A. M. Chisholm

“ Collingwood was a friend of the colonel and, besides, he might want to share in the good thing which Mortimer desired for himself. He determined to pump him skilfully.
"Quite a scheme, that of the colonel's to get control of Silver Queen," he observed casually as they smoked a final cigar before turning in.
"Most usual thing in the world." replied Collingwood carelessly. "No one buys a property outright now. The better plan is to get control of the stock. After that you can proceed to eliminate minority holders and acquire the shares at your own price." ”

“ You, having control, can depress the stock artificially by rumors of all kinds. As a last resort you can amalgamate with another company, forming a new one, and assess the holders out of their boots. Part of them will forfeit rather than pay the assessments. ”

“ His first impulse was to take the envelope to the colonel's hotel, but immediately a thought struck him. Why shouldn't he make something out of it himself? If those shares were necessary to enable the colonel to acquire control of Silver Queen he ought to be willing to pay for them. Lowrey probably knew nothing of the reported strike. He might be willing to sell cheap. In that case if he, Mortimer, could get at him before the letter, he might make a nice little rake-oft on the turnover. ”