When Fred returned to the office the Exchange had closed for the day.
Pacific Mail closed at 76. Bob met him at the foot of the stairs,
grasped his hand and said:
"We've struck it rich, Fred!"
"Yes, but you want to keep mum."
"Of course."
They went home and spent the evening together making calculations. Adah
wanted to know why they were making such a lot of figures, and Bob said
to her:
"Wall Street men have to do a good deal of figuring."
"Yes, so I've heard, but I didn't know the boys did."
Fred laughed, nudged Bob and remarked:
"That's one on you, old man!"
The next day they found that the shares opened at 79--two hours later
they were going at 82.
"I'm going to sell, Bob," said Fred. "It's getting dangerous."
"It may go up to 100."
"We had better stand from under," said Fred, shaking his head.
"Well, let her go."
Fred hastened to Bowles' office and told him to sell. In five minutes it
was done, and they had made over $6,000 on the deal. Manson sent Bob to
Bryant with a note. Somebody had just dumped 3,000 shares on the big
broker and he was in a bad humor when Bob came to him with the note. He
looked down and saw who it was--the boy who had gotten the situation for
his typewriter--and quick as a flash he gave him a kick that sent him
sprawling on the floor. Bob had the note still in his hand when he
scrambled to his feet again. But he did not deliver it. He staggered out
of the Exchange, feeling sick from the effects of the blow, and made his
way back to the office, where he told Mr. Manson what had happened.
"It was an accident, Bob," the broker said. "The excitement in there is
awful, you know."
"No, sir. It was no accident," said Bob. "He hates me because I found a
place for his typewriter who left him because he wanted to make love to
her."
Munson laughed and said:
"That must me a mistake, my boy."
"No mistake about it. The girl is in Bowles' office, and she'll tell you
the same thing. I am going to have him arrested."
"Oh, that won't do."
"I'll make it do."
Bob was mad.
"See here, young man, I'll give you your walking papers if I hear any
more talk like that!"
"Give 'em to me right away then," said Bob. "I'm going to see if a man
can kick the innerds out of a boy just for fun and not pay for it."
Manson was surprised at Bob's spunk. He looked at him in silence for a
minute or two and then said:
"You are mad clear through, eh?"
"You bet I am!"
"Well, wait till I see him before doing anything."
"All right; but you want to see him soon."
"I'll see him after 3 o'clock."
After 3 o'clock Bob, Fred and Broker Manson went over to Bryant's
office. Bryant was at his desk.
"Why did you kick my messenger, Bryant?" Manson asked.
"Was it your messenger?"
"Yes."
"I didn't know who it was. I felt some one pulling my coat-tail and
kicked out. It was no time for fooling. You know, somebody is always
fooling over there?"
"That's a lie," said Bob. "You know I touched your elbow, not your
coat-tail. You looked down in my face, saw who it was and then kicked
me."
Bryant was so astounded at being given the lie so bluntly he sat still
and heard Bob through without uttering a word; then he looked up at
Manson and said:
"There's cheek for you!"
"Cheek!" exclaimed Bob. "Don't say a word about cheek! Your cheek drove
your typewriter out of your office. I got a place for her, and you had
the cheek to go to her new place and raise a row. That is what you
kicked me for. Two members of the Exchange told me to prosecute you and
call them as witnesses--Mr. Turner and Mr. Agnew."
Bryant turned white as a sheet. Those two brokers were his bitterest
enemies. They stood high, and their evidence would down him.
"See here, my boy," he said, "I ought to kick you clean through that
window for your impudence, but I won't. I tell you---"
"Of course, you won't," said Bob, interrupting him. "It's my time to
kick now."
Bryant was cool, pale, and yet in a rage. He saw that he was in a
serious scrape, and Bob, though a boy, was game all through.
"Are you willing for Mr. Manson to settle the matter?" he asked.
"No, sir. He is not my lawyer."
Bryant gave a start.
"Who is pour lawyer?" he asked.
"I haven't engaged one yet, but you can bet I am going to."
"Well, I see you are very mad about it. We can settle it ourselves, I
think, Just tell me what you want me to do."
"Well, I think you ought to be made to break stone over on the Island
for about six months. You need a good lesson and I'd like to see you get
one of that kind."
"The court would probably fine me $50. Will that sum satisfy you?"
"No, sir. You think money is everything. I don't. Just acknowledge that
you are an old hog and beg my pardon, and you may go to the Old Harry
for all I care!"
That was too much for the big broker. He sprang forward and dealt Bob a
stinging slap in the face. But the next moment both Bob and Fred sprang
up like two wildcats.
He tried to defend himself, of course, but those two boys had fought
many a battle in the street and were fighters from way back. They rolled
on the floor together, while Manson kept calling out:
"Boys! Boys! I'll call the police to you!"
They never heard him. If they did they didn't heed him. In half a minute
both eyes were blacked, all the beard from one side of his face gone,
and fully one-half of his hair lay on the floor. And still they went for
him. Suddenly the shrill scream of a woman startled them, and the two
boys desisted to turn and look at the newcomer.
It happened to be Bryant's wife who uttered the scream when she saw what
was taking place. Of course the row ended then and there. Bryant got up,
explained to his wife what it all was about and apologized right then
for his action. Of course Bob accepted it, and the matter was settled,
as the boys thought. But the next day Bob met Fred and told him he had
been discharged by Manson, saying that of course Bryant was responsible
for it.
A couple of days later Fred was the recipient of a handsome gold watch
and chain, a present from Mr. Gaines.
One day Callie came to Fred and told him of a tip she had got hold of.
It was M. & C. Fred went to see Broker Bowles, and asked him to buy
3,000 shares of M. & C. for him. The broker bid in the amount of shares
Fred wanted. The price soon went up to 90, and then Bowles sold him out.
The next day Fred and Bob visited Bowles, who gave them a statement
showing they had made $170,000 profit.
"Mr. Bowles," said Fred, "Risley & Cohn have failed. If their office is
to rent please rent it for five years for Halsey & Co., and buy all the
furniture. Pay a year's rent in advance."