Louis Joseph Vance

“ Naturally enough, perhaps, the element of the unforseen figures largely in the life of the Street. On the following afternoon, Steele's deal in Interstate Tunnel came to an unexpected end—to a successful culmination unexpectedly sudden. The clique of men who, desiring to obtain control of the Interstate Tunnel Company, had combined their interests and put Steele at their head, allowing him full discretion—thereby forming what is termed a "blind pool"—had calculated that his campaign would be one of weeks, if not of months, before their object was attained. ”

“ The fellow nodded. "I've nothing against you personally, Tausig," Steele continued more calmly; "but Belden——! A damned scoundrel gives you a bad name, Tausig. But this is what I wanted to say: you tell Belden what I had intended to, that your firm will get just the same treatment from us as the rest of the shorts in this deal. And—and we're not disposed to be hard on the shorts."
Tausig nodded curtly "That's what we wanted to know, Mr. Steele," he replied. "If there's to be no discrimination, we may pull through. Good-day." And he left.
Hunt watched the door close before speaking. ”

“ West's combination, finding that they had but one man to fight, had recovered their lost confidence and renewed renewed their raid upon the security; Steele had attempted to peg the price against a further drop, and had all but succeeded when West received unexpected support from Belden; under the impact of the thirty thousand shares which Belden hurled bodily at the market, T. R & T. had broken sharply, closing at the end of Steele's second day at 62—three points below the price at which he had purchased. ”

“ Steele fancied that she lost a shade of color, and he could not ignore the anxiety in her eyes.
"What is it?" she demanded, almost breathlessly.
He laughed lightly to reassure her.
"Why, nothing of any great importance, Sara, only that I'm going down town for an hour or two to-day." He saw her little hands clinch until the knuckles stood out white and hard against the firm pink of her flesh, and hurried to explain: "Hunt writes me that he wants to buy my seat on the Exchange.
"You're—you're not——" the faltered.
"No, no; I'm not going to go into the market at all. I'm through with all that ”

“ The issue grew, became as a wall between the man and the woman. Finally it might no longer be evaded.
"I'm involved in the market," he told her, {SIC|}}, with a dogged air.
"Jim!"
He cringed
"I—I can't help it, Sara—it's beyond helping now. I'm sorry, but I saw the chance, I thought, to make a few thousands and—"
"But Jim!" He looked quickly away from the pain in her eyes. "But, Jim, you—you gave me your word!"
"I know, I—" He floundered miserably under her accusing gaze. "But it can't be helped. In a few days—a week, at the outside—I hope to have it all fixed. And that will be the end, Sara!" ”

“ The longest-living author of this work died in 1933, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 90 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works. ”