several reasons other than what you suggested,” said
-Vance, sparring for a valid excuse to throw Guy Dudley off the track.
-“My father had business interests here before he died which were never
-settled.”
-
-This was strictly a fact; though Vance knew very well that the matter
-at which he hinted was not in the slightest danger of ever being
-settled in his mother’s favor at that late day.
-
-“You don’t say,” replied Dudley, an incredulous smile curling his lips.
-
-“As to Mr. Whitemore,” added Vance, “my experience in his employ is
-that he is not accustomed to send a boy like me to execute important
-business.”
-
-“That’s true,” winked Dudley, putting down the glass he had just
-drained; “but then one can never tell just what Whitemore may do. He’s
-as shrewd as they make them nowadays.”
-
-To this remark Vance made no answer.
-
-“How long are you going to stay in town?” said Guy Dudley, changing the
-subject.
-
-“I may leave to-morrow and I may not,” replied his companion evasively.
-
-“A short stay, eh? Well, you ought to make it a merry one. What are you
-going to do with yourself to-night?”
-
-“I think I shall go to the theater,” said Vance carelessly.
-
-“Just what I was going to propose,” said Dudley, with suppressed
-eagerness. “You must come with me. There is a good show at Hyde &
-Beaman’s. S’pose we go there?”
-
-Vance was rather taken aback at this proposition.
-
-He was not a bit anxious to go with Guy Dudley under the circumstances.
-
-But to refuse his invitation without some good reason was sure to give
-offence, and Vance always considered it a wise policy not to make an
-enemy if he could avoid doing so.
-
-So he accepted Dudley’s offer, much to the young man’s inward
-satisfaction, and then pleaded a business engagement to get rid of him.
-
-The dapper young man, having accomplished all that he wanted for the
-present, made no further effort to press his society on Vance, hinting
-that he also had business to attend to; as indeed he had, but not of
-the nature he would have his boy acquaintance believe.
-
-So they parted at the entrance to the Criterion, Dudley promising to
-call for him at his hotel at about half-past seven that evening.
-
-Kansas City, Kansas, is a wideawake, lively town, and Vance Thornton
-spent several hours that afternoon wandering about the principal
-streets, an interested observer of western progress.
-
-Promptly at seven-thirty Guy Dudley presented himself at the hotel
-office and inquired for Vance Thornton.
-
-“Are you Mr. Dudley?” asked the clerk.
-
-“That’s my name,” said the dapper young man airily.
-
-“You will find Mr. Thornton in the reading-room.”
-
-“Well, old man,” said Dudley, tapping Vance on the shoulder, where he
-sat looking over the copy of a current magazine, “I see you’re all
-ready and waiting. Just put on your coat and we’ll trot along.”
-
-Vance donned his light overcoat and the pair left the hotel together.
-
-“I s’pose you won’t indulge even to the extent of a cigarette?” said
-Dudley, pulling out a silver case and tendering it to the lad. “No?
-All right; bad practice, I know, but it’s one of my follies,” he said
-lightly as he lit a match and applied a light to a gold-rimmed cylinder
-of Turkish tobacco. “When one has a quantity of wild oats to sow the
-quicker he puts ’em under the ground the better,” he added with a laugh.
-
-“You appear to be one of the boys,” said Vance, for want of something
-better to say.
-
-“Yes, I make it a point to see my share of life occasionally,” the
-dapper young man admitted with a grin. “You don’t go around much, do
-you?” with a slight sneer.
-
-“No,” said Vance with a shake of his head. “One needs to keep his wits
-clear in our line, and I don’t see how that can be done if you stay up
-three-quarters of the night chasing the elephant.”
-
-“Pshaw! When a fellow wakes up in the morning feeling a bit rocky a
-dose of bromo-seltzer will fetch him around all right. All work and no
-play makes Jack a dull boy. If I didn’t take a run out of a night with
-the boys once in awhile I wouldn’t be worth shucks. You don’t know what
-you lose, old chap. Still, you’re young yet.”
-
-“I believe in enjoying myself in a rational manner, Mr. Dudley,” said
-Vance. “Drinking and smoking and billiards and card-playing don’t quite
-fall in with my idea of a good time.”
-
-“All right,” remarked Dudley carelessly; “every one to his taste. Well,
-here we are,” and he turned in at the entrance to Hyde & Beaman’s
-theater, followed by Vance.
-
-Dudley had secured good seats in the orchestra, and as the performance
-was above the average Vance thoroughly enjoyed it.
-
-“You don’t object to having a bite, do you?” asked Guy Dudley after the
-show.
-
-“I don’t usually eat late at night,” replied Vance, “but I have no
-objection to joining you. Where will we go?”
-
-“There’s a famous English chop-house on Blank street,” said the dapper
-young man, with a glint of satisfaction in his eyes; “we’ll take a cab
-and go there.”
-
-“Why wouldn’t the place over the way do as well?” asked the boy. “It
-looks to be a first-class restaurant.”
-
-“So it is, but it isn’t on a par with Bagley’s. They have a fine
-grill-room there, and though the bill of fare is limited, it’s English
-from A to Z. I guess you’ve never been in one of those establishments.”
-
-“I don’t think I have,” admitted the boy.
-
-“Then it will be my pleasure to introduce you to something worth while.
-Hi, there!” beckoning to a cab driver who sat muffled up on his box.
-
-“Get in,” to Vance as the jehu sprang down and opened the cab door,
-and the boy allowed the accomplished Mr. Dudley to push him into the
-vehicle. “Bagley’s on Blank street,” said the dapper young man to the
-driver, and a moment later they were on their way to that notorious
-Kansas City resort.
-
-Fifteen minutes later the cab drew up before the entrance to Bagley’s,
-a dingy looking building situated in a narrow alley off one of the
-business thoroughfares.
-
-Vance had expected to see a brilliantly lighted establishment, with big
-plate glass windows and every sign of a high-toned restaurant.
-
-The contrary was the case.
-
-Not even a sign distinguished Bagley’s place from that of the other
-buildings in the vicinity, though a red light suspended over the door
-served to indicate that it had other uses than those of an ordinary
-dwelling.
-
-A light rain was now falling, and before the boy had time to ask his
-companion if some mistake had not been made in the place Dudley opened
-the door and pushed him inside.
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER V.
-
-THE PLOT THAT FAILED.
-
-
-Vance found himself in a narrow, dimly-lighted hallway.
-
-But before the sense of disappointment, not unmixed, perhaps, with a
-feeling of uneasiness, had time to assert itself, Dudley brushed by
-him and opened a door which admitted them to a long, low-ceiled room,
-painted a dull, smoky color, but brilliantly illuminated with many gas
-jets enclosed in colored globes, which threw a subdued and fantastic
-glow about the room.
-
-There was a kitchen in the rear and a bar along one side near the door.
-
-The rest of the room was taken up with round, well-polished mahogany
-tables of different sizes, for large or small parties.
-
-It was a restaurant all right, but entirely different from anything
-Vance had ever before visited.
-
-The tone of the place was wholly English, as Dudley had intimated to
-his companion, and the bill of fare was limited to broiled meats and
-fish, fowl, oysters and rarebits.
-
-The place was chiefly noted for its fine old English ales.
-
-For all that, Bagley’s was a notorious place.
-
-Its frequenters were mostly crooks, gamblers and politicians.
-
-Curiosity and its famous cuisine, however, brought thither a sprinkling
-of the better classes--men about town, salesmen and their out-of-town
-customers, lawyers, brokers, merchants, and the sons of rich parents
-who thought it the correct thing to be seen there.
-
-The upper floors were divided into supper rooms for ladies and their
-escorts, and it was quite a fad among the upper crust of Kansas City
-aristocracy to drop in there after the theater.
-
-Mr. Bagley himself, rotund and red-faced, lounged in a big easy chair
-behind the cashier’s desk near the entrance.
-
-The room was nearly crowded at that hour, and while Vance was surveying
-the place with much interest a waiter approached Dudley and handed him
-a card.
-
-“We’ll go upstairs, Vance,” said the dapper gentleman gaily. “I’ll
-introduce you to a friend of mine.”
-
-Thus speaking, he hooked his arm in Thornton’s and, preceded by the
-waiter, they passed out again into the entry and walked up a couple of
-flights of richly-carpeted stairs, down to the end of a corridor, where
-a window opened on a gloomy prospect of dark roofs and irregular black
-voids.
-
-The waiter rapped on one of the doors that lined this corridor, and a
-voice shouted, “Come in.”
-
-The attendant stepped aside and permitted Dudley to usher Vance into a
-well-lighted room and the presence of a dark-complexioned gentleman in
-full evening dress and a young lady of unquestioned beauty, that was
-heightened by her chic air.
-
-They had just been served with supper, the chief dish being grilled
-bones.
-
-There were bottles of wine and ale on the table, and the couple seemed
-to be enjoying themselves hugely.
-
-“Hello, Dudley! You’re just in time. You’ll have supper with us, of
-course--you and your friend. Waiter, take the order.”
-
-“Sure,” responded the dapper young man; then, turning to the lady, whom
-he evidently knew, he said, “Miss Miller, this is Vance Thornton.”
-
-The young lady bowed with a sweet smile and a fascinating glance.
-
-“Carrington,” continued Dudley, turning to the gentleman, “let me make
-you acquainted with my friend Thornton. Vance, this is Sid Carrington.”
-
-“Glad to know you, Thornton,” said Carrington, rising and extending his
-hand.
-
-The boy acknowledged both introductions in a suitable manner and then
-took the seat pointed out to him, which was close to Miss Miller.
-
-“Vance, like myself, is merely paying a flying visit to Kansas City on
-business,” explained Dudley, and then he and Carrington began to talk
-together, leaving the boy and Miss Miller to entertain themselves.
-
-There was nothing backward about Miss Miller, for after Vance had given
-a modest order to the attendant she proceeded at once to make herself
-agreeable to the lad.
-
-“So you’re a stranger in Kansas City, Mr. Thornton? Are you from
-Chicago?”
-
-“Yes,” replied Vance, who was not a little impressed by the lady’s
-loveliness, as well as her fascinating ways.
-
-“Chicago is a most delightful city,” she exclaimed gushingly. “I lived
-there for many years myself. The young men of Chicago are so bright and
-manly; it is really a pleasure to meet one of them way out here,” and
-she flashed such a look at Vance as almost took his breath away.
-
-During the twenty minutes the newcomers had to wait to be served the
-lady ate but little, but she talked and laughed enough to make up the
-difference.
-
-Every little charm she possessed she threw into her conversation, and
-she made many adroit inquiries of Vance as to when he left Chicago,
-where he had been before he came to Kansas City, where he expected to
-go next and when, what his business was, and many other suggestive
-queries, all of which the boy parried skilfully or replied to as he
-thought prudent, though he had not the slightest suspicion that the
-lady had any other object than mere womanly curiosity in asking them.
-
-An acute observer would probably have noticed that she was not entirely
-pleased with the result when the conversation became general.
-
-An almost imperceptible signal passed between her and Sid Carrington
-when that gentleman finally favored her with a significant look of
-inquiry.
-
-He understood at once, and made a remark to Dudley in a low tone, at
-which the dapper young man shrugged his shoulders.
-
-“What do you drink, Thornton?” asked Carrington as the waiter stood
-by expectantly. “You can have anything you want, but this house is
-particularly noted for its imported ales. I’ll order a bottle for you.”
-
-“I’m sorry,” Vance hastened to say, “but I really don’t drink anything.”
-
-“What!” exclaimed Sid, a slight cloud forming on his brow, while Miss
-Miller looked up in great surprise.
-
-“That’s right,” interposed Dudley. “He doesn’t touch anything in that
-line. I found that out to-day at the Criterion. You’ll take coffee,
-however, won’t you, Vance?”
-
-Vance nodded.
-
-“A bottle of your XXX ale, waiter, and a cup of coffee for this
-gentleman,” said Guy Dudley briskly.
-
-The attendant bowed and departed.
-
-“So you really don’t drink?” said Miss Miller with an artful smile.
-“This is quite a surprise to me, for I thought every gentleman indulged
-in something or other. Now, couldn’t I prevail on you to take just a
-thimbleful of this light Madeira? As a special favor, with me, you
-know?”
-
-She favored Vance with an arch look as she filled two small wineglasses
-with the amber liquid, as if to imply it was an honor she was
-especially according him.
-
-“Really, Miss Miller----” protested Vance, feeling much embarrassed.
-
-“You will oblige me, won’t you?”
-
-She placed one of the glasses close to his fingers and raised the
-other toward her ruby lips, with a look so seductive as to be almost
-irresistible.
-
-Vance was confused at his position and somewhat bewildered by the
-coquettish and persistent attitude of the fair lady at his elbow.
-
-He felt, without actually seeing, that the eyes of the two gentlemen
-were fixed upon him at that moment.
-
-As his fingers grasped the slender stem of the wineglass and he half
-drew it toward him, a gleam of unholy triumph seemed to dart from three
-pairs of eyes.
-
-But their satisfaction was premature.
-
-Suddenly before Vance’s vision passed the face of his gentle,
-white-haired mother in Chicago, whom he had promised faithfully that he
-would never drink a drop of intoxicating liquor.
-
-He drew back his hand.
-
-His muscles tightened, and he looked his fair tempter squarely in the
-face as he said:
-
-“I regret I cannot oblige you, Miss Miller; but I promised my mother I
-would not drink, and it is impossible that I can go back on my word.”
-
-Vance Thornton was himself again.
-
-Sadie Miller had not found him such an easy proposition after all.
-
-A look of chagrin rested for a moment on the lady’s face, while Sid
-Carrington uttered a strong invective under his breath.
-
-But the affair was instantly passed off with a laugh, and the boy found
-himself once more at his ease.
-
-The coffee for Vance and the ale for Dudley presently arrived, and then
-another slight signal was made by the host which the girl understood.
-
-The conspirators were about to play their last card.
-
-In the most natural way imaginable Dudley attracted Vance’s attention
-for a moment, and the boy half turned away from Miss Miller.
-
-During that instant she leaned slightly forward, extended her arm and
-dropped something into the coffee.
-
-It was all done in a moment, and when Vance turned again to the young
-lady she was in the act of drinking from her own glass of Madeira.
-
-He drank the coffee at intervals as he polished off a grilled bone,
-quite unsuspicious that he had fallen into the snare at last.
-
-The effects of the drug became evident to the watchful eyes of the
-three conspirators before Vance began to realize there was anything the
-matter with him.
-
-At length he experienced the insidious feeling of heaviness and torpor
-characteristic of a dose of chloral or knockout drops.
-
-“Hadn’t we better--go?” he blurted out in a thick, hesitating tone to
-Dudley, who was talking to Carrington.
-
-“What for? There’s no hurry. We’ll all go together presently,” was the
-reply of the dapper young man.
-
-Vance looked helplessly at Miss Miller, his eyes, hitherto so alert and
-bright, now half closed and dull.
-
-He half rose in his chair with a muttered exclamation, sank back,
-swayed a bit to and fro, and then utterly collapsed.
-
-“He’s safe!” cried Carrington with sudden energy, rising to his feet.
-“Quick, Dudley; see if he has the papers on him, and secure them before
-the waiter turns up.”
-
-In an instant Vance’s treacherous companion was searching him with a
-swiftness called forth by the urgency of the occasion.
-
-But pocket after pocket failed to yield the desired results.
-
-The option vouchers not yet presented for settlement, and such
-warehouse receipts as the boy was supposed to have about his person,
-were not to be found.
-
-In fact, not a document of any kind relating to his trip was in
-evidence.
-
-“Curse the luck!” exclaimed Carrington, who appeared to be engineering
-the conspiracy. “We’re euchred after all! What has he done with them?”
-
-Miss Miller, who had been watching the abortive efforts of Guy Dudley
-with a slight curl on her pretty lips, now spoke.
-
-“Evidently the boy is smarter than you have given him credit for,” she
-said with a tantalizing laugh. “I suspected it almost from the start.
-Why, he didn’t give a single thing away the whole time I was doing my
-best to pump him. You’ll have to try something else, Sid, if you expect
-to reach results.”
-
-Just then the waiter appeared at the door with the bill.
-
-“What’s the number of your cab, Dudley?” asked Carrington as he handed
-the attendant a bill.
-
-“No. 206.”
-
-“Call up 206 and 93, waiter, and then you’ll have to help us get our
-friend here to the walk. Your coffee has been too much for him.”
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER VI.
-
-ELEVATORVILLE.
-
-
-Vance woke up next morning with a severe headache.
-
-He was in bed in his room at the hotel.
-
-His thinking powers were somewhat mixed, and he wondered what had
-occurred to him.
-
-“I don’t recollect coming to bed,” he muttered in a perplexed tone.
-“Where was I last night?”
-
-He did not even remember that he had been to the theater.
-
-After lying motionless in bed a good fifteen minutes staring at the
-ceiling he gave the problem up for a bad job.
-
-“What time is it, anyway?”
-
-“Gee! Nearly ten o’clock! I’ll have to hustle if I am going to get any
-breakfast in this house to-day. Something is wrong with me, that’s
-sure. I never felt this way before.”
-
-He began to dress, and then gave his face and head a good sousing,
-which made him feel better.
-
-“I look as if I had been out with the boys all night,” he said,
-observing his bloodshot eyes and pallid expression. “I’d give something
-to know what has knocked me out.”
-
-He did not feel hungry, but he believed a cup of coffee would do him
-good.
-
-On his way from the elevator to the dining-room he stopped at the
-office and asked the clerk if he had any idea when he came in last
-evening.
-
-“You’ll have to see the night man about that,” replied the spruce young
-man with a quizzical smile. “Been having a good time, I suppose. Better
-get a bromo-seltzer before you eat. Step into the drug store, right
-through the corridor, and he’ll fix you up all right.”
-
-Vance thought the clerk’s advice was good and he followed it, after
-which he went into breakfast.
-
-It was not long before the events of the preceding evening began to
-fashion themselves in his brain, and the situation dawned upon him.
-
-“But I didn’t drink anything at that place,” he persisted to himself,
-“that is, nothing but a cup of coffee. Perhaps strong coffee at
-midnight doesn’t agree with me, as I’m not used to it. All the same,
-it’s funny I don’t remember a thing about how the affair wound up, or
-how I got back and into my bed upstairs.”
-
-The reflection annoyed him a good bit.
-
-“That Miss Miller is a fine looking girl, all right,” he mused, trying
-to devote his attention to the morning’s report about the corn market;
-“I don’t think I ever met such an attractive person. Still, I think I
-prefer Bessie. And the chap that was with her--I forget his name--he
-seems to be a pretty swell party. Seems to me I’ve seen him before.
-If I have, of course it was in Chicago. I wonder if Dudley will be
-around looking for me this morning? I don’t fancy him much, although he
-certainly treated me away up in G. I’m sorry on the whole I met him,
-for if he returns to town before me he’ll probably mention that he met
-me out here, and that’s just what Mr. Whitemore doesn’t want. If it
-should get about that I was on a night racket with him it’s bound to
-hurt me. I guess I’d better cut Dudley out by taking an early train for
-Grainville.”
-
-As this seemed to be good policy, Vance hastened to settle with
-the hotel people, and having found that he could get a train for
-his destination at 1:30 p. m., he snatched a hasty lunch, hired a
-cab, and reached the station in plenty of time to board the through
-accommodation.
-
-Arrived at Grainville, he went to the best hotel in town and
-registered, depositing his documents, as usual, in the office safe.
-
-Next morning he visited the two elevator concerns he had to do business
-with, settled the differences without trouble, and took a call on the
-grain, sending his vouchers off to Chicago in the usual way.
-
-From there he went to other important grain centers in Kansas, where
-the balance of his options were to be settled, closing up that part of
-the business finally in Jayville, Missouri.
-
-“There, that winds up the option business,” he remarked with an air of
-relief as he registered the last of his vouchers for Chicago.
-
-Consulting his letter of instructions, he found that he had to proceed
-to a town called Elevatorville, on the Mississippi, facing the State of
-Kentucky.
-
-The branch railroad that connected the place with the nearest trunk
-line was a rocky affair, and had fallen into the hands of a receiver
-owing to a default in the interest on its first mortgage bonds.
-
-Evidently transportation business had fallen off badly in that section.
-
-Vance made cautious inquiries at the junction as to whether much grain
-had passed over the branch road lately, but nobody seemed to know
-anything about the matter.
-
-The regular station agent was sick in bed, and the substitute assured
-Vance that there was nothing doing in that line.
-
-The boy took the late afternoon train for Elevatorville, arriving at
-the town long after dark.
-
-A solitary, worn-out hotel ’bus was backed up against the station
-platform.
-
-Vance, grip in hand, was stepping over to take it, when it suddenly
-struck him that perhaps he had better not go to the hotel.
-
-If he could obtain accommodation at some house in the suburbs his
-presence in the place would probably attract less attention.
-
-There might be nothing in it after all, but he proposed to omit no
-precaution having a bearing on his secret mission.
-
-So he asked a husky looking boy he noticed standing around if he knew
-of any place in the vicinity where he could find board and lodging for
-a few days.
-
-“I’ll show you a place, mister.”
-
-The country boy took him around to an unpretentious cottage, where he
-secured what he wanted at very reasonable terms.
-
-Feeling that some excuse was in order, he explained to the elderly
-spinster who owned the house that he thought Elevatorville might
-improve his health.
-
-“You don’t look a bit sick,” she ventured, looking him over with
-critical consideration.
-
-“That’s right, madam; but you can’t always tell by appearances,”
-replied Vance with a politeness that quite charmed her.
-
-“True,” she answered. “I remember my niece Mary Ann looked the very
-picture of health when she came here to visit me, and before she was
-here a week she took down sick with liver complaint and nearly died.”
-
-“Just so, madam,” said Vance, with an amused smile.
-
-“I hope you won’t be sick, young man,” she continued anxiously; “but
-if you should be, I can recommend my nephew, who is the best doctor in
-town.”
-
-“I’ll bear your relative in mind if I should need his services,”
-replied the boy, stifling a grin.
-
-“I s’pose you feel kind of hungry, don’t you? Come by the train, didn’t
-you?”
-
-Vance admitted that he could eat a trifle if she would be so good as to
-prepare something.
-
-“The fire is out, but I can light it up again. I can’t promise you
-any delicacies, but we don’t stint ourselves. I’m right glad to get a
-boarder these hard times, and will make you feel at home. It’s a wonder
-you didn’t go right to the hotel, though if you can’t afford it you’ve
-done right to come here.”
-
-If the lady was surprised at Vance’s healthy appetite, she discreetly
-made no reference to it, beyond remarking that she was glad to see he
-enjoyed the meal.
-
-Vance was up early next morning, and after a satisfactory breakfast
-sallied out on a tour of observation.
-
-The place wore a dormant air, a surprising fact for a western river
-town.
-
-Vance judged that it had been struck by a temporary setback of some
-sort, which happened to be the fact.
-
-The boy saw the outlines of five big elevator buildings in the distance
-down by the river, and he strolled over in that direction.
-
-He avoided the main business streets, going toward the great
-Mississippi by a roundabout way that brought him to the river bank a
-mile above the objects that he aimed at.
-
-He smiled to himself at the idea of taking so much trouble, which in
-the end might prove to have been time spent to no purpose; but when he
-drew near to the doorway leading to the office of the first elevator he
-suddenly came to a different conclusion.
-
-For there, sunning himself on an inverted cask outside of the entrance,
-he spied a familiar figure.
-
-A quick glance at the person’s face enabled Vance to identify him.
-
-It was the dapper young Chicagoian, Guy Dudley, as large as life.
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER VII.
-
-THE REASON WHY VANCE THORNTON WAS TICKLED ALMOST TO DEATH.
-
-
-“What the dickens is he doing in Elevatorville?” ejaculated Vance in
-great astonishment. “I thought he was attending to business for his
-father in Kansas City.”
-
-Just then a man in a sack-coat and wearing a smart-looking fedora hat
-came to the door and entered into conversation with Dudley.
-
-Presently the dapper young man jumped off his perch, and the two began
-to walk toward the spot where Vance stood regarding them with some
-curiosity.
-
-“It will never do for him to see me here,” muttered the boy, backing
-out of view and then walking rapidly down a path that led to that end
-of the elevator which faced the water. “He’d ask no end of embarrassing
-questions which I never could answer.”
-
-When Vance reached the corner of the elevator building he found that
-further progress in that direction was blocked by the water, unless
-he chose to crawl over the damp sand under the ground floor of the
-edifice, which was raised several feet on spiles.
-
-So he concluded to wait where he was until the coast was clear again.
-
-He looked back to see if Dudley and his companion were continuing on up
-the street, but to his dismay he saw they also had turned into the path
-leading down to the river end of the building.
-
-There was nothing now but to get out of sight under the corner of the
-elevator and wait for them to retire.
-
-“How long do you expect to stay in this burg, Mr. Dudley?” the man in
-the fedora hat was saying as the pair came within earshot of Vance’s
-post of concealment.
-
-“Give it up,” returned the dapper young man, with a yawn. “It’s
-precious dull here, all right; but I’ve got to stick here until I
-find out whether that Thornton chap”--at these words Vance pricked
-up his ears and was instantly on the alert--“is coming down here on
-a reconnoitering expedition for his boss, old man Whitemore, or not.
-Those are my orders, and I got them right from the shoulder, too.”
-
-“What makes you think he is coming here?” asked the elevator man
-curiously.
-
-“We have our reasons,” replied Dudley significantly, “and we’re not
-taking any chances. I’m watching every train that comes in.”
-
-“I didn’t see you at the depot last night.”
-
-“I don’t have to go to the depot. He’ll go to the hotel as sure as
-guns, or to the Stag House.”
-
-“Or to the Parker House,” suggested the man in the fedora.
-
-“Scarcely there. He’s got plenty of money and will want the best that
-is to be had. However, I don’t care where he goes; the moment he
-registers at any of these places I shall be informed.”
-
-“Well?” said the other interrogatively.
-
-“Then I’ll point him out to you, and it will be up to you to see that
-he’s blocked at every point.”
-
-“As every one of our men down here has been fixed, I don’t think
-he’ll find out a heap,” remarked the elevator official in a tone of
-conviction.
-
-“However, there’s nothing like making assurance doubly sure, Mr.
-Taggart,” said Dudley, taking out his cigarette case. “Have a smoke?”
-
-“Thanks,” and his companion helped himself to one.
-
-“The whole trouble seems to have developed from the fact that our ally,
-Vyce--that’s old Whitemore’s bookkeeper--has come under the suspicion
-of his employer, though it isn’t likely anything can be brought against
-him. When the combination was forming Carrington found out Vyce could
-be bought. He had his price--most everybody has--and an arrangement
-was effected by which he was to keep the opposition pool informed of
-Whitemore’s operations in this new deal of his as far as he was able to
-find them out.”
-
-“That was a great advantage,” said Mr. Taggart, wagging his head
-sagaciously.
-
-“Well, say, you’ve no idea what it counts for. Whitemore has been
-dominating the bull clique for years. All sorts of jobs have been put
-up to him, but he has managed to wriggle out somehow. This time we
-believe it is his object to corner the market, and the combination
-which is after his scalp is backed by one of the strongest banks in
-Chicago. I fancy it is strong enough to squeeze him. If we should catch
-him we’ll wring him bone-dry. We’ll bankrupt him as sure as my name is
-Guy Dudley.”
-
-The dapper young man lit another cigarette and continued:
-
-“As I was saying, Vyce, our source of information on the inside, has
-suddenly dried up. Whitemore hasn’t accused him of any underhanded
-dealings, but the very fact that he has shut up tighter than a clam
-toward his confidential assistant, and has sent young Thornton--a
-mere boy, you might say--west to close up his corn options, is a sure
-sign that the old man is suspicious of Vyce. Ever since that boy left
-Chicago we have reason to suspect that Whitemore has been quietly
-buying every bushel of corn that is offered, though his regular brokers
-do not appear in these transactions. If this is a fact, he must own
-more than half of the visible supply on the market.”
-
-“He must have a barrel of money.”
-
-“I’d be satisfied with half of what I could raise on his real estate.
-It was a slick and farseeing move on the part of the pool to sneak
-five million bushels down here without the fact getting out. That was
-accomplished early in the game by working our pull with the Mississippi
-Transportation Co. Nothing like having an influential director or two
-at your back.”
-
-The man in the fedora hat nodded.
-
-“These elevators have been duly reported out of business for one reason
-or another.”
-
-“I can’t see how you managed to keep the papers in the dark. What they
-can’t ferret out isn’t worth knowing.”
-
-Guy Dudley laughed sardonically.
-
-“The combination simply bought up half a dozen of the leading papers,
-and own them body and soul. They print only what we want on the corn
-question. They mold public opinion, as it were. The other papers copy
-our news, and there you are--see?”
-
-Mr. Taggart thought he saw, for he rubbed his hands and laughed.
-
-“But in dealing with such an artful old fox as Jared Whitemore we have
-to provide against the unusual and the unexpected. It was distinctly
-unusual for him to send a boy like Vance Thornton to close up his
-options--yet that is what he has done, and we should never have got on
-to it if it had not been for the uncommon shrewdness of our man Vyce.
-If he has done this, there is no reason why he hasn’t instructed the
-boy to come down here after he has finished with the options and try
-to find out whether the press reports concerning these elevators are
-really founded on facts, or whether they have been cooked up by the
-opposition forces.”
-
-“And do you think that young fellow Thornton is smart enough for such a
-slick job as that?” asked Mr. Taggart, with a sneer.
-
-“Do I? Well, say, he’s all right, and don’t you make any mistake on
-that head,” said Dudley in a convincing tone as he gave the rim of
-his hat a flip backward. “Carrington says he’s smart enough to be
-dangerous, and Carrington is no fool.”
-
-“Yet he’s only a boy, you say?” said Mr. Taggart, skeptically.
-
-“That’s all right. He was clever enough to block a little game we put
-up on him in Kansas City, and he didn’t even suspect our intentions,
-either.”
-
-“How was that?” asked Mr. Taggart, with some interest.
-
-“Carrington came down himself from Chicago to help the thing along, and
-brought one of his handsomest lady stenographers along to pump the boy
-dry. And she did it, too; oh, yes, she did it--nit! And we thought he
-would be such an easy proposition. We wanted to find out all his plans
-and get possession of the options we supposed he carried about in his
-clothes.”
-
-“And you failed, eh?”
-
-“We failed all right. He didn’t have as much as a toothpick about
-him, and so, after dosing his coffee, for he doesn’t drink a drop of
-liquor, we had all our trouble for nothing. The girl went into a spasm
-of admiration over Thornton’s cleverness in being prepared for the
-unexpected, while Carrington was madder than a whole nest of hornets. I
-took him to his hotel and put him to bed, and that’s the last I’ve seen
-of him.”
-
-“Well, now, you hear me,” said the man in the fedora hat, thumping the
-side of the bunch of spiles behind which Vance was listening to this
-enlightening conversation, “if he comes down here and gets away with a
-grain of information as big as one grain of those five million bushels
-stored in these, five elevators, I’ll give you leave to kick me from
-here to the mouth of the Mississippi.”
-
-The remark was emphatic and forcible, and there was not the slightest
-doubt that Mr. Taggart meant every word of it, yet is it any wonder
-that Vance Thornton, under the circumstances, grinned as he had never
-grinned before in all his life?
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER VIII.
-
-THE MAN FROM THE WEST.
-
-
-If Guy Dudley and Mr. Taggart, the manager of the five elevators of
-Elevatorville, only suspected the injury they had inflicted on their
-cause by coming down to the water’s edge of that particular elevator
-under which Vance Thornton happened to be concealed at the time, and
-there telling all they knew to the winds, as they thought, there is
-not the least doubt that they would have felt like going to some quiet
-place and kicking themselves off the earth.
-
-The dapper Mr. Dudley thought himself as smart as they make them in
-Chicago, but really he had lots to learn.
-
-He was satisfied that young Thornton could not poke his nose into the
-town without he (Dudley) becoming immediately aware of the fact.
-
-Yet Vance had already been more than twelve hours in Elevatorville
-without the dapper young man’s knowledge, and had practically
-accomplished the object of his visit through the indiscreet loquacity
-of the gentlemen who were “laying” for him.
-
-The only really good thing that Dudley had been guilty of was his
-admission of Thornton’s cleverness.
-
-Dudley and the manager of the elevators, having unwittingly put Vance
-Thornton in possession of more information even than he had expected to
-pick up in that western river town, walked back the way they had come
-and parted at the corner of the street, the dapper young man returning
-to his hotel.
-
-“Well,” murmured Vance, as he emerged from his place of concealment,
-“if this hasn’t been the greatest piece of luck I’ve ever heard tell
-of, I don’t know what luck is. So there’s actually five million bushels
-of corn in these elevators, while they are officially reported as
-empty? I’m much obliged to you, Mr. Taggart, for the information,”
-and he looked after the retreating figures of the manager and his
-companion. “So that was a put-up job on me at Bagley’s chop-house, eh?
-And I never dreamed of it. At last I am on to you, Mr. Guy Dudley,
-and I think you’ve done all the damage you’re likely to do to Mr.
-Whitemore. And our respectable bookkeeper, Mr. Edgar Vyce, is a snake
-in the grass. I’ll have to lose no time in putting Mr. Whitemore next
-to all these important facts. When he learns the real state of affairs
-I guess Mr. Vyce will have to join the opposition in person as well as
-in spirit. I never did like him much, and now I certainly despise him.
-A sneak and a traitor ought always to be handled without gloves.”
-
-By this time the road was clear for Vance to retire without attracting
-special attention to himself, and half an hour later he was seated at a
-table in the cottage writing a letter to his employer.
-
-That afternoon he left Elevatorville by a river boat that carried him a
-few miles up the Mississippi to another town that boasted of a pair of
-dismantled elevators.
-
-He had no difficulty in personally examining these buildings, and found
-that the newspaper report as to their condition was strictly true.
-
-Vance added a postscript to his letter, setting forth the facts as he
-had found them, and then forwarded it by registered mail, as usual.
-
-“I suppose Guy Dudley is watching for the train to deposit me in
-Elevatorville this evening,” he grinned as he sat on the hotel veranda
-after supper. “Gee! It was a lucky thought of mine not to go to the
-hotel last night. Had I done so my name would probably have been mud,
-so far as finding out what I came for, and then I should never have
-found out those other little matters. It’s better to be born lucky than
-rich.”
-
-Next morning Vance left for a railway junction town in Missouri, the
-last point he had on his list.
-
-It is unnecessary to go into the particulars of his business at this
-place.
-
-It is enough to say that it had a direct bearing on his employer’s
-plans, and the boy managed to obtain all the necessary information to
-be got.
-
-“Now for Chicago and home,” said Vance, in a happy frame of mind, after
-he had boiled down his statistics in a succinct letter to Mr. Whitemore
-and sent it off.
-
-The boy uttered these words as he was coming out of the postoffice,
-which was located on the corner of two streets.
-
-Immediately preceding him was a tall and commanding man, with a swarthy
-complexion and black eyes.
-
-Vance had noticed him inside posting a letter.
-
-He wore a soft felt hat of generous proportions, and his manner was the
-free and easy way of the wide west.
-
-The boy stopped and watched him with some curiosity as he started to
-cross the street.
-
-At that moment a noisy racket arose around the corner, and there
-suddenly came into view a team of horses attached to a heavy wagon of
-produce.
-
-Evidently the animals were frightened, and were dashing about in a
-blind, purposeless race.
-
-The stranger was right in their path, and seeing his peril, he sprang
-back.
-
-But in some unaccountable way he missed his footing, slipped and fell
-upon the roadway.
-
-A dozen or more people besides Vance noticed his mishap, but only the
-boy seemed to have presence of mind enough to take any action.
-
-The frenzied horses were almost upon the fallen man when Vance, darting
-out from the sidewalk, seized the near animal by the bridle-rein, as
-well as getting a secure grip on the harness with the other hand, and
-succeeded in slightly veering the team out of its course.
-
-Off course he was instantly carried off his feet and placed in an
-exceedingly dangerous situation, but he had accomplished his object.
-
-The wheels of the heavy wagon barely grazed the stranger’s head as it
-flew by, but he was saved--saved by Vance’s remarkable nerve and quick
-movements.
-
-The runaways, handicapped by his weight, and headed off by several men
-who now jumped into the roadway and waved their coats and hats, lost
-their speed and were presently brought to a standstill.
-
-“Young man,” exclaimed a broad-shouldered Missourian, grasping Vance by
-the hand, as with rumpled clothes and minus his hat he let go his hold
-and staggered back from the restive and trembling horses, “that was one
-of the pluckiest things I reckon I’ve seen for a long time.”
-
-“That’s what it was, so help me Bob!” cried another demonstrative
-individual, pressing himself to the fore. “Shake, youngster!”
-
-A crowd quickly gathered around the boy, and everybody wanted to take
-him by the hand and tell him what they thought of his feat.
-
-“Here’s your hat!” cried some one on the outskirts of the circle.
-
-Half a dozen willing hands were extended to grasp and restore it to its
-owner.
-
-It was really extraordinary what an interest the onlookers had suddenly
-taken in the Chicago boy.
-
-“Oh, come now,” objected Vance, trying to disengage himself from his
-well-meaning admirers, “I’m really much obliged to you; but I think you
-might let a fellow go now.”
-
-“But you’ve got to drink with us before we can let you part company,”
-cried one officious six-foot native.
-
-“You must excuse me,” said Vance, moving off, “but I don’t drink.”
-
-“You don’t drink!” exclaimed several of the men in a breath, falling
-back at what seemed to them a most unheard-of statement. “Did you say
-that you didn’t drink?”
-
-“That’s exactly what I did say, and I generally mean what I say,”
-answered the boy in a firm tone.
-
-As Vance elbowed his way clear of the mob every one looked at him
-with the same curiosity they might have bestowed upon some new and
-extraordinary animal which had unexpectedly dropped in among them.
-
-A fellow that did not drink was decidedly something out of the common
-in Missouri.
-
-Vance, however, was rescued from this disagreeable situation by the man
-whose life he had saved.
-
-The big fellow stepped up, and linking his arm with the lad’s, drew him
-off down the street, saying, in a very pleasant and somewhat musical
-voice:
-
-“Let us get away from this mob, my young friend; I fancy their
-well-meant intentions are not particularly agreeable to either of us. I
-can see that you don’t care to be made a hero of, though I never knew
-one who more deserved the honor.”
-
-He spoke in such a breezy, whole-souled way that Vance was instantly
-prepossessed in his favor.
-
-Though he showed the flavor of the untrammeled West in every movement,
-yet there was nothing rough about him.
-
-He was a gentleman from heel to crown.
-
-“I am very glad you were not injured by the runaway, sir,” said Vance
-sincerely.
-
-“Thanks to your nerve and presence of mind, I was not; but I had a
-narrow call for my life. I owe my preservation to you, my brave lad,
-and I wish you to understand that I am deeply grateful to you. You must
-let me know your name, for I insist that we shall be better acquainted.”
-
-“My name is Vance Thornton.”
-
-“Thank you; and mine is William Bradhurst.”
-
-“I am pleased to know you, Mr. Bradhurst,” said Vance heartily.
-
-“Not more than I am to know you,” replied the man from the West. “You
-are a stranger to this town, I should judge.”
-
-“Yes, sir; I am from Chicago.”
-
-“You interest me. I am bound for that city myself. I expect to take the
-afternoon train for St. Louis, to connect with the Panhandle road.”
-
-“I intend to leave to-day for Chicago by the same route,” said Vance,
-pleased with the prospect of having so agreeable a companion.
-
-“I am delighted to hear it, my dear fellow,” answered the westerner, in
-a tone which indicated his satisfaction. “We will go together, if you
-have no objection.”
-
-“I shall be glad to have your society,” assented the boy.
-
-“Good. I was wondering how I would relieve the monotony of the trip.
-You have settled the matter in the way I should have preferred.”
-
-By this time they were several blocks from the scene of their thrilling
-adventure.
-
-“Where are you stopping?” asked the big fellow.
-
-“At the Planters’ House.”
-
-“Why, that’s where I have put up. If you don’t mind we’ll go there now.
-It is nearly lunch hour. Anyhow, I’d like to have a talk with you.”
-
-To this invitation Vance offered no objection, and ten minutes later
-they were ascending the hotel elevator together.
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER IX.
-
-DAME FORTUNE TAKES VANCE THORNTON UNDER HER WING.
-
-
-“Well, Thornton, I trust that you and I will be good friends,” said Mr.
-Bradhurst, as he motioned Vance to a seat by the window after they had
-entered one of the best suites of rooms in the house.
-
-“I hope so, sir,” replied the boy in a cheery tone, which indicated
-that he saw no reason, at least on his part, why they should not.
-
-“It isn’t every one that I take a fancy to,” said the broad-shouldered
-man; “but I am bound to say that, even apart from the natural
-friendliness I feel toward one to whom I am so largely indebted as
-yourself, I have taken a liking to you on general principles.”
-
-“You are very kind to say so,” returned Vance; “I can say the same
-thing as regards yourself.”
-
-“Then we appear to be mutually pleased,” said Bradhurst with a breezy
-laugh. “The fact of the matter is, young man, I have lived for the
-last eight years in a sort of rough-and-ready community, where a man’s
-character comes to the surface without much effort on his part to hold
-it down. We soon learn to size up those with whom we are thrown into
-contact, and sift the honest fellow from the worthless scamp.”
-
-“You have lived in the mining districts, I suppose?”
-
-“You’ve hit it right at the first guess, though I hardly suppose I
-resemble a cowboy.”
-
-“No,” said Vance; “still, you could easily be taken for a prosperous
-ranch owner, or something of that sort.”
-
-“That’s right enough, too. I don’t look much as though I was afflicted
-with consumption, do I?” asked Bradhurst, with a smile.
-
-“Why, no,” replied the boy in a tone of surprise.
-
-“Well, eight years ago, a few years after I graduated from Yale College
-and was beginning the life of a business man in New York, my friends
-came to the conclusion that I was marked for an early grave. I had the
-disease, all right, so the doctors I consulted said, and was treated
-for it; but I went from bad to worse, until it seemed only a question
-of time when I was expected to step out. As a last resort I was advised
-to give up everything and go to Colorado. Well, I went.”
-
-“And coming West cured you?”
-
-“I don’t fancy so; it was the new life I lived. I kept away from large
-towns and went into the wilderness. I lived out in the open air. I
-bought a horse and rode about a great deal. After awhile I found my
-strength returning and my chest expanding, and in two years I could
-afford to laugh at doctors.”
-
-“And you never had a return of the old symptoms?”
-
-“Never. I think it is perfectly safe for me to return to civilization
-again.”
-
-“It must give you a great deal of satisfaction to know that you have
-cheated the undertaker out of a job,” said Vance with a laugh.
-
-“I leave you to judge of that. But while it was solely for the purpose
-of recruiting my health I came West, I have also accomplished another
-satisfactory result.”
-
-“And what is that?”
-
-“I have made a fortune--and a mighty big one at that.”
-
-“In eight years?”
-
-“In six years. If you have fortune on your side a good deal of money
-can be picked up in the wild and woolly districts, as they are
-sometimes called.”
-
-“I have often heard so,” admitted Vance interestedly.
-
-“I was always interested in metallurgy, and studied the subject pretty
-exhaustively before I had any idea of putting my knowledge to practical
-use. While wandering about at my own sweet will I used to do a little
-prospecting for the fun of the thing, but I can’t say that I met with
-any success. My luck began when I took up my habitation in the Dead
-Man’s Creek mining district, Colorado. By that time I had grown tired
-of doing nothing. I was induced to buy an interest in a claim that
-at first looked to be a good thing, but soon petered out. Still, my
-mining information encouraged me to believe there was a future in
-it. I bought my partners out for a trivial sum, and from that moment
-superintended the working of the mine myself. One day we struck a fine
-pay streak, and when the news circulated I was beset with offers from
-promoters who came there to examine into it. I refused to sell, but was
-finally persuaded to form a company, and dispose of a few shares at a
-high figure. That was four years ago. The mine turned out to be a real
-bonanza, and my profits from the ore taken out up to a month ago have
-been over $2,000,000.”
-
-“Gee!” exclaimed Vance, opening his eyes; “you don’t say!”
-
-“I continued to hold ninety per cent of the stock, and this I disposed
-of a little over a week ago for the par value of $100 a share to a
-clique of wealthy men. I realized $9,000,000.”
-
-“Nine millions!” gasped Vance, who was astonished at the sum, although
-he was accustomed to move in a business atmosphere where transactions
-involving millions were a common occurrence.
-
-“Exactly--nine millions,” nodded Bradhurst, enjoying his young
-acquaintance’s amazement. “So you see you saved the life of a man
-actually worth $11,000,000 in cash and securities. If my head had been
-smashed by that truck those millions would have had no further interest
-for me. While every man’s life is presumed to be his most precious
-possession, mine has more than a usual value.”
-
-“I should think it had,” said the boy, regarding his new friend with a
-fresh interest.
-
-“Under these circumstances, Thornton, you will understand that if I
-presented you with a couple of millions in consideration of what you
-have done for me I shouldn’t be doing any too much to express my
-gratitude, and I should still have more money on my hands than I could
-ever reasonably hope to spend.”
-
-“I hope you don’t think of doing such a foolish thing as that,” said
-Vance, not a little disturbed at the mere idea of being presented with
-such an enormous sum.
-
-Perhaps the average person would have entertained different views on
-the subject, but then Vance Thornton was young, and had imbibed the
-idea that a man ought to earn in a legitimate way all that he acquires.
-
-He had full confidence in his own powers to accumulate a million or two
-within the next few years, as soon as he got well in harness.
-
-Perhaps he was right.
-
-Many a young man has been ruined, not only financially, but morally, by
-getting next to a fortune without the necessity of earning it.
-
-Mr. Bradhurst possibly neglected to think of that side of the question,
-for he said, with a smile:
-
-“Why not?”
-
-“Because I wouldn’t accept what I haven’t earned,” replied the boy
-stoutly.
-
-The western man regarded him with an amused smile.
-
-All the same, he began to look upon the lad with a new and increased
-respect.
-
-“Well,” he said in an altered tone, “we’ll defer the discussion of such
-a thing to another time. As a matter of fact, my life, which you have
-presented to me, I may say, is worth more than two millions. In fact,
-it is quite beyond any financial value. Will you permit me to bestow on
-you in return for it a lifelong friendship?”
-
-There was no doubting the feeling which actuated those words.
-
-“I shall be only too glad to accept that,” replied Vance, his strong,
-young face lighting up with pleasure.
-
-“It’s a bargain,” said Bradhurst, extending his hand. “Shake on it.”
-
-Vance grasped his big brown hand, and with that handclasp the
-glittering goddess of fortune hovered for an instant over the boy’s
-head and touched him with the point of one of her golden wings.
-
-“I hope I haven’t talked you to death, Thornton,” said the man from the
-golden West, rising and slapping the lad familiarly on the back; “but
-as it is lunch hour, I think we may as well go down to the dining-room
-and have a bite.”
-
-“I second the motion,” laughed Vance, getting on his feet.
-
-“The motion having been duly made and seconded, I declare it carried,
-and this meeting stands adjourned pro tempore.”
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER X.
-
-STRUCK DOWN.
-
-
-Vance Thornton and his new friend William Bradhurst, the many-times
-millionaire, expected to reach Chicago over the P. C. C. and St.
-L. railroad at about seven o’clock on the morning following their
-departure from the Missouri junction town.
-
-Their calculations were correct, and the train was entering the Union
-Depot, corner of Adams and Canal streets, when Jared Whitemore, after a
-visit to the Chicago National Bank, where he had received and perused
-Vance’s last letter, mailed after his departure from Elevatorville, was
-ascending to his office in the Rookery building.
-
-Bessie Brown looked up as Mr. Whitemore entered the outer office, so
-also did Mr. Vyce, the bookkeeper.
-
-Both noticed that their employer looked unusually stern.
-
-The assistant bookkeeper was out attending to matters that usually fell
-to Vance to transact.
-
-Without looking either to the right or left, Mr. Whitemore entered his
-private room.
-
-Presently Bessie’s electric alarm buzzed, and she hastened into the
-boss’ sanctum.
-
-In a few minutes she returned to her machine, copied a short letter
-addressed to Jarboe, Willicutt & Co., locked up her notebook and
-proceeded to put on her hat, an unusual circumstance at that hour.
-
-“Are you going out, Miss Brown?” inquired Mr. Vyce in some surprise.
-
-“Yes, sir,” answered Bessie coldly.
-
-“Rather early for lunch, is it not?” he asked, coming to the end of his
-desk and regarding her movements curiously.
-
-“I am not going to lunch.”
-
-“Then you are going out on business for Mr. Whitemore, I take it?”
-
-Bessie made no answer, but having got her hat on straight, she
-deliberately walked to the outer door and passed into the corridor.
-
-“You seem to be putting on a whole lot of airs with me, young lady,”
-snarled the bookkeeper to the empty office; “all of a sudden, too.
-You haven’t spoken a civil word to me since that young cub Thornton
-went away on confidential business for the old man. I shall make it
-my business to take you down a peg or two. If I am not mistaken in
-my calculations, you’ll be looking for a new job before long, Bessie
-Brown--you and that young imp, curse him! If I can keep you both out of
-the financial district you may depend upon my exertions to that effect.”
-
-At that moment his alarm went off, and sticking his pen into the rack,
-he walked into the private office.
-
-“Sit down, Mr. Vyce,” said the big corn operator curtly. “You have been
-in my employ a matter of six years, I think?”
-
-“About that time,” replied the bookkeeper, rather taken back by the
-question, which bore a fatally significant bearing.
-
-“During the last three years you have enjoyed a considerable degree of
-my confidence, which has, if anything, increased since the first of the
-year. How have you returned this trust I reposed in you, sir?”
-
-“How, sir?” faltered the bookkeeper, his guilty conscience flying into
-his sallow face. “Why----”
-
-“Mr. Vyce, for some weeks past I have had reason to believe that some
-one conversant with certain plans of mine was giving information to the
-clique that is opposing me in the market. You are the only one to whom
-I have opened my lips in this office. I have long regarded you as my
-right-hand man--a man I thought I could trust.”
-
-“Is it possible that you accuse me, Mr. Whitemore?” asked the
-bookkeeper, with an injured air.
-
-“I do accuse you, Mr. Vyce, of playing the part of traitor to my
-interests,” said the corn operator sternly.
-
-“But, sir, unless you have some proof it is unfair----”
-
-“I have the words of a certain Mr. Guy Dudley as evidence that you sold
-yourself to the pool headed by Jarrett, Palmer & Carrington.”
-
-At the mention of Dudley’s name Mr. Vyce turned as pale as death.
-
-“Guy Dudley!” he exclaimed in a trembling voice. “Why, how could you
-have seen him? He is not in Chicago.”
-
-“I know that,” replied the operator sharply. “Perhaps you can inform me
-where he is, since you and he appear to be hand in glove.”
-
-“As you have not seen him, how can you say you have his evidence----”
-
-“We will not argue that point. But if you are curious to know how I
-obtained my information, I will say that a confidential messenger of
-mine ran across your friend Dudley and heard from that gentleman’s lips
-enough to convict you of the charge I bring against you. If you have
-anything to say in your defence that your conscience would advise you
-to bring forward I will listen to you, otherwise I will have to ask you
-to bring your connection with this office to an immediate close.”
-
-“You wish me to understand that you have received this information
-through Vance Thornton?” asked Mr. Vyce, with compressed lips and
-lowering brow.
-
-“I have mentioned no name.”
-
-“But you sent him out West.”
-
-“How do you know that?” asked Mr. Whitemore curtly.
-
-“He has been absent from the office for some ten days, and as those
-options of yours were on the point of expiring, I supposed----”
-
-“Isn’t it a fact that you advised Mr. Sidney Carrington at once of
-Vance’s absence from this office, and suggested your idea of his
-destination and purpose? And don’t you know that Mr. Carrington, Mr.
-Dudley, and a woman connected with their office, went to Kansas City
-for the express purpose of blocking the boy’s mission by getting
-possession of my options by foul means?”
-
-“As you seem predisposed to my guilt, I see no use in making any
-answer to your questions. I wish you to understand that I brand your
-informant--whether he be Vance Thornton, as I believe, or somebody
-else--as a liar.”
-
-Mr. Vyce rose to his feet and walked out of the private room.
-
-He was furious with suppressed passion.
-
-Mr. Whitemore followed him out almost immediately, and went to the
-office safe, where he proceeded to unlock a special compartment to
-which he only had access.
-
-Edgar Vyce watched him with set white face and venomous eyes.
-
-Suddenly an evil suggestion entered his soul and took lodgment there.
-
-He knew that documents of the greatest moment in connection with the
-corn market were deposited in that inner safe.
-
-If he could only get possession of them he could make his own terms
-with the pool in whose interests he had practically lost his position.
-
-If he could get possession of them!
-
-There was nobody in the office at that moment but he and Mr. Whitemore.
-
-Suppose----
-
-
-For a moment the blood congealed around his heart, and he clutched at
-the desk to support himself.
-
-The corn operator was about to relock the steel door.
-
-It was now or never if he was to do anything.
-
-Without waiting for the fiendish suggestion to cool he seized a heavy
-ruler and, with a muttered imprecation, sprang at the operator from
-behind.
-
-Mr. Whitemore heard him and gave a startled glance backward.
-
-But he was at the infuriated man’s mercy.
-
-Thud!
-
-The ruler descended on the old operator’s head, and he went down on the
-carpet like a stricken ox at the shambles.
-
-At that identical instant Vance Thornton, dusty and travel-stained,
-appeared at the office door.
-
-He was a witness of the murderous attack.
-
-With a cry of horror he sprang forward to aid his now insensible
-employer.
-
-“You here!” cried Vyce, turning on him with the rage and despair of a
-man detected in the commission of a desperate crime. “You shall never
-live to tell the story.”
-
-In a moment they had grappled in a terrible struggle.
-
-The boy, encumbered by his light overcoat, was at a disadvantage.
-
-The bookkeeper was strong, agile and desperate.
-
-They swayed to and fro within the brass railings near the safe, Vyce
-trying to get a grip on Vance’s throat.
-
-At length the bookkeeper succeeded in tripping Thornton so that he fell
-across the railing, and then he began to pound the boy over the head
-and face with his fist.
-
-The result was now no longer in doubt, for Vyce clearly had the upper
-hand.
-
-He intended to kill the lad, for he hated him as only such a malignant
-nature can hate.
-
-But fate willed it otherwise, else this story would not have been
-written.
-
-The outer door suddenly opened, and Bessie Brown appeared in the
-opening.
-
-With dilated eyes she looked a moment on the scene.
-
-She recognized Vance Thornton and the awful situation he was in.
-
-Uttering a piercing scream that echoed through the corridors, Bessie
-seized the first thing that came to her hand, which happened to be a
-cane forgotten by a morning visitor, and jumped to Vance’s assistance.
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XI.
-
-THE CORN SITUATION.
-
-
-The appearance of Bessie on the scene altered the state of affairs
-materially.
-
-Vyce realized that the scales had turned against him, and that if he
-expected to evade the consequences of his rash actions he had not a
-moment to lose.
-
-With a bitter curse he cast the half-stunned boy from him, grabbed his
-hat and coat, and started for the door.
-
-Vance had fallen to the floor, and Bessie, paying no further attention
-to the bookkeeper, ran to the boy, and lifting his head in her arms,
-begged him to speak to her.
-
-As Vyce passed hurriedly out into the corridor he brushed against two
-clerks from an adjacent office who had been attracted to the spot by
-the girl’s scream.
-
-Before he reached the stairway he ran against others.
-
-In fact, the entire floor had by this time been alarmed, and a score of
-men were hurrying toward Mr. Whitemore’s office.
-
-“What’s the excitement about, Mr. Vyce?” asked the elevator boy as the
-bookkeeper pushed himself into the descending cage, which had stopped
-at his signal.
-
-“An accident has happened to Mr. Whitemore,” he answered in a hoarse
-voice. “I’m going for a doctor.”
-
-By this ruse he managed to effect his escape from the building.
-
-In the meantime, while the office was filling with excited people
-anxious to find out what had occurred, Vance gradually recovered
-himself.
-
-As soon as he could sit up Bessie got him a glass of water, which he
-swallowed greedily.
-
-Then he got on his feet.
-
-“Thanks, Bessie; I feel all right now. Don’t crowd in here, gentlemen,”
-he said, waving back the mob.
-
-“What’s happened to Mr. Whitemore?” asked a stout broker, peering over
-the railing at the unconscious corn operator.
-
-“He’s been hurt,” answered Vance. “I’d be obliged to you, Mr. Bradley,
-if you will come inside and help me get him into his private office.”
-
-At that moment the assistant bookkeeper returned, and was, of course,
-astonished to see such a crowd and commotion in the place.
-
-“You back, Vance?” he ejaculated. “What’s occurred here?”
-
-“Trouble,” replied the boy shortly. “Go out and fetch a doctor for Mr.
-Whitemore. I’m afraid he’s seriously injured.”
-
-Vance and the stout broker having carried the corn operator into his
-sanctum, they, with Bessie’s help, tried to bring the insensible man to
-consciousness.
-
-“Looks as if he had been struck by some heavy, blunt instrument,”
-remarked Broker Bradley, examining the jagged wound on Mr. Whitemore’s
-skull.
-
-“He was hit with the heavy office ruler,” said Vance soberly.
-
-“Indeed!” exclaimed the broker in surprise. “How did that happen?”
-
-“I will tell you, but for the present I hope you will let it go no
-further.”
-
-In the fewest words possible the boy told him what he had seen as he
-entered the office; also how he had been attacked by Vyce, and but for
-Bessie’s arrival would probably have been fatally injured.
-
-“The scoundrel! He must have been crazy!”
-
-“Not at all,” replied Vance. “I can easily understand how it came
-about; but for the present it is better I should say nothing on the
-subject. Mr. Whitemore will know how to deal with him when he recovers.”
-
-“The police ought to be notified. I don’t like the looks of Mr.
-Whitemore. He is a long time coming to.”
-
-“We shall have a physician here soon,” said Vance.
-
-“He breathes very hard,” said Bessie anxiously.
-
-She had been bathing the operator’s face and chafing his temples and
-hands with no satisfactory results.
-
-In a few minutes the assistant bookkeeper appeared with a doctor, who
-was immediately taken into the private office.
-
-Vance took advantage of this opportunity to clear the outer office of
-those drawn there by curiosity and other reasons.
-
-He restored the ruler to its original position, locked the private
-compartment of the safe and put the key in his pocket.
-
-Then he returned to the private room in time to see his employer sit up
-with some difficulty.
-
-The physician looked serious, as if he did not like the aspect of the
-case.
-
-“He had better be removed to his home at once and his regular doctor
-sent for. His condition will not bear trifling with.”
-
-Mr. Whitemore’s eyes rested on Vance.
-
-He beckoned him to his side.
-
-“I am thankful you are back,” he whispered with great difficulty. “I’m
-afraid I’m in a bad way. I’ve been struck down at a critical moment.
-I depend on you to look after the office. See my brokers. All my
-important papers are in the inner compartment of the safe. Write an
-order that I empower you to act for me until further notice and I will
-sign it.”
-
-“Don’t lose a moment in doing it, young man,” said Broker Bradley, who
-was supporting the stricken corn operator. “He seems to be growing weak
-fast.”
-
-Vance drew up the paper, which was signed with great trouble by Mr.
-Whitemore and witnessed by Broker Bradley and Bessie.
-
-“Now the check-book,” he gasped feebly. “I will sign in blank. Fill
-it up by and bye with the amount of my entire balance at the Chicago
-National.”
-
-“He has wonderful confidence in you, Thornton,” Mr. Bradley said, in
-great astonishment.
-
-But the check was fated never to be signed.
-
-As the pen was placed between the old corn operator’s fluttering
-fingers he uttered a sudden groan, his head fell back, and he became
-unconscious once more.
-
-In this state he was taken home.
-
-Under these considerations Vance saw that the responsibility of
-notifying the police rested on him.
-
-Accordingly, he visited headquarters and interviewed the chief of
-police.
-
-Detectives were at once furnished with an accurate description of Edgar
-Vyce and despatched to hunt him up and arrest him.
-
-Vance then visited the offices of Jarboe, Willicutt & Co., in the Board
-of Trade building, and explained the situation.
-
-Mr. Jarboe, the head of the firm, was very much concerned over the news.
-
-“The affair will be printed in all the afternoon papers and will
-certainly have a bad effect on the market. With Mr. Whitemore down and
-out the Jarrett, Palmer & Carrington crowd will have a clean sweep. In
-which case Mr. Whitemore’s losses will be immense. It is very bad, very
-bad indeed,” said Mr. Jarboe, shaking his head dismally.
-
-“I have authority to act for Mr. Whitemore,” said Vance, producing the
-paper which had been signed by the stricken corn operator.
-
-“That’s all right as far as it goes,” said Mr. Jarboe. “It gives you
-the right to act for Mr. Whitemore, but what can you do without money,
-even supposing you to be capable of intelligent action on the big
-interests involved?”
-
-“You are right, Mr. Jarboe; I’m afraid my hands are tied. Mr. Whitemore
-intended to transfer his Chicago National balance to me by check, but
-he lapsed into insensibility at the critical moment.”
-
-“Is that really the fact?” asked the senior partner, looking his
-astonishment.
-
-“Mr. George Bradley was present when Mr. Whitemore asked for his
-check-book and expressed his intention.”
-
-“Well,” said the broker, “such a mark of confidence in your honesty and
-business capacity is remarkable. It is true I have lately heard him
-speak about you in terms of the greatest praise, but--however, it is
-useless to discuss the matter. He was prevented from signing the check,
-you say, so you cannot touch a cent of Mr. Whitemore’s money, even if
-your handling of that money would save him from ruin.”
-
-“True,” admitted Vance dejectedly.
-
-“I will have to consult with my partners as to what is best to be done
-under the circumstances,” said Mr. Jarboe, “and will advise you as soon
-as possible. We recognize your authority in the premises, and of course
-can make no move unless authorized by you in writing.”
-
-“The bear pool will certainly try to break the market,” said Vance.
-
-“Undoubtedly. Corn is high, and, but for this unfortunate affair,
-likely to go higher. Mr. Whitemore’s holdings have dominated the market
-and controlled the price. He has stood ready to buy every bushel
-offered. Probably half the visible supply of corn stored in the Kansas
-and Nebraska elevators is owned by him--a fact you should be familiar
-with, as you have just been out in that part of the county in his
-interest. Jarrett, Palmer & Carrington most likely have a quantity of
-grain which they have been holding back for a coup. Mr. Whitemore has
-suspected its existence, but has failed to discover any evidence to
-prove the fact. All reports point to the contrary supposition.”
-
-“I have thrown a little light on that point, Mr. Jarboe,” said Vance.
-
-“What do you mean?”
-
-“Mr. Whitemore directed me to investigate the true state of the corn
-situation at Elevatorville, Missouri.”
-
-“Well?”
-
-“There are five elevators in that place. They have been reported out of
-business temporarily.”
-
-“So I understand. Are they not?”
-
-“Possibly they may be,” replied Vance, “but all the same Jarrett,
-Palmer & Carrington have five million bushels of corn stored in them at
-this moment.”
-
-“Five million bushels?” almost gasped Mr. Jarboe.
-
-“Yes, sir--five million bushels.”
-
-“If this is the fact,” said Mr. Jarboe, greatly excited, “we are beaten
-to a standstill. Without money we cannot take a dollar of that corn
-which the pool will throw on the market at once, now they have learned
-of Mr. Whitemore’s misfortune. Thornton, as sure as you sit there,
-there will be a panic in the corn pit to-morrow morning.”
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XII.
-
-THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE.
-
-
-Vance returned to the Rookery Building in a very depressed state of
-mind.
-
-His interview with Mr. Jarboe seemed to indicate that nothing short of
-absolute ruin now faced his employer--the old man who at that moment
-lay at his home almost at the point of death.
-
-The afternoon papers contained an account of Mr. Whitemore’s
-misfortune, and hinted at its probable bearing on the next day’s corn
-market.
-
-Several reporters were waiting to interview Vance on his return.
-
-To these gentlemen he was courteous but extremely reticent.
-
-He insisted that the published reports were grossly exaggerated, and
-put as bright a complexion on the situation as he could.
-
-But he was up against the fact that other reporters had visited Mr.
-Whitemore’s residence and had learned that his condition was critical.
-
-“Poor Mr. Whitemore,” said Bessie, with tears in her eyes, “it is awful
-to think he may never recover from that cruel blow.”
-
-“Perhaps it will be as well he does not,” said Vance gloomily.
-
-“Why, Vance!” exclaimed Bessie in unfeigned surprise. “What do you
-mean?”
-
-“I mean, Bessie, that his absence from the office at this time spells
-ruin in capital letters.”
-
-“But he has put you in charge of everything,” said Bessie, whose
-confidence in Vance’s abilities was supreme.
-
-“But I can’t do a thing without money. I should need a great deal of
-money.”
-
-“He intended to sign a check for you,” she said, “but----”
-
-“Exactly, but he was unable to do it.”
-
-“Why couldn’t I go to his house,” she said suddenly. “He may have
-recovered his senses. Give me the check-book. If the thing is possible
-I will get his signature and bring it back to you.”
-
-“Bessie, you’re an angel!” cried Vance, his face lighting up with a new
-hope. “What a chump I am not to have thought of that! The fact of the
-matter is, Mr. Jarboe’s view of the situation knocked me endwise. I
-ought to go myself instead of sending you, but I have lots to do here,
-and I guess you’ll do as well.”
-
-So Bessie took the check-book and started for Michigan avenue, on the
-South Side.
-
-While she was absent Vance brought all of his employer’s documents
-relating to corn matters from the safe to the inner office, and sat
-down to study them in connection with printed reports and other sources
-of information he found on Mr. Whitemore’s desk.
-
-It was nearly dark when Bessie returned.
-
-Vance saw at once from her face that she had failed in her mission.
-
-“You did not get his signature?” he said anxiously.
-
-She shook her head sadly.
-
-“It is feared by his physicians that Mr. Whitemore may die before
-morning,” she said. “He has not recovered consciousness at any time
-since he was taken home. I left the check-book, after explaining
-matters to Mrs. Whitemore, and she said if he regains his senses she
-will try to get her husband to sign.”
-
-“Thank you, Bessie,” replied Vance gratefully. “You have done all that
-I could have done myself under the circumstances. I have been studying
-the situation, and feel confident if I had enough money I could save
-Mr. Whitemore. Unless I get it before business opens on the Board of
-Trade in the morning I fear it will be too late.”
-
-There was a painful silence for some moments.
-
-“I am glad you have returned, Vance,” said Bessie at length. “I don’t
-know what I should have done under these conditions had you still been
-away. I think I should have gone home at once and stayed there.”
-
-“It would have been harder for you, I suppose. I hope we shall always
-be such good friends, Bessie,” said the boy earnestly.
-
-“I’m sure there is no reason why we should not be,” she replied.
-“Now you must tell me where you have been, unless, of course, it’s a
-business secret.”
-
-“I have been West on important business for Mr. Whitemore. As soon as I
-get the chance I will tell you a good many interesting particulars of
-my trip. It is time now that you went home for the day.”
-
-“Why, how did you get that scar on your forehead?” she asked, laying
-her fingers gently on a small abrasion of the skin.
-
-“That,” he replied, with a little laugh; “oh, I got that down in
-Missouri yesterday morning while butting in against a runaway team.
-I saved a man’s life and made a good friend. His name is William
-Bradhurst, and he’s a millionaire eleven times over. He--why, by
-George!”
-
-Vance stopped and stared at the girl.
-
-“Eleven millions!” he muttered. “Eleven millions in cash and
-securities, that’s what he said.”
-
-“Vance, what are you talking about?” asked Bessie nervously.
-
-“Eleven million dollars! Why, Great Caesar! If I could induce him to
-back me up, with Mr. Whitemore’s enormous corn holdings I should win
-out. Mr. Whitemore would be saved financially, while Bradhurst himself
-would almost double his capital, for if we cornered the market--and
-with the start the boss has made we ought to be able to do it--we could
-surely control the price. We could easily buy up every bushel of that
-five million at Elevatorville. That would keep that lot from being
-moved to Chicago until we chose to have it put in motion. With scarcely
-any corn in transport the market would soar to--good gracious, I dare
-not think of it. I haven’t a moment to lose. I must see Mr. Bradhurst
-at once.”
-
-And Vance, for the first time in his life utterly ignoring Bessie,
-rushed for his hat.
-
-“Vance--Vance!” she cried, running after him. “You haven’t gone crazy,
-have you?”
-
-“Crazy!” he cried almost fiercely, turning full upon her. “Yes, I have!
-I’m crazy--crazy with a scheme that means millions to us. Go home.
-I can’t see you to the car. I’ve got to go to the Grand Pacific on
-business.”
-
-“Vance!” and then Bessie broke down.
-
-“Why, what are you crying about?” he said with an abruptness unusual
-with him.
-
-“Because (sob) you are so (sob) rough with me.”
-
-He looked at her a moment without speaking, and then seemed to realize
-how he had been acting.
-
-“Forgive me, Bessie, for making you cry; but I’ve thought of a plan by
-which I hope to save Mr. Whitemore, and perhaps corner the market as
-he had started out to do. If I put it through--there, I’m so excited
-over the bare idea you must excuse me saying anything more. Everything
-depends on my finding Mr. Bradhurst at his hotel to-night, so you
-see I mustn’t delay a moment. There, I wouldn’t offend you for the
-world,” he continued, as he led her out of the office and locked the
-door; and then, as she turned her tear-stained face before him in mute
-forgiveness, he quite forgot himself and actually kissed her.
-
-“Oh, Vance!” she exclaimed, blushing violently.
-
-It is possible the boy was somewhat astonished at his own audacity,
-but, if the truth must be told, he was not a bit repentant, and would
-have repeated the performance if he had dared.
-
-Twenty minutes later Vance was in Bradhurst’s apartments in the Grand
-Pacific Hotel, talking with a purpose and earnestness which he had
-never before displayed in his life.
-
-Bradhurst had been looking about him for something in the line of
-business that would engage his attention, for the mere idea of spending
-his wealth simply to amuse himself by leading a life of ease was
-extremely distasteful to him.
-
-He was a man of active habits and a busy brain, and the boy’s plan,
-which Vance laid down with convincing directness, appealed to his fancy.
-
-“Come over to the office, Mr. Bradhurst, and I will show you the
-documents and the proofs. I can there better explain what has been
-done, what our position is to-night, and what we shall be able to
-accomplish. I have been studying Board of Trade methods ever since I
-entered Mr. Whitemore’s office. With the grasp on the market I have at
-this moment, through my employer’s holdings, I see my way clear, with
-your backing to corner the product and force the price to almost any
-figure within reason. In a week the Jarrett, Palmer & Carrington pool
-won’t have a leg to stand on.”
-
-“All right; I’ll go over with you, Vance. But before we go we’re going
-to have dinner. You look as though you needed a square meal.”
-
-“I’ve scarcely had a bite all day,” admitted the boy; “but I don’t feel
-hungry at that.”
-
-“That’s because you’re all worked up over this matter and the
-unfortunate affair at your office. Take a wash and we’ll go down to the
-dining-room.”
-
-The clock in Mr. Whitemore’s office struck the hour of midnight when
-the conference between Vance and William Bradhurst came to an end.
-
-“If for no other reason than because I owe you a good turn I’ll see you
-through this, my boy,” said the big man cheerfully. “But in addition to
-that, I see the opportunity for both of us to make a million or more
-easily.”
-
-“You are risking the money, Mr. Bradhurst, and the profits over and
-above the figure at which corn closed to-day will rightfully be yours.
-I am satisfied to save Mr. Whitemore’s interest as it now stands.”
-
-“Vance Thornton, I am backing your information and experience with my
-money. It is a fair partnership. If we win out the profits are to be
-evenly divided, do you understand? Only on that condition will I go in.”
-
-“But,” almost gasped the boy, “the profits may run into----”
-
-“Millions. Exactly. In which case you will be a millionaire at
-eighteen. Do you object?”
-
-The boy was too much stunned at the prospect to reply.
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XIII.
-
-WHO HOLDS THE ACE?
-
-
-Rats, they say, will leave a sinking ship.
-
-Perhaps it would hardly be fair to compare the solid brokerage firm
-of Jarboe, Willicutt & Co. with the rodents in question, but Tennyson
-Jarboe, after his interview with Vance Thornton and a careful study
-of Mr. Whitemore’s condition from the latest reports in the evening
-papers, decided, in consultation with his partners, that Jared
-Whitemore was as good as done for, both physically and financially.
-
-With five million bushels of corn ready to be shipped to Chicago at
-their nod, it was reasonable to expect that the Jarrett, Palmer &
-Carrington clique would jump into the pit the next morning and, with
-little opposition to fear, hammer the market to pieces.
-
-In the ensuing panic corn would tumble like the famous Humpty Dumpty of
-fairy fiction, and it therefore behooved Jarboe, Willicutt & Co., with
-the pointer they had got from Vance, to sell a million or so bushels
-short for their own private account.
-
-It would be perfectly fair, since Mr. Whitemore’s boyish representative
-could do nothing toward stemming the current without money.
-
-So when Vance Thornton reached Mr. Whitemore’s office on the following
-morning he found a letter addressed to himself and signed by Mr.
-Jarboe, in which that gentleman expressed his regret that the firm saw
-no way of saving their old customer from the expected crash unless
-something tangible in the way of money was forthcoming, and as this
-seemed to be out of the question, Jarboe, Willicutt & Co. could hardly
-be expected to execute any further commissions for Mr. Whitemore.
-
-“All right,” exclaimed Vance, coolly; “you have deserted the ship just
-a moment too soon for your own good, Mr. Jarboe. I’m only a boy, it is
-true, but I’m not taking off my hat to you after that.”
-
-Thrusting the letter in his pocket, he put on his hat again.
-
-“I’ll be back in half an hour,” he said to Bessie.
-
-He rushed over to the Grand Pacific and sent his card up to William
-Bradhurst.
-
-“Read that,” he said to his new friend, handing him Mr. Jarboe’s letter.
-
-Mr. Bradhurst had finished breakfast, and was preparing to go over to
-Mr. Whitemore’s office according to arrangements entered into the night
-before.
-
-“Cool, I must say,” he remarked, as he handed it back. “Well, what are
-you going to do?”
-
-“Get another broker,” replied Vance decidedly.
-
-“Quite right. Have you selected one yet?”
-
-“I have a firm in my eye. It’s young, but I know them both. They’re
-square as a die. This deal will be the making of them, and I’m glad to
-put it in their way. Come, let us go over to their office. We haven’t
-any time to lose to-day.”
-
-Mr. Bradhurst and Vance went to a brokerage office on La Salle street.
-
-It was on the third floor front, and the sign on the door read Fox &
-Mason.
-
-“Hello, Thornton,” was Mr. Fox’s greeting as the boy entered his
-private office with his friend. “Glad to see you. Where’ve you been for
-the last two weeks, and may I ask how your employer, Mr. Whitemore, is
-this morning?”
-
-“I’ve been out of town. As to Mr. Whitemore, the latest reports are
-not encouraging. Allow me to introduce you to Mr. William Bradhurst.”
-
-“Glad to know you, Mr. Bradhurst,” said Fox, genially.
-
-“Now, Mr. Fox, I wish your earnest attention. I’m going to put a good
-thing in your way,” said the boy in a business-like tone.
-
-“Thanks. All favors thankfully accepted,” and he looked at Mr.
-Bradhurst as if he judged he was the good thing suggested.
-
-“Read this,” said Vance, and he handed him the paper which authorized
-him to act for Mr. Whitemore.
-
-Mr. Fox read it with some surprise.
-
-“Now read this,” and Vance produced Mr. Jarboe’s letter.
-
-“Phew!” was the broker’s comment after he had perused it.
-
-“Under those circumstances I have decided to employ new brokers. I have
-selected Fox & Mason. Mr. Jarboe has made a slight miscalculation.
-Instead of having no money, I have a backing representing $11,000,000.”
-
-“What’s that? Say that again, please!” ejaculated Fox in amazement.
-
-Vance repeated the amount.
-
-“Say, you’re not joking, are you?” said Fox with a smile.
-
-“Never more serious in my life,” replied the boy earnestly. “This
-gentleman, William Bradhurst, is worth exactly that sum, and he is
-backing me. He is ready to give you a check on the Bankers’ National
-Bank now to cover my first transaction, which is an order to purchase
-any part of five million bushels of corn as soon as it is offered in
-the pit this morning.”
-
-“Five million bushels!” exclaimed Fox, staring hard at Vance.
-
-“That’s what I said. Please call up the Bankers’ National on your
-’phone and verify my statement. Don’t lose a minute, please.”
-
-Jack Fox, still somewhat bewildered by such an order, did as Vance
-requested him, and returned to his desk perfectly satisfied with the
-result.
-
-“Now we’ll get down to business,” he said.
-
-And they did.
-
-“After the close of the board to-day come to Mr. Whitemore’s office,
-and you will find Mr. Bradhurst and myself on deck. I will then go
-over certain plans I have in view and make clearer our future business
-relations.”
-
-Vance and his friend then left, while Fox, after leaving a note for his
-partner, seized his hat and made straight for the Board of Trade.
-
-It was twenty minutes past nine when Vance’s broker entered the board
-room.
-
-The gong which started business would sound in ten minutes, and already
-the floor was filling up, while groups in earnest consultation were to
-be seen on the steps of both the wheat and corn pits.
-
-Sid Carrington and Abe Palmer were standing aloof on the steps of the
-latter.
-
-A triumphant smile played about the mouths of each of these bear
-operators.
-
-For weeks they had been laying their plans, joining together subtle
-schemes for the overthrow of Jared Whitemore, but they had made but
-little way against the acute old fox, who had been gradually drawing
-together his control of the corn market.
-
-Now the one man they had feared--the man who stood like a stone wall
-between them and the accomplishment of all their carefully conceived
-plans--had been suddenly put out of the fight.
-
-Their chance had come at last, and they did not intend to do a thing
-with the corn market that morning.
-
-Everybody interested was talking about the sudden misfortune which had
-occurred to Jared Whitemore, and not one but felt sure that one of the
-biggest slumps in the history of the board was about to set in.
-
-Consequently there was a subdued feeling of excitement in the air.
-
-Brokers with their pockets crammed with selling orders constantly came
-on the floor, adding to the din.
-
-Eyes were cast frequently and nervously at the clock, noting the slow
-crawling of the minute hand toward the half-hour mark.
-
-Representatives from Jarboe, Willicutt & Co. were ready to sell the
-minute the gong opened proceedings.
-
-Apparently all bulls had sought cover on this fateful morning.
-
-From the Western Union desks, located in a great railed-in space in
-the northwest angle of the floor, came an incessant ticking of the
-telegraph sounders, and messenger boys pushed their way hither and
-thither across the floor with yellow envelopes in their hands.
-
-From the telephone alcoves sounded the almost continuous ringing of the
-call bells.
-
-Suddenly, with startling distinctness, came the single stroke of a
-great gong.
-
-Instantly, with a strident roar, the battle was on.
-
-Corn in lots of five thousand was offered at once at half a point below
-the previous day’s figures.
-
-Not at first by Carrington and Palmer--they were holding back, like men
-whose positions were unassailable.
-
-The attack on corn was begun by the smaller fry, from the outposts, as
-it were, of the bear army.
-
-Carrington and Palmer were holding their immense forces in reserve for
-the real attack that was to carry everything down before the onslaught.
-
-But the first real surprise developed at once.
-
-Jack Fox, one of the new traders on the board, accepted every bid
-offered.
-
-He was immediately the center of a furious vortex that hurled corn in a
-flood at his head.
-
-But with a confident smile on his face, that soon began to be noted
-with some uneasiness by cautious brokers, he welcomed the rush with
-open arms.
-
-The result was that the grain began to recover and present a bold front
-to the bears.
-
-“What in thunder does this mean?” growled Abe Palmer to his partner.
-
-“Some fool has lost his head, that’s all,” sneered Carrington.
-
-“We’d better get in and send him where he belongs--to the asylum,” said
-Palmer with a menacing toss of the head.
-
-Then Palmer and Carrington took a hand, and the excitement grew to
-fever heat.
-
-In spite of it all, Jack Fox, calm and serene amid the babel and
-confusion, stood firm, and welcomed all selling orders as he would a
-much-loved relative.
-
-Around and around the pit went the question: Who is Fox buying for?
-
-Nobody could guess.
-
-Suddenly there dawned the suspicion that Jared Whitemore was still in
-the fight.
-
-It must be so.
-
-Who else could be loading up in the face of such adverse conditions?
-
-But the most astonished of all men were Jarboe and Willicutt as the
-telephone conveyed the astounding intelligence to their offices.
-
-Already their representatives had, according to orders, sold a million
-bushels of grain they did not own, but hoped to be able to get later on
-at a low rate. Jack Fox was the buyer of this lot.
-
-Some one had clearly come to Mr. Whitemore’s rescue.
-
-It apparently was some one able to resist the great bear clique.
-
-He must have recovered in time to furnish Vance Thornton with the
-sinews of war to carry on the fight until he could get down himself.
-
-If this was true, then Jarboe, Willicutt & Co. had made a big blunder.
-
-Not only had they placed themselves in a bad light with their old
-client, but they were liable to face a big loss, since they knew only
-too well that if the Whitemore forces were still back of the fight they
-stood a poor chance of getting any corn when they wanted it.
-
-So Jarboe hastened to try and square himself.
-
-He made a personal call on Vance.
-
-“I received your letter,” said the boy coldly when the big broker
-had been admitted to Mr. Whitemore’s sanctum, where Vance now ruled
-supreme. “The only thing for me to do was to hire a new broker. I have
-done so. From the looks of things,” he said, with a significant smile,
-“I still hold a grip on the market in spite of the Jarrett, Palmer &
-Carrington clique.”
-
-Bessie knocked at the door, then entered and laid a slip on the desk
-before Vance.
-
-“I have bought over three million bushels this morning, and I am ready
-and anxious to take in every grain that may be offered.”
-
-“Great heavens, young man!” exclaimed Mr. Jarboe in utter amazement,
-“where have you got the money from to do this? Has Mr. Whitemore come
-to his senses and signed his balances over to you?”
-
-“I am obliged to refuse you this information, Mr. Jarboe, as you have
-ceased of your own accord to represent me. All I can say is this: I am
-at the head of the deal from this on. I control all of Mr. Whitemore’s
-holdings. I mean to control the price as he has done. No corn will be
-moved east that amounts to anything until I say the word. If you think
-you can beat me, Mr. Jarboe, sell a million short and see. Good-day.”
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XIV.
-
-THE SCHEME THAT DIDN’T WORK.
-
-
-It had been a day of surprise on the Board of Trade.
-
-Instead of the price of corn going on the toboggan it had closed a
-couple of points to the good when business ceased for the day.
-
-Everybody was talking about the new factor that had entered the fight.
-
-The newspapers were full of surmises and hints and rumors.
-
-There was no doubt whatever that Mr. Whitemore was out of the running.
-
-Every afternoon paper published an authentic bulletin of his condition,
-which was given out by reputable physicians as practically unchanged.
-
-A clot of blood or a bone was pressing on his brain, and the chances
-that he would ever recover were extremely doubtful.
-
-Reporters, however, began to nose out the fact that Vance Thornton,
-as Mr. Whitemore’s representative, was the power that had made itself
-felt that day, and from present indications was likely to continue to
-dominate the market.
-
-Already he had gathered in the greater part of the clique’s five
-million bushels, which everybody now knew were stored in the elevators
-of Elevatorville.
-
-At this rate he would soon have absolute control of corn.
-
-But Jarrett, Palmer & Carrington were not beaten yet, by a long chalk.
-
-All during the rest of the week corn was thrown at Jack Fox and
-accepted.
-
-Every effort was made by the clique to overwhelm the young operator,
-but it failed.
-
-The Sunday editions now hailed Vance Thornton as the coming corn king.
-
-His picture was printed on the first page, and a copious account of his
-young life up to date was published in double-leaded type to increase
-its importance.
-
-Thereafter Mr. Whitemore’s office was filled day after day with eager
-traders anxious to gain his ear.
-
-Nobody paid any attention whatever to the personality of William
-Bradhurst, who studiously kept himself in the background and watched
-with the most profound interest and admiration the working out of the
-gigantic deal by his young friend.
-
-“You’re a wonder, Vance,” he said to the boy one day as the two were
-getting ready to go to dinner. “A born speculator. Why, I haven’t seen
-you ruffled a bit since you took hold of this thing.”
-
-“Yet it takes every minute of my time,” replied Vance, with a smile
-that covered the weariness inseparable from the control of the
-tremendous forces latent in a line of fifty million bushels of corn.
-
-“Necessarily,” admitted the millionaire, “but, boy, you are stronger,
-bigger and shrewder than the great bear clique pitted against you.
-You’ve overtopped the whole crowd--the biggest men of the Board of
-Trade. A few days more will show the world that you are really the new
-corn Monte Christo. A few days more and these bears will wake up to the
-fact that the corn they have promised to deliver before they had it in
-hand is not to be got, except from you--and at the price you choose to
-impose. Jarrett, Palmer, Carrington, and others, not to speak of your
-dear friends, Jarboe, Willicutt & Co., will have to pay or go bankrupt.”
-
-“Good gracious, Mr. Bradhurst! That can have only one meaning.”
-
-“Exactly. You will actually have cornered the product.”
-
-“I can’t realize it,” said Vance, pressing his hand to his head. “And
-yet that is the very point I have been aiming for. I am in it now up
-to my neck--both of us are. Were we beaten at this stage you would be
-absolutely ruined. And yet I have never for a moment seen you weaken
-when I called for million after million of your money. Do you actually
-realize to what extent I have involved you?”
-
-“I do,” replied William Bradhurst coolly. “But I entered this affair on
-the principle of the whole hog or none. To do otherwise was to invite
-disaster. No halfway measures will answer in a deal of this kind. You
-must risk all or better stay out.”
-
-“That’s right. I fear that even Mr. Whitemore would never have
-succeeded in doing what we have done. We have half his capital at our
-back as it is.”
-
-“By the way, how is Mr. Whitemore now?”
-
-“I believe he will recover after all. He was taken to a sanitarium a
-few days ago. He is a wreck at present, and it will be some time before
-he recovers his grip again, if he ever does.”
-
-“And that rascally bookkeeper that struck him down has not been
-arrested?”
-
-“No. The police have not been able to locate his whereabouts. He may
-have fled to Canada. Probably he is hiding out in the wilderness
-somewhere.”
-
-“Possibly; but you can’t tell. There are hiding places in this city
-where, by the aid of confederates, he could lie low in comparative
-safety. You know he was working in the interests of the Jarrett, Palmer
-& Carrington clique at the start, and but for you taking hold his crime
-would have proved of enormous advantage to them. Doesn’t it strike you,
-then, that they haven’t deserted him--that his immunity from arrest is
-largely due to their influence and pull with their political friends?”
-
-“I didn’t think of that,” replied Vance thoughtfully. “Your idea is
-reasonable, I am bound to admit.”
-
-“Some day you may find I have hit the mark,” said Bradhurst
-significantly.
-
-That the millionaire was correct in his deduction Vance Thornton had
-reason to know ere many hours passed over his head.
-
-While Bessie’s admiration for Vance now increased daily as she saw how
-he controlled the vast business enterprise he had called into action,
-still, as he seemed to drift farther and farther away from her--for
-he had little time now to talk to her, except upon cold matters of
-business--her gentle, loving heart grew sore and despondent within her.
-
-She felt that she had lost something that might never again be hers.
-
-And the reflection grieved her to the depths of her nature.
-
-Yet the morning and evening smile she daily bestowed on him was just as
-bright, just as winsome as ever.
-
-Her sorrow was her own.
-
-It was not for Vance to suspect what was passing in that true little
-heart.
-
-Vance Thornton had returned from his lunch and was shut up in his
-private office, as usual.
-
-In the last thirty-six hours corn had advanced three cents and the
-market was in a turmoil.
-
-Bessie appeared at the door of the inner sanctum.
-
-“There’s an old man out here who wants to see you on business of
-importance. He wouldn’t give his name.”
-
-“Very well; let him come in.”
-
-It was a noticeable fact that the pretty stenographer did not address
-the busy young operator as Vance any more; and the boy was too much
-preoccupied these days to observe the omission.
-
-He was a curious character, the man who entered and stood humbly bowing
-to the young Napoleon of La Salle street, as many of the dailies called
-Vance in their scare-heads.
-
-He was not exactly seedy, though he certainly was not well dressed.
-
-He was bent over, as if like Atlas he had been condemned to carry the
-world on his shoulders, but had forgotten to bring it along on this
-occasion.
-
-But he had extremely bright eyes, which belied his other marks of age,
-and they peered out in a restive manner from under a pair of heavy,
-beetling brows.
-
-“Take a seat, sir,” said Vance, pointing with his pen to a chair. “How
-can I serve you? Make your errand brief, for time with me is money.”
-
-“Do you want to buy any corn?” asked the venerable visitor in a shrill,
-squeaky voice.
-
-“How much have you for sale?” asked the boy carelessly.
-
-“Six million bushels.”
-
-“What!” ejaculated Vance, wheeling about in his chair and facing the
-old man.
-
-“Six million bushels.”
-
-“Is this a dream? I have no time for nonsense,” and Vance wondered if
-he was not up against a lunatic or a crank.
-
-“You will find this no dream, but stern reality, Vance Thornton,” said
-his visitor in a familiar voice, sitting erect.
-
-Tearing off his snow-white whiskers and pushing back his old sunburned
-felt hat, he sat revealed as Edgar Vyce.
-
-It cannot be denied that the boy operator was thoroughly astounded at
-the rascal’s audacity in thus venturing back on the scene of his crime.
-
-But he recovered his presence of mind in a moment.
-
-His fingers moved to one of the electric buttons on the end of his desk.
-
-“Stop!” commanded Vyce, in a low, concentrated tone, raising one hand
-which held a brown, cylinder-like missile. “Move another inch and I’ll
-blow you and your desk into La Salle street, and the wall with you.”
-
-Vance instinctively paused.
-
-“That’s right. I see you’ve got some common-sense,” said Vyce grimly.
-
-“What brought you here?” asked the boy, playing for time.
-
-“Business?”
-
-“Well?”
-
-“You observe this cylinder? It contains a small stick of dynamite. If
-you do what I tell you it goes back into my pocket; if you refuse--the
-newspapers will have a new sensation, that’s all.”
-
-“You seem to forget,” said Vance, coolly, “that dynamite is like an
-overloaded shotgun--it works at both ends. If you drop that thing in
-this room there isn’t a ghost of a chance for you to escape yourself.”
-
-“That needn’t worry you,” retorted the rascal angrily.
-
-“What do you want of me, anyway?” asked the boy impatiently.
-
-“I want you to sign that paper.”
-
-He pushed a document to Vance.
-
-It was a delivery slip for six million bushels of corn, made out in
-favor of Sidney Carrington.
-
-“So that’s your game, is it?” said Vance Thornton slowly.
-
-“Yes, sir; that’s my game.”
-
-“Much obliged, Mr. Vyce. You’ve shown me the men who are at your back.”
-
-“Precious little good that will do you. You’ve got to sign that paper
-and swear to drop out of the market, or----” and Edgar Vyce made a
-significant movement with his arm.
-
-“That’s your ultimatum, is it?”
-
-“That’s what it is.”
-
-“Very well; I’ll do neither.”
-
-“Are you mad?” exclaimed Vyce, furiously, feeling that the object of
-his visit was a failure.
-
-“Not at all,” replied the boy calmly, though every fibre of his body
-shook inwardly at the probable risk he was facing. “But do you fancy I
-would put myself into the power of any crank, not to say scoundrel like
-yourself, that chose to call and threaten me into doing something he
-wanted. Not on your life!”
-
-“I don’t see how you can help yourself!” sneered Vyce, eyeing him
-savagely.
-
-“Look behind you and you will see.”
-
-Vance’s tone and manner threw the villain off his guard an instant.
-
-He started up in his chair and looked around, as though he expected
-some one stood behind him.
-
-Before he realized the trap that had been sprung on him Vance had
-seized and wrenched the cylinder of pressed dynamite from his hand.
-
-“Now, Edgar Vyce, you’re my prisoner.”
-
-He drew a small revolver from his pocket and covered the scoundrel.
-
-Fifteen minutes later Edgar Vyce was in the hands of the Chicago
-police, and ultimately he was tried, convicted and sent to the prison
-at Joliet for a long term.
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XV.
-
-WHAT SID CARRINGTON AND HIS PARTNER THOUGHT OF THE CORN SITUATION.
-
-
-That same afternoon Abe Palmer and Sid Carrington were closeted
-together in their private office on La Salle street.
-
-Business on the Board of Trade was over for the day.
-
-The former held a copy of an afternoon paper in his hand.
-
-“That bluff didn’t work, I see, and Edgar Vyce is in jail,” he said
-gloomily.
-
-“I see he is. I took him for a cleverer man than that,” replied
-Carrington, with a muttered curse. “However, we’ve got to get him clear
-somehow, or he’s liable to blab, which would never do at all.”
-
-“I should say not. It would simply ruin us.”
-
-“It would for a fact. We would have to get out of business here for
-good and all. I’ll see the leader of my district to-night.”
-
-“It looks as though we’ll have to throw up our hands, anyway, Sid,”
-said Palmer, with a moody glance at the decorated ceiling.
-
-“Throw up nothing!” growled Carrington, with an impatient wave of his
-right hand, on the little finger of which glowed a valuable ruby ring.
-
-“It’s easy to say that,” returned Abe, “but I don’t see any chance of a
-turn. The pool is six million bushels short, and the market remains as
-stiff as a poker.”
-
-“Suppose it is. How can we tell but that this infernal young monkey,
-Vance Thornton, may be at the end of his tether also? It has taken an
-enormous amount of money for him to swing this deal. What I want to
-know is where did he get it?”
-
-“That is what has bothered us right along. With all our sagacity and
-our pet spy system we have not been able to find out.”
-
-“No, we haven’t. Who would ever have supposed that boy would turn out
-such a hard proposition?”
-
-“He’s a smart kid. He can’t be more than eighteen. Why, it’s my opinion
-he could give old Whitemore points in the business, as foxy as that old
-codger was.”
-
-“It goes against my grain to give in to that boy,” said Carrington
-bitterly.
-
-“Well, if you can see any way out of it I’ll be glad to hear of it. The
-fact remains that it has become exceedingly difficult lately to get
-corn at all. Nobody seems to be selling. Why, to-day even the bulls
-were bidding against one another, with no sales under a full point
-advance.”
-
-“That’s right,” admitted the elegantly dressed Sid.
-
-“When we sell the price will go down a bit, but the moment we try to
-recover there seems to be no corn for sale, and the market rebounds
-like a rubber ball.”
-
-“It certainly is rotten,” replied Carrington, in a disgusted tone.
-
-“There’s only one thing I see to do,” said Abe Palmer, in a
-confidential whisper.
-
-“And that is?” asked Sid, eyeing him closely.
-
-“To get out ourselves the easiest way we can and let the ring go to
-smash.”
-
-“Which means at the least calculation a loss of about half a million
-apiece, not to speak of going back on the bunch. If they should find
-out they’d never forgive us.”
-
-“We’re not going to tell ’em. At any rate, if we’re going to save
-anything from the wreck it’ll have to be every man for himself; do you
-understand?”
-
-“All right, Abe. I daresay you’re right. That boy seems to have got us
-at last where the shoe pinches. But I hate to give up the fight.”
-
-“So do I; but if we hold on much longer we won’t be able to get out at
-all, except on Thornton’s own terms--and what they will be the Lord
-only knows. I don’t believe he has any great love for either of us,
-especially you, since I understand he got on to the true inwardness of
-the Kansas City job you put up on him.”
-
-“If I’d only dreamed of what was coming I’d have pickled him for keeps
-that time,” said Sid, smiting the arm of his chair savagely.
-
-“You wouldn’t have killed him, Sid?” the other said, aghast.
-
-“Oh, no. I’m no murderer. But there are ways of putting a chap out of
-the way for a time that answer quite as well.”
-
-So it was arranged between these two gentlemen before they went home
-for the day that they should quietly begin to cover their own personal
-sales--their share of the six million bushels sold by the ring--without
-any reference to the obligations they owed their partners in distress.
-
-Jarboe, Willicutt & Co., however, still hung on, hoping for a turn in
-the market at any moment.
-
-Long ago they had clearly seen that it was not Jared Whitemore who was
-backing Vance Thornton.
-
-As day by day Jack Fox, Vance’s known representative, settled promptly
-for the corn he had bought, they wondered how long his resources would
-hold out.
-
-Certainly there was a limit to everything in this world, and when Vance
-reached his, why then--at that stage of his reflections Mr. Jarboe
-always smiled grimly.
-
-But as day succeeded day, that desirable point never seemed to be
-reached.
-
-Thornton met all his engagements to the minute, and Jack Fox continued
-to wear the same confident smile he had sported the morning he first
-went into the pit to buck against the bear traders.
-
-The same thorn annoyed Mr. Jarboe that bothered the rest of the
-combination.
-
-Where did Vance’s money come from?
-
-For good and sufficient reasons, insisted on by Thornton after the
-first week of their partnership, William Bradhurst had kept discreetly
-in the background, meeting Vance only when necessary, and then each
-time at a different rendezvous.
-
-No one who saw Bradhurst lounging at times about the office door of the
-Grand Pacific Hotel would have suspected that impenetrable man had a
-dollar at stake in any precarious scheme.
-
-Yet there were moments when he had reason to fear that even his eleven
-millions, now almost swallowed up in the insatiable maw of the corn
-market, would not be enough to stave off ultimate disaster.
-
-But never for a moment did he lose confidence in the boy who was making
-such a shrewd fight against the combined bear interests of the Board of
-Trade.
-
-Mr. Bradhurst had come to be a frequent visitor at the Thornton home,
-where he had been introduced by Vance the evening following their
-partnership arrangement.
-
-Mrs. Thornton and Elsie received him with all the courtesy that
-well-bred people are wont to extend to a warm personal friend of the
-son of the family.
-
-To a man who for eight years had been debarred from the ideals of
-civilization the pleasant home picture was restful and refreshing.
-
-Possibly the lovely personality of Elsie Thornton had much to do with
-it.
-
-At any rate, he found it agreeable to go there often.
-
-“We see so little of Vance now,” Elsie said to him one evening as they
-sat together in the pleasant sitting-room. “You can scarcely imagine
-how much mother and I miss him,” and a tear-drop glistened in her eye.
-
-“I presume you hold me largely responsible for this change in your
-domestic circle,” said Bradhurst, with almost a feeling of remorse.
-
-“No, Mr. Bradhurst, we do not hold you responsible,” she answered,
-favoring him with such a bright glance that his blood quickened in his
-veins.
-
-“And yet, by backing him in this enterprise I have actually kept him
-away from all the comforts of his home.”
-
-“We do not look at it in that way. Rather we are grateful to you for
-what you have done and are still doing for Vance.”
-
-“I am glad to see that you do not regard me as an undesirable factor in
-the case,” said the millionaire in a tone of pleasure.
-
-“No, indeed,” she answered softly. “With his growing responsibilities
-Vance seems to have ceased to be a boy any longer. Not that we regret
-the change, but it would have pleased us better if the change had been
-more gradual.”
-
-“I can understand your feelings,” said Bradhurst sympathetically. “But
-the end is almost in sight, Miss Elsie. It seems to be only a question
-of a few days now when Vance’s control of the corn market will be so
-complete that the whole country will recognize it.”
-
-“Isn’t it wonderful to think what he has accomplished?” cried Elsie,
-enthusiastically. “Why every day the papers have something to say about
-him. This morning the Record referred to him as the ‘young corn king.’
-Think of that!”
-
-“And so he will be, I daresay, inside of forty-eight hours. Your
-brother has a wonderful head for speculative ventures. For that reason,
-and because I owe my life to his pluck and presence of mind, I decided
-to see him through, if it took the last dollar I possessed.”
-
-“You were very good--very generous! We can never thank you enough for
-the interest you have taken in Vance.”
-
-“I hope you won’t let the matter worry you any, Miss Elsie,” said
-Bradhurst, with a glance of unfeigned admiration for the girl.
-
-She noticed the look and dropped her gaze to the carpet.
-
-From that moment an increasing sympathy grew between the two.
-
-Elsie recognized and was grateful for what Mr. Bradhurst was doing for
-her brother, whom she dearly loved, while the millionaire found a new
-pleasure in talking to and encouraging the lovely girl for whom he was
-beginning to feel a warm regard.
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XVI.
-
-A CORNER IN CORN.
-
-
-It was a bright, sunny morning, thirty-six hours later, that William
-Bradhurst came downstairs and purchased the morning paper at the
-news-stand in the lobby of the Grand Pacific.
-
-He opened it and cast his eye rapidly over the first page.
-
-A leading article arrested his attention.
-
-It was headed “A Corner in Corn.”
-
-“By George!” he exclaimed, with no little excitement. “At last!”
-
-On crowded La Salle street a few hours later everybody was talking
-about it.
-
-There could no longer be any doubt that Vance Thornton, the Boy Corn
-King, had got hold of every bit of corn there was;
-
-That he had actually cornered the visible supply.
-
-That a mere boy could do this was simply astounding.
-
-That he actually had done so was not now denied.
-
-The news, fully verified, had by this time been wired all over America.
-
-Vance Thornton’s name was that morning on every business man’s lips
-from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of
-Mexico.
-
-Traders who must buy the grain to fulfil their contracts now began to
-call at Mr. Whitemore’s office in the Rookery Building.
-
-They inquired deferentially for the boy who held the market in his
-hand, and bowed to his mandate when he dictated the price.
-
-Among the brokers who dropped in that morning was Mr. Jarboe, the
-dignified head of the firm of Jarboe, Willicutt & Co.
-
-“I’ll see him,” said Vance when his name was handed in.
-
-“Good-morning, Mr. Thornton,” said the trader, as politely as his
-feelings would permit.
-
-“Good-morning, Mr. Jarboe. What can I do for you?”
-
-“The fact is, young man,” answered the broker, hesitatingly, “we are
-short to you one million bushels at (here he named a figure) a bushel.
-I want to know how much it is going to cost us to get out of your
-corner.”
-
-To get out those words was worse than if he had to swallow a bitter
-pill.
-
-Vance looked at him with a quizzical smile.
-
-“It seems to me it would have been better for you if you had stuck by
-the sinking ship, Mr. Jarboe. You see, she was only waterlogged for the
-moment, and a golden pump put her on an even keel again.”
-
-“All men make mistakes,” responded Mr. Jarboe abruptly. “What is the
-figure?”
-
-“In consideration of your long connection with Mr. Whitemore,” said
-Vance, “I’ll let you off easy,” and he named a price.
-
-“Vance Thornton,” said Mr. Jarboe, his dignity suddenly melting
-away, “you have acted like a man. Allow me to shake you by the hand
-and congratulate you on the wonderful ability you have displayed
-in engineering so gigantic a deal. I am proud to acknowledge your
-acquaintance, and I may say the same for my partners. Instead of
-crowing over a firm of solid old traders whom you have caught in the
-toils, and squeezing us badly, as you have the power to do, you have
-acted with the utmost fairness. Our loss is considerable, it is true,
-but no more than we deserve under the circumstances. The only favor
-I will ask of you is that you will keep this a secret. It would be a
-blow to Mr. Whitemore, who I understand is nearly recovered from his
-trouble, and expects soon to be back among us, if he should learn the
-true facts of the case.”
-
-“It shall go no further, Mr. Jarboe,” Vance assured him.
-
-“Thank you,” and Mr. Jarboe took out his check-book and signed a check
-covering the sum due to Vance.
-
-Then, with a bow and another handshake, he left the office.
-
-It was closing-up time.
-
-All the working force of the office had gone out but Miss Brown, who
-was adjusting her hat preparatory to her departure.
-
-Vance appeared at his office door.
-
-“Bessie,” he said, “I’d like to see you.”
-
-She entered the private room, and stood before him in readiness to take
-any order he wished to give her.
-
-It was not the old Bessie, but the new one, who always addressed Vance
-now as Mr. Thornton.
-
-“Bessie,” said Vance, taking both her hands suddenly in his, “aren’t
-you glad?”
-
-She looked at him in surprise, and then her gaze dropped.
-
-“Aren’t you glad it is all over?” he repeated eagerly, in the old
-voice that seemed to come to her like an echo from the dead past.
-
-“I don’t know,” she answered, in a trembling tone.
-
-“You don’t know?” he said, almost plaintively. “Don’t you care?”
-
-She half turned away from him, but Vance seized her by the shoulders
-and swung her back again.
-
-“It is true that I’m not the same old Vance in some respects.
-I’m to-day the king of the corn market, and I’m worth several
-millions--just how many I can’t say as yet. I went into this thing
-because it was my duty to try and save Mr. Whitemore’s interests. If
-I’ve done more than that it was because once I took hold I couldn’t let
-go. I had to stick to my post--sink or swim on the ultimate result.
-Well, I’ve come out ahead. The papers call me the Corn King, and they
-tell the truth. But Bessie,” and tears came to his eyes as he spoke the
-words, “I’d give every dollar of my winnings--every cent I have made in
-this deal--to hear you call me Vance once more as you used to do, to
-know that you still think of me as you once did.”
-
-There was a pause, and then the girl gradually lifted her eyes to his
-face.
-
-“Vance!” she said softly.
-
-       *       *       *       *       *
-
-Before Mr. Whitemore returned to his office a well man again he heard
-enough about that famous corner in corn to feel assured that Vance
-Thornton was the smartest boy who ever walked in shoe leather.
-
-The full particulars of the deal he learned as soon as he and Vance
-came together again, and the result was that the sign on the office
-door was altered to Whitemore & Thornton, and nobody was surprised when
-they saw it.
-
-That fall there was a quiet wedding at the Thornton home, on which
-occasion Elsie Thornton became Mrs. William Bradhurst, and Vance was
-the best man.
-
-Bessie Brown was among those present, and the pronounced attention she
-received and accepted with pleasure from Vance Thornton seemed to augur
-well for another wedding at no very distant day, when the sweet little
-stenographer might be expected to make happy for life the boy who had
-effected A CORNER IN CORN.
-
-
-THE END.
-
-       *       *       *       *       *
-
-Read “A GAME OF CHANCE; OR, THE BOY WHO WON OUT,” which will be the
-next number (4) of “Fame and Fortune Weekly.”
-
-       *       *       *       *       *
-
-SPECIAL NOTICE: All back numbers of this weekly are always in print. If
-you cannot obtain them from any newsdealer, send the price in money or
-postage stamps by mail to FRANK TOUSEY, PUBLISHER, 24 UNION SQUARE, NEW
-YORK, and you will receive the copies you order by return mail.
-
-
-
-
-PLUCK AND LUCK.
-
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-=LATEST ISSUES:=
-
-  314 Red Light Dick, The Engineer Prince;
-      or, The Bravest Boy on the Railroad.
-      By Jas. C. Merritt.
-
-  315 Leadville Jack, the Game Cock of the West.
-      By An Old Scout.
-
-  316 Adrift in the Sea of Grass;
-      or, The Strange Voyage of a Missing Ship.
-      By Capt. Thos. H. Wilson.
-
-  317 Out of the Gutter; or, Fighting the Battle Alone.
-      A True Temperance Story. By H. K. Shackleford.
-
-  318 The Scouts of the Santee; or, Redcoats and Whigs.
-      A Story of the American Revolution. By Gen’l Jas. A. Gordon.
-
-  319 Edwin Forrest’s Boy Pupil;
-      or, The Struggles and Triumphs of a Boy Actor.
-      By N. S. Wood, the Young American Actor.
-
-  320 Air Line Will, The Young Engineer of the New Mexico Express.
-      By Jas. C. Merritt.
-
-  321 The Richest Boy in Arizona; or, The Mystery of the Gila.
-      By Howard Austin.
-
-  322 Twenty Degrees Beyond the Arctic Circle;
-      or, Deserted in the Land of Ice. By Berton Bertrew.
-
-  323 Young King Kerry, the Irish Rob Roy;
-      or, The Lost Lilly of Killarney. By Allyn Draper.
-
-  324 Canoe Carl; or, A College Boy’s Cruise in the Far North.
-      By Allan Arnold.
-
-  325 Randy Rollins, the Boy Fireman. A Story of Heroic Deeds.
-      By Ex-Fire-Chief Warden.
-
-  326 Green Mountain Joe, the Old Trapper of Malbro Pond.
-      By An Old Scout.
-
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-      By Howard Austin.
-
-  328 Lost in the City; or, The Lights and Shadows of New York.
-      By H. K. Shackleford.
-
-  329 Switchback Sam, the Young Pennsylvania Engineer;
-      or, Railroading in the Oil Country. By Jas. C. Merritt.
-
-  330 Trapeze Tom, the Boy Acrobat; or, Daring Work in the Air.
-      By Berton Bertrew.
-
-  331 Yellowstone Kelly, A Story of Adventures in the Great West.
-      By An Old Scout.
-
-  332 The Poisoned Wine; or, Foiling a Desperate Game.
-      By H. K. Shackleford.
-
-  333 Shiloh Sam; or, General Grant’s Best Boy Scout.
-      By Gen’l. Jas. A. Gordon.
-
-  334 Alone in New York; or, Ragged Rob, the Newsboy.
-      By N. S. Wood (The Young American Actor).
-
-  335 The Floating Treasure; or, The Secret of the Pirate’s Rock.
-      By Capt. Thos. H. Wilson.
-
-  336 Tom Throttle, The Boy Engineer of the Midnight Express;
-      or, Railroading in Central America. By Jas. C. Merritt.
-
-  337 The Diamond Eye; or, The Secret of the Idol.
-      By Richard R. Montgomery.
-
-  338 Ned North, The Young Arctic Explorer;
-      or, The Phantom Valley of the North Pole. By Berton Bertrew.
-
-  339 From Cabin to Cabinet; or, The Pluck of a Plowboy.
-      By H. K. Shackleford.
-
-  340 Kit Carson’s Boys; or, With the Great Scout on His Last Trail.
-      By An Old Scout.
-
-  341 Driven to Sea; or, The Sailor’s Secret.
-      A Story of the Algerine Corsairs. By Capt. Thos. H. Wilson.
-
-  342 Twenty Boy Spies; or, The Secret Band of Dismal Hollow.
-      A Story of the American Revolution. By Gen’l. Jas. A. Gordon.
-
-  343 Dashing Hal, the Hero of the Ring. A Story of the Circus.
-      By Berton Bertrew.
-
-  344 The Haunted Hut; or, The Ghosts of Rocky Gulch.
-      By Allyn Draper.
-
-  345 Dick Dashaway’s School Days; or, The Boy Rebels of Kingan College.
-      By Howard Austin.
-
-  346 Jack Lever, the Young Engineer of “Old Forty”;
-      or, On Time with the Night Express. By Jas. C. Merritt.
-
-  347 Out With Peary; or, In Search of the North Pole.
-      By Berton Bertrew.
-
-  348 The Boy Prairie Courier; or, General Custer’s Youngest Aide.
-      A True Story of the Battle at Little Big Horn. By An Old Scout.
-
-  349 Led Astray in New York;
-      or, A Country Boy’s Career in a Great City.
-      A True Temperance Story. By Jno. B. Dowd.
-
-  350 Sharpshooter Sam, the Yankee Boy Spy;
-      or, Winning His Shoulder Straps. By Gen’l. Jas. A. Gordon.
-
-  351 Tom Train, the Boy Engineer of the Fast Express;
-      or, Always at His Post. By Jas. C. Merritt.
-
-  352 We Three; or, The White Boy Slaves of the Soudan.
-      By Allan Arnold.
-
-  353 Jack Izzard, the Yankee Middy. A Story of the War With Tripoli.
-      By Capt. Thos. H. Wilson.
-
-  354 The Senator’s Boy; or, The Early Struggles of a Great Statesman.
-      By H. K. Shackleford.
-
-  355 Kit Carson on a Mysterious Trail; or, Branded a Renegade.
-      By An Old Scout.
-
-  356 The Lively Eight Social Club; or, From Cider to Rum.
-      A True Temperance Story. By Jno. B. Dowd.
-
-  357 The Dandy of the School; or, The Boys of Bay Cliff.
-      By Howard Austin.
-
-  358 Out in the Streets; A Story of High and Low Life in New York.
-      By N. S. Wood (The Young American Actor.)
-
-  359 Captain Ray; The Young Leader of the Forlorn Hope.
-      A True Story of the Mexican War. By Gen’l. Jas. A. Gordon.
-
-  360 “3”; or, The Ten Treasure Houses of the Tartar King.
-      By Richard R. Montgomery.
-
-  361 Railroad Rob; or, The Train Wreckers of the West.
-      By Jas. C. Merritt.
-
-  362 A Millionaire at 18; or, The American Boy Croesus.
-      By H. K. Shackleford.
-
-  363 The Seven White Bears; or, The Band of Fate. A Story of Russia.
-      By Richard R. Montgomery.
-
-  364 Shamus O’Brien; or, The Bold Boy of Glingall.
-      By Allyn Draper.
-
-  365 The Skeleton Scout; or, The Dread Rider of the Plains.
-      By An Old Scout.
-
-  366 “Merry Matt”; or, The Will-o’-the-Wisp of Wine.
-      A True Temperance Story. By H. K. Shackleford.
-
-  367 The Boy With the Steel Mask; or, A Face That Was Never Seen.
-      By Allan Arnold.
-
-  368 Clear-the-Track Tom; or, The Youngest Engineer on the Road.
-      By Jas. C. Merritt.
-
-  369 Gallant Jack Barry, The Young Father of the American Navy.
-      By Capt. Thos. H. Wilson.
-
-  370 Laughing Luke, The Yankee Spy of the Revolution.
-      By Gen’l Jas. A. Gordon.
-
-  371 From Gutter to Governor; or, The Luck of a Waif.
-      By H. K. Shackleford.
-
-  372 Davy Crockett, Jr.; or, “Be Sure You’re Right, Then Go Ahead.”
-      By An Old Scout.
-
-  373 The Young Diamond Hunters; or, Two Runaway Boys in Treasure Land.
-      A Story of the South African Mines. By Allan Arnold.
-
-  374 The Phantom Brig; or, The Chase of the Flying Clipper.
-      By Capt. Thos. H. Wilson.
-
-  375 Special Bob; or, The Pride of the Road.
-      By Jas. C. Merritt.
-
-  376 Three Chums; or, The Bosses of the School.
-      By Allyn Draper.
-
-  377 The Drummer Boy’s Secret; or, Oath-Bound on the Battlefield.
-      By Gen’l. Jas. A. Gordon.
-
-  378 Jack Bradford; or, The Struggles of a Working Boy.
-      By Howard Austin.
-
-  379 The Unknown Renegade; or, The Three Great Scouts.
-      By An Old Scout.
-
-  380 80° North; or, Two Years On The Arctic Circle.
-      By Berton Bertrew.
-
-  381 Running Rob; or, Mad Anthony’s Rollicking Scout.
-      A Tale of The American Revolution. By Gen. Jas. A. Gordon.
-
-  382 Down The Shaft; or, The Hidden Fortune of a Boy Miner.
-      By Howard Austin.
-
-  383 The Boy Telegraph Inspectors;
-      or, Across The Continent On A Hand Car. By Jas. C. Merritt.
-
-  384 Nazoma; or, Lost Among The Head-Hunters.
-      By Richard R. Montgomery.
-
-  385 From Newsboy To President; or, Fighting For Fame And Fortune.
-      By H. K. Shackleford.
-
-  386 Jack Harold, The Cabin Boy; or, Ten Years On An Unlucky Ship.
-      By Capt. Thos. H. Wilson.
-
-
-For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt
-of price, 5 cents per copy, in money or postage stamps, by
-
-  =FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher,      24 Union Square, New York.=
-
-
-IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS
-
-of our Libraries and cannot procure them from newsdealers, they can be
-obtained from this office direct. Cut out and fill in the following
-Order Blank and send it to us with the price of the books you want
-and we will send them to you by return mail.
-
-                               =POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY.=
-
- FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, 24 Union Square, New York.      ......190
-      Dear Sir--Enclosed find......cents for which please send me
- ....copies of WORK AND WIN, Nos........................................
- ....copies of PLUCK AND LUCK, Nos......................................
- ....copies of SECRET SERVICE, Nos......................................
- ....copies of THE LIBERTY BOYS OF ’76, Nos.............................
- ....copies of WILD WEST WEEKLY, Nos....................................
- ....copies of THE YOUNG ATHLETE’S WEEKLY, Nos..........................
- ....copies of Ten-Cent Hand Books, Nos.................................
- Name.................Street and No................Town..........State..
-
-
-
-
-=These Books Tell You Everything!=
-
-A COMPLETE SET IS A REGULAR ENCYCLOPEDIA!
-
-
-Each book consists of sixty-four pages, printed on good paper, in
-clear type and neatly bound in an attractive, illustrated cover. Most
-of the books are also profusely illustrated, and all of the subjects
-treated upon are explained in such a simple manner that any child can
-thoroughly understand them. Look over the list as classified and see if
-you want to know anything about the subjects mentioned.
-
-       *       *       *       *       *
-
-THESE BOOKS ARE FOR SALE BY ALL NEWSDEALERS OR WILL BE SENT BY MAIL TO
-ANY ADDRESS FROM THIS OFFICE ON RECEIPT OF PRICE, TEN CENTS EACH, OR
-ANY THREE BOOKS FOR TWENTY-FIVE CENTS. POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS
-MONEY. Address FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, 24 Union Square, N.Y.
-
-
-MESMERISM.
-
-No. 81. HOW TO MESMERIZE.--Containing the most approved methods of
-mesmerism; also how to cure all kinds of diseases by animal magnetism,
-or, magnetic healing. By Prof. Leo Hugo Koch, A. C. S., author of “How
-to Hypnotize,” etc.
-
-
-PALMISTRY.
-
-No. 82. HOW TO DO PALMISTRY.--Containing the most approved methods of
-reading the lines on the hand, together with a full explanation of
-their meaning. Also explaining phrenology, and the key for telling
-character by the bumps on the head. By Leo Hugo Koch, A. C. S. Fully
-illustrated.
-
-
-HYPNOTISM.
-
-No. 83. HOW TO HYPNOTIZE.--Containing valuable and instructive
-information regarding the science of hypnotism. Also explaining the
-most approved methods which are employed by the leading hypnotists of
-the world. By Leo Hugo Koch, A.C.S.
-
-
-SPORTING.
-
-No. 21. HOW TO HUNT AND FISH.--The most complete hunting and fishing
-guide ever published. It contains full instructions about guns, hunting
-dogs, traps, trapping and fishing, together with descriptions of game
-and fish.
-
-No. 26. HOW TO ROW, SAIL AND BUILD A BOAT.--Fully illustrated. Every
-boy should know how to row and sail a boat. Full instructions are given
-in this little book, together with instructions on swimming and riding,
-companion sports to boating.
-
-No. 47. HOW TO BREAK, RIDE AND DRIVE A HORSE.--A complete treatise on
-the horse. Describing the most useful horses for business, the best
-horses for the road; also valuable recipes for diseases peculiar to the
-horse.
-
-No. 48. HOW TO BUILD AND SAIL CANOES.--A handy book for boys,
-containing full directions for constructing canoes and the most popular
-manner of sailing them. Fully illustrated. By C. Stansfield Hicks.
-
-
-FORTUNE TELLING.
-
-No. 1. NAPOLEON’S ORACULUM AND DREAM BOOK.--Containing the great
-oracle of human destiny; also the true meaning of almost any kind of
-dreams, together with charms, ceremonies, and curious games of cards. A
-complete book.
-
-No. 23. HOW TO EXPLAIN DREAMS.--Everybody dreams, from the little child
-to the aged man and woman. This little book gives the explanation
-to all kinds of dreams, together with lucky and unlucky days, and
-“Napoleon’s Oraculum,” the book of fate.
-
-No. 28. HOW TO TELL FORTUNES.--Everyone is desirous of knowing what his
-future life will bring forth, whether happiness or misery, wealth or
-poverty. You can tell by a glance at this little book. Buy one and be
-convinced. Tell your own fortune. Tell the fortune of your friends.
-
-No. 76. HOW TO TELL FORTUNES BY THE HAND.--Containing rules for telling
-fortunes by the aid of lines of the hand, or the secret of palmistry.
-Also the secret of telling future events by aid of moles, marks, scars,
-etc. Illustrated. By A. Anderson.
-
-
-ATHLETIC.
-
-No. 6. HOW TO BECOME AN ATHLETE.--Giving full instruction for the
-use of dumb bells, Indian clubs, parallel bars, horizontal bars and
-various other methods of developing a good, healthy muscle; containing
-over sixty illustrations. Every boy can become strong and healthy by
-following the instructions contained in this little book.
-
-No. 10. HOW TO BOX.--The art of self-defense made easy. Containing over
-thirty illustrations of guards, blows, and the different positions of a
-good boxer. Every boy should obtain one of these useful and instructive
-books, as it will teach you how to box without an instructor.
-
-No. 25. HOW TO BECOME A GYMNAST.--Containing full instructions for all
-kinds of gymnastic sports and athletic exercises. Embracing thirty-five
-illustrations. By Professor W. Macdonald. A handy and useful book.
-
-No. 34. HOW TO FENCE.--Containing full instruction for fencing and
-the use of the broadsword; also instruction in archery. Described
-with twenty-one practical illustrations, giving the best positions in
-fencing. A complete book.
-
-
-TRICKS WITH CARDS.
-
-No. 51. HOW TO DO TRICKS WITH CARDS.--Containing explanations of the
-general principles of sleight-of-hand applicable to card tricks; of
-card tricks with ordinary cards, and not requiring sleight-of-hand;
-of tricks involving sleight-of-hand, or the use of specially prepared
-cards. By Professor Haffner. Illustrated.
-
-No. 72. HOW TO DO SIXTY TRICKS WITH CARDS.--Embracing all of the latest
-and most deceptive card tricks, with illustrations. By A. Anderson.
-
-No. 77. HOW TO DO FORTY TRICKS WITH CARDS.--Containing deceptive Card
-Tricks as performed by leading conjurors and magicians. Arranged for
-home amusement. Fully illustrated.
-
-
-MAGIC.
-
-No. 2. HOW TO DO TRICKS.--The great book of magic and card tricks,
-containing full instruction on all the leading card tricks of the day,
-also the most popular magical illusions as performed by our leading
-magicians; every boy should obtain a copy of this book, as it will both
-amuse and instruct.
-
-No. 22. HOW TO DO SECOND SIGHT.--Heller’s second sight explained by his
-former assistant, Fred Hunt, Jr. Explaining how the secret dialogues
-were carried on between the magician and the boy on the stage; also
-giving all the codes and signals. The only authentic explanation of
-second sight.
-
-No. 43. HOW TO BECOME A MAGICIAN.--Containing the grandest assortment
-of magical illusions ever placed before the public. Also tricks with
-cards, incantations, etc.
-
-No. 68. HOW TO DO CHEMICAL TRICKS.--Containing over one hundred
-highly amusing and instructive tricks with chemicals. By A. Anderson.
-Handsomely illustrated.
-
-No. 69. HOW TO DO SLEIGHT OF HAND.--Containing over fifty of the latest
-and best tricks used by magicians. Also containing the secret of second
-sight. Fully illustrated. By A. Anderson.
-
-No. 70. HOW TO MAKE MAGIC TOYS.--Containing full directions for making
-Magic Toys and devices of many kinds. By A. Anderson. Fully illustrated.
-
-No. 73. HOW TO DO TRICKS WITH NUMBERS.--Showing many curious tricks
-with figures and the magic of numbers. By A. Anderson. Fully
-illustrated.
-
-No. 75. HOW TO BECOME A CONJUROR.--Containing tricks with Dominos,
-Dice, Cups and Balls, Hats, etc. Embracing thirty-six illustrations. By
-A. Anderson.
-
-No. 78. HOW TO DO THE BLACK ART.--Containing a complete description
-of the mysteries of Magic and Sleight of Hand, together with many
-wonderful experiments. By A. Anderson. Illustrated.
-
-
-MECHANICAL.
-
-No. 29. HOW TO BECOME AN INVENTOR.--Every boy should know how
-inventions originated. This book explains them all, giving examples in
-electricity, hydraulics, magnetism, optics, pneumatics, mechanics, etc.
-The most instructive book published.
-
-No. 56. HOW TO BECOME AN ENGINEER.--Containing full instructions how
-to proceed in order to become a locomotive engineer; also directions
-for building a model locomotive; together with a full description of
-everything an engineer should know.
-
-No. 57. HOW TO MAKE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.--Full directions how to make
-a Banjo, Violin, Zither, Æolian Harp, Xylophone and other musical
-instruments; together with a brief description of nearly every musical
-instrument used in ancient or modern times. Profusely illustrated. By
-Algernon S. Fitzgerald, for twenty years bandmaster of the Royal Bengal
-Marines.
-
-No. 59. HOW TO MAKE A MAGIC LANTERN.--Containing a description of the
-lantern, together with its history and invention. Also full directions
-for its use and for painting slides. Handsomely illustrated. By John
-Allen.
-
-No. 71. HOW TO DO MECHANICAL TRICKS.--Containing complete instructions
-for performing over sixty Mechanical Tricks. By A. Anderson. Fully
-illustrated.
-
-
-LETTER WRITING.
-
-No. 11. HOW TO WRITE LOVE-LETTERS.--A most complete little book,
-containing full directions for writing love-letters, and when to use
-them, giving specimen letters for young and old.
-
-No. 12. HOW TO WRITE LETTERS TO LADIES.--Giving complete instructions
-for writing letters to ladies on all subjects; also letters of
-introduction, notes and requests.
-
-No. 24. HOW TO WRITE LETTERS TO GENTLEMEN.--Containing full directions
-for writing to gentlemen on all subjects; also giving sample letters
-for instruction.
-
-No. 53. HOW TO WRITE LETTERS.--A wonderful little book, telling you
-how to write to your sweetheart, your father, mother, sister, brother,
-employer; and, in fact, everybody and anybody you wish to write to.
-Every young man and every young lady in the land should have this book.
-
-No. 74. HOW TO WRITE LETTERS CORRECTLY.--Containing full instructions
-for writing letters on almost any subject; also rules for punctuation
-and composition, with specimen letters.
-
-
-THE STAGE.
-
-No. 41. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK END MEN’S JOKE BOOK.--Containing a great
-variety of the latest jokes used by the most famous end men. No amateur
-minstrel is complete without this wonderful little book.
-
-No. 42. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK STUMP SPEAKER.--Containing a varied
-assortment of stump speeches, Negro, Dutch and Irish. Also end men’s
-jokes. Just the thing for home amusement and amateur shows.
-
-No. 45. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK MINSTREL GUIDE AND JOKE BOOK.--Something
-new and very instructive. Every boy should obtain this book, as it
-contains full instructions for organizing an amateur minstrel troupe.
-
-No. 65. MULDOON’S JOKES.--This is one of the most original joke books
-ever published, and it is brimful of wit and humor. It contains a large
-collection of songs, jokes, conundrums, etc., of Terrence Muldoon, the
-great wit, humorist, and practical joker of the day. Every boy who can
-enjoy a good substantial joke should obtain a copy immediately.
-
-No. 79. HOW TO BECOME AN ACTOR.--Containing complete instructions how
-to make up for various characters on the stage; together with the
-duties of the Stage Manager, Prompter, Scenic Artist and Property Man.
-By a prominent Stage Manager.
-
-No. 80. GUS WILLIAMS’ JOKE BOOK.--Containing the latest jokes, anecdotes
-and funny stories of this world-renowned and ever popular German
-comedian. Sixty-four pages; handsome colored cover containing a
-half-tone photo of the author.
-
-
-HOUSEKEEPING.
-
-No. 16. HOW TO KEEP A WINDOW GARDEN.--Containing full instructions
-for constructing a window garden either in town or country, and the
-most approved methods for raising beautiful flowers at home. The most
-complete book of the kind ever published.
-
-No. 30. HOW TO COOK.--One of the most instructive books on cooking
-ever published. It contains recipes for cooking meats, fish, game, and
-oysters; also pies, puddings, cakes and all kinds of pastry, and a
-grand collection of recipes by one of our most popular cooks.
-
-No. 37. HOW TO KEEP HOUSE.--It contains information for everybody,
-boys, girls, men and women; it will teach you how to make almost
-anything around the house, such as parlor ornaments, brackets, cements,
-Æolian harps, and bird lime for catching birds.
-
-
-ELECTRICAL.
-
-No. 46. HOW TO MAKE AND USE ELECTRICITY.--A description of the
-wonderful uses of electricity and electro magnetism; together with
-full instructions for making Electric Toys, Batteries, etc. By George
-Trebel, A. M., M. D. Containing over fifty illustrations.
-
-No. 64. HOW TO MAKE ELECTRICAL MACHINES.--Containing full directions
-for making electrical machines, induction coils, dynamos, and many
-novel toys to be worked by electricity. By R. A. R. Bennett. Fully
-illustrated.
-
-No. 67. HOW TO DO ELECTRICAL TRICKS.--Containing a large collection
-of instructive and highly amusing electrical tricks, together with
-illustrations. By A. Anderson.
-
-
-ENTERTAINMENT.
-
-No. 9. HOW TO BECOME A VENTRILOQUIST.--By Harry Kennedy. The secret
-given away. Every intelligent boy reading this book of instructions,
-by a practical professor (delighting multitudes every night with his
-wonderful imitations), can master the art, and create any amount of fun
-for himself and friends. It is the greatest book ever published, and
-there’s millions (of fun) in it.
-
-No. 20. HOW TO ENTERTAIN AN EVENING PARTY.--A very valuable little
-book just published. A complete compendium of games, sports,
-card diversions, comic recitations, etc., suitable for parlor or
-drawing-room entertainment. It contains more for the money than any
-book published.
-
-No. 35. HOW TO PLAY GAMES.--A complete and useful little book,
-containing the rules and regulations of billiards, bagatelle,
-backgammon, croquet, dominoes, etc.
-
-No. 36. HOW TO SOLVE CONUNDRUMS.--Containing all the leading conundrums
-of the day, amusing riddles, curious catches and witty sayings.
-
-No. 52. HOW TO PLAY CARDS.--A complete and handy little book, giving
-the rules and full directions for playing Euchre, Cribbage, Casino,
-Forty-Five, Rounce, Pedro Sancho, Draw Poker, Auction Pitch, All Fours,
-and many other popular games of cards.
-
-No. 66. HOW TO DO PUZZLES.--Containing over three hundred interesting
-puzzles and conundrums, with key to same. A complete book. Fully
-illustrated. By A. Anderson.
-
-
-ETIQUETTE.
-
-No. 13. HOW TO DO IT; OR, BOOK OF ETIQUETTE.--It is a great life
-secret, and one that every young man desires to know all about. There’s
-happiness in it.
-
-No. 33. HOW TO BEHAVE.--Containing the rules and etiquette of good
-society and the easiest and most approved methods of appearing to
-good advantage at parties, balls, the theatre, church, and in the
-drawing-room.
-
-
-DECLAMATION.
-
-No. 27. HOW TO RECITE AND BOOK OF RECITATIONS.--Containing the most
-popular selections in use, comprising Dutch dialect, French dialect,
-Yankee and Irish dialect pieces, together with many standard readings.
-
-No. 31. HOW TO BECOME A SPEAKER.--Containing fourteen illustrations,
-giving the different positions requisite to become a good speaker,
-reader and elocutionist. Also containing gems from all the popular
-authors of prose and poetry, arranged in the most simple and concise
-manner possible.
-
-No. 49. HOW TO DEBATE.--Giving rules for conducting debates, outlines
-for debates, questions for discussion, and the best sources for
-procuring information on the questions given.
-
-
-SOCIETY.
-
-No. 3. HOW TO FLIRT.--The arts and wiles of flirtation are fully
-explained by this little book. Besides the various methods of
-handkerchief, fan, glove, parasol, window and hat flirtation, it
-contains a full list of the language and sentiment of flowers, which
-is interesting to everybody, both old and young. You cannot be happy
-without one.
-
-No. 4. HOW TO DANCE is the title of a new and handsome little book just
-issued by Frank Tousey. It contains full instructions in the art of
-dancing, etiquette in the ball-room and at parties, how to dress, and
-full directions for calling off in all popular square dances.
-
-No. 5. HOW TO MAKE LOVE.--A complete guide to love, courtship and
-marriage, giving sensible advice, rules and etiquette to be observed,
-with many curious and interesting things not generally known.
-
-No. 17. HOW TO DRESS.--Containing full instruction in the art of
-dressing and appearing well at home and abroad, giving the selections
-of colors, material, and how to have them made up.
-
-No. 18. HOW TO BECOME BEAUTIFUL.--One of the brightest and most
-valuable little books ever given to the world. Everybody wishes to know
-how to become beautiful, both male and female. The secret is simple,
-and almost costless. Read this book and be convinced how to become
-beautiful.
-
-
-BIRDS AND ANIMALS.
-
-No. 7. HOW TO KEEP BIRDS.--Handsomely illustrated and containing
-full instructions for the management and training of the canary,
-mockingbird, bobolink, blackbird, paroquet, parrot, etc.
-
-No. 39. HOW TO RAISE DOGS, POULTRY, PIGEONS AND RABBITS.--A useful and
-instructive book. Handsomely illustrated. By Ira Drofraw.
-
-No. 40. HOW TO MAKE AND SET TRAPS.--Including hints on how to catch
-moles, weasels, otters, rats, squirrels and birds. Also how to cure
-skins. Copiously illustrated. By J. Harrington Keene.
-
-No. 50. HOW TO STUFF BIRDS AND ANIMALS.--A valuable book, giving
-instructions in collecting, preparing, mounting and preserving birds,
-animals and insects.
-
-No. 54. HOW TO KEEP AND MANAGE PETS.--Giving complete information as
-to the manner and method of raising, keeping, taming, breeding, and
-managing all kinds of pets; also giving full instructions for making
-cages, etc. Fully explained by twenty-eight illustrations, making it
-the most complete book of the kind ever published.
-
-
-MISCELLANEOUS.
-
-No. 8. HOW TO BECOME A SCIENTIST.--A useful and instructive book,
-giving a complete treatise on chemistry; also experiments in acoustics,
-mechanics, mathematics, chemistry, and directions for making fireworks,
-colored fires, and gas balloons. This book cannot be equaled.
-
-No. 14. HOW TO MAKE CANDY.--A complete hand-book for making all kinds
-of candy, ice-cream, syrups, essences, etc., etc.
-
-No. 34. HOW TO BECOME AN AUTHOR.--Containing full information
-regarding choice of subjects, the use of words and the manner of
-preparing and submitting manuscript. Also containing valuable
-information as to the neatness, legibility and general composition of
-manuscript, essential to a successful author. By Prince Hiland.
-
-No. 38. HOW TO BECOME YOUR OWN DOCTOR.--A wonderful book, containing
-useful and practical information in the treatment of ordinary diseases
-and ailments common to every family. Abounding in useful and effective
-recipes for general complaints.
-
-No. 55. HOW TO COLLECT STAMPS AND COINS.--Containing valuable
-information regarding the collecting and arranging of stamps and coins.
-Handsomely illustrated.
-
-No. 58. HOW TO BE A DETECTIVE.--By Old King Brady, the world-known
-detective. In which he lays down some valuable and sensible rules
-for beginners, and also relates some adventures and experiences of
-well-known detectives.
-
-No. 60. HOW TO BECOME A PHOTOGRAPHER.--Containing useful information
-regarding the Camera and how to work it; also how to make Photographic
-Magic Lantern Slides and other Transparencies. Handsomely illustrated.
-By Captain W. De W. Abney.
-
-No. 62. HOW TO BECOME A WEST POINT MILITARY CADET.--Containing full
-explanations how to gain admittance, course of Study, Examinations,
-Duties, Staff of Officers, Post Guard, Police Regulations, Fire
-Department, and all a boy should know to be a Cadet. Compiled and
-written by Lu Senarens, author of “How to Become a Naval Cadet.”
-
-No. 63. HOW TO BECOME A NAVAL CADET.--Complete instructions of how to
-gain admission to the Annapolis Naval Academy. Also containing the
-course of instruction, description of grounds and buildings, historical
-sketch, and everything a boy should know to become an officer in the
-United States Navy. Compiled and written by Lu Senarens, author of “How
-to Become a West Point Military Cadet.”
-
-
-  =PRICE 10 CENTS EACH, OR 3 FOR 25 CENTS.=
-  =Address FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, 24 Union Square, New York.=
-
-
-
-
-WORK AND WIN.
-
-The Best Weekly Published.
-
-=ALL THE NUMBERS ARE ALWAYS IN PRINT.=
-
-=READ ONE AND YOU WILL READ THEM ALL.=
-
-
-=LATEST ISSUES:=
-
-  281 Fred Fearnot’s Boy; or, Selling Tips on Shares.
-  282 Fred Fearnot and the Girl Ranch Owner, And How She Held Her Own.
-  283 Fred Fearnot’s Newsboy Friend; or, A Hero in Rags.
-  284 Fred Fearnot in the Gold Fields; or, Exposing the Claim “Salters.”
-  285 Fred Fearnot and the Office Boy; or, Bound to be the Boss.
-  286 Fred Fearnot after the Moonshiners; or, The “Bad” Men of Kentucky.
-  287 Fred Fearnot and the Little Drummer;
-      or, The Boy who Feared Nobody.
-  288 Fred Fearnot and the Broker’s Boy; or, Working the Stock Market.
-  289 Fred Fearnot and the Boy Teamster; or, The Lad Who Bluffed Him.
-  290 Fred Fearnot and the Magician, and How he Spoiled His Magic.
-  291 Fred Fearnot’s Lone Hand; or, Playing a Game to Win.
-  292 Fred Fearnot and the Banker’s Clerk; or, Shaking up the Brokers.
-  293 Fred Fearnot and the Oil King; or, the Tough Gang of the Wells.
-  294 Fred Fearnot’s Wall Street Game; or, Fighting the Bucket Shops.
-  295 Fred Fearnot’s Society Circus;
-      or, The Fun that Built a School-House.
-  296 Fred Fearnot’s Wonderful Courage;
-      or, The Mistake of the Train Robber.
-  297 Fred Fearnot’s Friend from India, and the Wonderful Things He Did.
-  298 Fred Fearnot and the Poor Widow; or, Making a Mean Man Do Right.
-  299 Fred Fearnot’s Cowboys; or, Tackling the Ranch Raiders.
-  300 Fred Fearnot and the Money Lenders;
-      or, Breaking Up a Swindling Gang.
-  301 Fred Fearnot’s Gun Club; or, Shooting for a Diamond Cup.
-  302 Fred Fearnot and the Braggart; or, Having Fun with an Egotist.
-  303 Fred Fearnot’s Fire Brigade; or, Beating the Insurance Frauds.
-  304 Fred Fearnot’s Temperance Lectures; or, Fighting Rum and Ruin.
-  305 Fred Fearnot and the “Cattle Queen”; or, A Desperate Woman’s Game.
-  306 Fred Fearnot and the Boomers; or, The Game that Failed.
-  307 Fred Fearnot and the “Tough” Boy; or, Reforming a Vagrant.
-  308 Fred Fearnot’s $10,000 Deal; or, Over the Continent on Horseback.
-  309 Fred Fearnot and the Lasso Gang; or, Crooked Work on the Ranch.
-  310 Fred Fearnot and the Wall Street Broker;
-      or, Helping the Widows and Orphans.
-  311 Fred Fearnot and the Cow Puncher; or, The Worst Man in Arizona.
-  312 Fred Fearnot and the Fortune Teller; or, The Gypsy’s Double Deal.
-  313 Fred Fearnot’s Nervy Deal; or, The Unknown Fiend of Wall Street.
-  314 Fred Fearnot and “Red Pete”; or, The Wickedest Man in Arizona.
-  315 Fred Fearnot and the Magnates; or, How he Bought a Railroad.
-  316 Fred Fearnot and “Uncle Pike”; or, A Slick Chap from Warsaw.
-  317 Fred Fearnot and His Hindo Friend; or, Saving the Juggler’s Life.
-  318 Fred Fearnot and the “Confidence Man”;
-      or, The Grip that Held Him Fast.
-  319 Fred Fearnot’s Greatest Victory;
-      or, The Longest Purse in Wall Street.
-  320 Fred Fearnot and the Impostor; or, Unmasking a Dangerous Fraud.
-  321 Fred Fearnot in the Wild West; or, The Last Fight of the Bandits.
-  322 Fred Fearnot and the Girl Detective;
-      or, Solving a Wall Street Mystery.
-  323 Fred Fearnot Among the Gold Miners;
-      or, The Fight for a Stolen Claim.
-  324 Fred Fearnot and the Broker’s Son;
-      or, The Smartest Boy in Wall St.
-  325 Fred Fearnot and “Judge Lynch”; or, Chasing the Horse Thieves.
-  326 Fred Fearnot and the Bank Messenger;
-      or, The Boy who made a Fortune.
-  327 Fred Fearnot and the Kentucky Moonshiners;
-      or, The “Bad” Men of the Blue Grass Region.
-  328 Fred Fearnot and the Boy Acrobat; or, Out With His own Circus.
-  329 Fred Fearnot’s Great Crash; or, Losing His Fortune in Wall Street.
-  330 Fred Fearnot’s Return to Athletics;
-      or, His Start to Regain a Fortune.
-  331 Fred Fearnot’s Fencing Team; or, Defeating the “Pride of Old Eli.”
-  332 Fred Fearnot’s “Free For All”; or, His Great Indoor Meet.
-  333 Fred Fearnot and the Cabin Boy;
-      or, Beating the Steamboat Sharpers.
-  334 Fred Fearnot and the Prize-Fighter;
-      or, A Pugilist’s Awful Mistake.
-  335 Fred Fearnot’s Office Boy; or, Making Money in Wall Street.
-  336 Fred Fearnot as a Fireman; or, The Boy Hero of the Flames.
-  337 Fred Fearnot and the Factory Boy; or, The Champion of the Town.
-  338 Fred Fearnot and the “Bad Man”; or, The Bluff from Bitter Creek.
-  339 Fred Fearnot and the Shop Girl; or, The Plot Against An Orphan.
-  340 Fred Fearnot Among the Mexicans; or, Evelyn and the Brigands.
-  341 Fred Fearnot and the Boy Engineer; or, Beating the Train Wreckers.
-  342 Fred Fearnot and the “Hornets”;
-      or, The League that Sought to Down Him.
-  343 Fred Fearnot and the Cheeky Dude;
-      or, A Shallow Youth from Brooklyn.
-  344 Fred Fearnot in a Death Trap: or, Lost in The Mammoth Caves.
-  345 Fred Fearnot and the Boy Rancher; or, The Gamest Lad in Texas.
-  346 Fred Fearnot and the Stage Driver;
-      or, The Man Who Understood Horses.
-  347 Fred Fearnot’s Change of Front;
-      or, Staggering the Wall Street Brokers.
-  348 Fred Fearnot’s New Ranch, And How He and Terry Managed It.
-  349 Fred Fearnot and the Lariat Thrower;
-      or, Beating the Champion of the West.
-  350 Fred Fearnot and the Swindling Trustee;
-      or, Saving a Widow’s Little Fortune.
-  351 Fred Fearnot and the “Wild” Cowboys, And the Fun He Had With Them.
-  352 Fred Fearnot and the “Money Queen”; or, Exposing a Female Sharper.
-  353 Fred Fearnot’s Boy Pard; or, Striking it Rich in the Hills.
-  354 Fred Fearnot and the Railroad Gang;
-      or, A Desperate Fight for Life.
-  355 Fred Fearnot and the Mad Miner;
-      or, The Gold Thieves of the Rockies.
-  356 Fred Fearnot in Trouble; or, Terry Olcott’s Vow of Vengeance.
-  357 Fred Fearnot and the Girl in White;
-      or, The Mystery of the Steamboat.
-  358 Fred Fearnot and the Boy Herder;
-      or, The Masked Band of the Plains.
-  359 Fred Fearnot in Hard Luck; or, Roughing it in the Silver Diggings.
-  360 Fred Fearnot and the Indian Guide;
-      or, The Abduction of a Beautiful Girl.
-
-
-
-
-  For sale by all newsdealers,
-  or will be sent to any address on receipt of price,
-  5 cents per copy, in money or postage stamps, by
-  =FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, 24 Union Square, New York.=
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-IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS
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-of our Libraries and cannot procure them from newsdealers, they can be
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-=POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY.=
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- .......................................................................
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- FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, 24 Union Square, New York.      ......190
-       Dear Sir--Enclosed find......cents for which please send me:
- ....copies of WORK AND WIN, Nos........................................
- ....copies of PLUCK AND LUCK, Nos......................................
- ....copies of SECRET SERVICE, Nos......................................
- ....copies of THE LIBERTY BOYS OF ’76, Nos.............................
- ....copies of WILD WEST WEEKLY, Nos....................................
- ....copies of THE YOUNG ATHLETE’S WEEKLY, Nos..........................
- ....copies of Ten-Cent Hand Books, Nos.................................
- Name.................Street and No................Town..........State..
-
-
-
-
-Fame and Fortune Weekly
-
-_STORIES OF BOYS WHO MAKE MONEY_
-
-By A SELF-MADE MAN
-
-  _32 Pages of Reading Matter_      _Handsome Colored Covers_
-
-  ☛ =PRICE 5 CENTS A COPY= ☚
-  ☛ =A New One Issued Every Friday= ☚
-
-
-This Weekly contains interesting stories of smart boys, who win
-fame and fortune by their ability to take advantage of passing
-opportunities. Some of these stories are founded on true incidents
-in the lives of our most successful self-made men, and show how a
-boy of pluck, perseverance and brains can become famous and wealthy.
-Every one of this series contains a good moral tone, which makes “Fame
-and Fortune Weekly” a magazine for the home, although each number
-is replete with exciting adventures. The stories are the very best
-obtainable, the illustrations are by expert artists, and every effort
-is constantly being made to make it the best weekly on the news stands.
-Tell your friends about it.
-
-
-THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF THE FIRST EIGHT TITLES AND DATES OF ISSUE
-
-  No. 1.--A Lucky Deal; or, The Cutest Boy in Wall Street
-          Issued Oct.  6th
-  No. 2.--Born to Good Luck; or, The Boy Who Succeeded
-          Issued Oct. 13th
-  No. 3.--A Corner in Corn; or, How a Chicago Boy Did the Trick
-          Issued Oct. 20th
-  No. 4.--A Game of Chance; or, The Boy Who Won Out
-          Issued Oct. 27th
-  No. 5.--Hard to Beat; or, The Cleverest Boy in Wall Street
-          Issued Nov.  3rd
-  No. 6.--Building a Railroad; or, The Young Contractors of Lakeview
-          Issued Nov. 10th
-  No. 7.--Winning His Way; or, The Youngest Editor in Green River
-          Issued Nov. 17th
-  No. 8.--The Wheel of Fortune; or, The Record of a Self-Made Boy
-          Issued Nov. 24th
-
- For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt
- of price, 5 cents per copy in money or postage stamps, by
-
-
-  =FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher  24 Union Square, New York=
-
-
-IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS
-
-of our Libraries and cannot procure them from newsdealers, they can be
-obtained from this office direct. Cut out and fill in the following
-Order Blank and send in to us with the price of the books you want and
-we will send them to you by return mail.
-
-                               =POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY.=
-
- ......................................................................
-
- FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, 24 Union Square, New York.      ......190
-       Dear Sir--Enclosed find......cents for which please send me:
- ....copies of WORK AND WIN, Nos........................................
- ....copies of FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY, Nos.............................
- ....copies of FRANK MANLEY’S WEEKLY, Nos...............................
- ....copies of WILD WEST WEEKLY, Nos....................................
- ....copies of THE LIBERTY BOYS OF ’76, Nos.............................
- ....copies of PLUCK AND LUCK, Nos......................................
- ....copies of SECRET SERVICE, Nos......................................
- ....copies of YOUNG ATHLETE’S WEEKLY, Nos..............................
- ....copies of TEN-CENT HANDBOOKS, Nos..................................
- Name.................Street and No................Town..........State..
-
-
-
-
-
-Transcriber’s Notes
-
-
-A number of typographical errors were corrected silently.
-
-Cover image is in the public domain.
-
-Dittoes replaced with words meant to be duplicated.
-
-The third Walcott in the text was changed from Whitemore due to context.
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