Barry Pain

“ No. IX.—"UNLIKELIES." THE Unlikely Mine is not its real name, but it bears some resemblance to the sound of the real name, and has replaced it for common or City use. And it certainly is just about the unlikeliest mine in New Zealand. ”

“ Peter Bafray and Dora Merton took what they offered, and began to feel a little easier in their minds; it was going all right.
The same tactics were pursued at the end of the next account. It looked, as it was meant to look, as if the bulls were in a very bad way. The jobbers carried over, but they made the rate pretty stiff. And again they sold, and Bafray and Miss Merton took all they could get. It became a popular tip to sell a few "Unlikelies" and make your holiday expenses. That tended to check the more important selling of the bigger people. ”

“ He bequeathed to his intelligent and hard-working niece, Dora Merton, his holding in "Unlikelies," and also Consols producing an income of about £200.
Dora Merton had taken the equivalent of a fairly high degree at Cambridge; but she had been expected to do much better, and it was thought either that she had been lazy, or that she had not worked with discretion. The latter, from an examination point of view, was true enough. She was a little, mouse-like woman, with brown hair and white teeth, neither plain enough to be ugly, nor pretty enough to be beautiful. ”

“ We have received private advices that show that the mine is a splendid property, not over-capitalised, and would have been on the dividend-paying list long ago but for mismanagement. A sharp rise is intended in very strong quarters for next account. Speculators will take the hint and get in early. The good news has been kept very dark, but from what we happen to know we should think the shares cheap at £3."
One or two of the other inferior financial organs were also impressed with the chances of "Unlikelies," their inspiration also being directly derived from Peter Bafray for a consideration. ”

“ A lithographed post-card was sent round on the following lines: "A friend who has your interests at heart strongly recommends an immediate purchase of 'Unlikelies.’" One or two jobbers who had received these cards joked about them, but they had their effect, and the effect was precisely what was intended by the cards—to discredit the buying and to provoke solid people to sell a bear. ”

“ What about the time when the bears were caught short of N. P. Commons?"
"There you are talking. But are we big enough to run a corner? And do we know how to do it? You see, you've got to make your bears before you can trap them." ”

“ Peter admitted reluctantly.
"That's all right. Then I am going to tell you about a little scheme of mine that I want you to join me in. To begin with, I must tell you that I am now an heiress in a small way, through the death of that wicked old man, Uncle Horace."
She told him all about her legacy. "Now," she continued, "what do you think I ought to do?"
"If you were an ordinary woman I should tell you to sell your 'Unlikelies' for whatever they will fetch, and buy some more Consols with the money. But you are not an ordinary woman. You would keep an eye on your investments ”

“ There are influential people buying 'Unlikelies,' and that is all we want. I've taken up our shares and paid for them. The bears are in no end of a stew, and are trying to cover themselves, and are not doing it. ”

“ I'm human enough—I'm far less cynical and merciless than you are—but I am not feminine enough. I can't risk the joys of my present independence for others which are—well, problematical. I won't say a word against marriage, or hear a word against it. For most women it's all right ”

“ Her favourite reading was the principal financial articles, and she could distinguish between solid sense and the other thing. As a rule, wise men of business do not talk much business out of hours, and do not talk it to women at all. ”

“ They incline the man who knows to a very pessimistic view of the company that requires such rotten support, and Peter Bafray and Dora Merton were particularly anxious to discredit the buying of "Unlikelies" which was to follow. ”