his speech. "But I don't know as I can let you have that money, after all."

He looked up at me with a start, like a colt when it's suddenly frightened. I was glad that I had a clerk just outside the door of my private office, within easy reach if I should need him; because you never can tell what these Westerners will do when they get excited.

"What's that?" said he. "I don't believe I understood you."

"Why, it's just as I said," I replied. "I find that I'm not able to let you have that money." I saw that it was best to have the thing over quickly. Bad news to a man is like pulling a tooth. If you fool around with the forceps sort of tender-like, it will make it all the harder. be stern-hearted just for out, then it's all over.

The kindest course is to a minute; yank the tooth That's what I did now. I

handled him without mittens. I plumped the announcement out at him in straightforward fashion: "Couldn't possibly do it. My money is tied up just now tight as a fiddle-string.'

"But," said he, and his voice got very low and quiet, "Mr. Drew, you promised."

"Tut, tut," said I; "just a mere word thrown out in casual talk. I didn't intend it to be in the nature of a hard and fast agreement. There wasn't anything put down in writing."

"I know that," said he; "but between men, a

gentlemen's agreement is even more binding than documents plastered over with seals and a notary's stamp."

66

'Well," said I, "you'll have to excuse me from going into a discussion of the matter with you. I haven't the time just now. I have some important business on hand that I've got to see to." And I arose, to bring the interview to an end I never believe in handling a nettle tenderly. I didn't want to get into an argument with him. Didn't know what he might do if he got worked up. Hot-headed fellows sometimes get very sudden if they are het up by an argument. "I'm sorry, my son, if you are disappointed. It's unavoidable. I can't help you with any money. I shall have to bid you good morning."

He bit his lip. His face turned white all of a sudden. "Of course, Mr. Drew," said he, "you'll give me a chance to say this: That I am by this act of yours a ruined man! The earnings of a lifetime have been swept away! Unless you keep your promise, I and my family are at this moment reduced. to beggary! Do I understand that your answer is final?"

"It's final," said I; "if you've lost any money, go and and begin earning it back. Every time a sheep bleats it loses a mouthful." (This hope I held out to him was of course a rather small plaster for a big sore. But it was the best I could do.)

I started at once to the door to let him out. I could see that he was bothered considerable. For he sort of staggered as he walked across the floor. And his eyes glazed over, something like a steer just after he has been hit. He didn't say good-bye. He stumbled out through the office door and went

away.

I was glad when the interview was over. I knew that I'd have to go through it; and now was relieved. Parker took it in a different way from what I had looked for. Instead of flaring up, he took it so quiet-like that I kind of felt sorry for him. But I wasn't in Wall Street for my health. If he thought I was going to lose money in order to help him, he had come to the wrong shop, that's all. Business is business. When I had told him some days before that I'd help him out with the money, I was in a different position from what I now was. For I had now disposed of most of my Erie stock. So that I'd have been a fool to loan Parker any money to keep the price of the stock up. When I have sold out my shares it isn't to my interest to keep the price up. It's to my interest then to have the price of that particular stock tumble just as fast and as far as it will. Because I can then buy it in once more.

And that is what happened in the present case. It wasn't an hour or two after Parker left my office, before Erie fell off several points. For Parker

having now been taken out of the way (I guess the Street hasn't seen hide nor hair of him since), was no longer there to support the market. The price fell rapidly. The slump was also helped by Secretary Chase, who came into Wall Street just now and borrowed $35,000,000 for the Government. Erie dropped to ninety-nine. Thus I was able to buy back dog-cheap the shares I'd sold at the top of the market. I took a slice out of Parker on this deal which helped my fortune considerable.

O

XXI

NE day, about this time, I was in my office at 22 William Street, when the boy came in and said there was a man in the outer office by the name of Fisk. “He wants to see you on a business matter."

"Send him in," said I. I said it to the boy sort of careless-like, not expecting anything much. It was a name that didn't mean anything to me. Thought it was some stranger coming to see me on a small affair or other. I turned to the stock ticker once more, and to reading the quotations. The door opened. A man came in.

"I'm Fisk," said he. He stepped up and took my hand. He was as brisk as a bottle of ale. "James Fisk, Junior, of New York and Boston. 'Jim Fisk,' the boys call me, where I'm known. But I suppose here I'll have to put on all the lugs. Mr. Drew, I have come to sell those Stonington shares of yours." I got my hand loose from his, and sat down. I got my breath after a minute. Not that I was mad. Somehow or other, you couldn't get mad at the fellow he had such a hearty way about him. And he was so almighty sure of himself, he made every