the cost-第34章

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d　you。〃

He　closed　his　eyes　and　slept。

When　he　awoke　again　he　felt　that　a　long　time　had　passed；　that　he　was　much　better；　that　he　was　hungry。　　〃Nurse！〃　he　called。

The　woman　at　the　head　of　the　bed　rose　and　laid　a　cool　hand　upon　his　forehead。　　〃How　good　that　feels；〃　he　mumbled　gratefully。　　〃What　nice　hands　you　have；　nurse；〃　and　he　lifted　his　glance　to　her　face。　　He　stared　wonderingly；　confusedly。　　〃I　thought　I　was　awake　and　almost　well；〃　he　murmured。　　〃And　instead；　I'm　out　of　my　head。〃

〃Can　I　do　anything　for　you？〃　It　certainly　was　HER　voice。

〃Is　it　you；　Pauline？〃　he　asked；　as　if　he　feared　a　negative　answer。

〃YesJohn。〃

A　long　silence；　then　he　said：　　〃Why　did　you　come？〃

〃The　doctor　wrote　me　thatwrote　me　the　truth。〃

〃But　haven't　you　heard？　　Haven't　you　seen　the　papers？　　Don't　they　say　I'm　ruined？〃

〃Yes；　John。〃

He　lay　silent　for　several　minutes。　　Then　he　asked　hesitatingly：　　〃Andwhendo　yougo　backWest？〃

〃I　have　come　to　stay；〃　she　replied。　　Neither　in　her　voice　nor　in　her　face　was　there　a　hint　of　what　those　five　words　meant　to　her。

He　closed　his　eyes　again。　　Presently　a　tear　slid　from　under　each　lid　and　stood　in　the　deep；　wasted　hollows　of　his　eye…sockets。



XXVI。

A　DESPERATE　RALLY。


When　he　awoke　again　he　felt　that　he　should　get　well　rapidly。　　He　was　weak；　but　it　seemed　the　weakness　of　hunger　rather　than　of　illness。　　His　head　was　clear；　his　nerves　tranquil；　his　mind　was　as　hungry　for　action　as　his　body　was　for　food。

〃As　soon　as　I've　had　something　to　eat；〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃I'll　be　better　than　for　years。　　I　needed　this。〃　　And　straightway　he　began　to　take　hold　of　the　outside　world。

〃Are　you　there；　Pauline？〃　he　asked；　after　perhaps　half　an　hour　during　which　his　mind　had　swiftly　swept　the　whole　surface　of　his　affairs。

The　nurse　rose　from　the　lounge　across　the　foot　of　the　bed。　　〃Your　wife　was　worn　out；　Mr。　Dumont；〃　she　began。　　〃She　has〃

〃What　day　is　it？〃　he　interrupted。

〃Thursday。〃

〃Of　the　month；　I　mean。〃

〃The　seventeenth；〃　she　answered；　smiling　in　anticipation　of　his　astonishment。

But　he　said　without　change　of　expression；

〃Then　I've　been　ill　three　weeks　and　three　days。　　Tell　Mr。　Culver　I　wish　to　see　him　at　once。〃

〃But　the　doctor〃

〃Damn　the　doctor；〃　replied　Dumont；　good…naturedly。　　〃Don't　irritate　me　by　opposing。　　I　shan't　talk　with　Culver　a　minute　by　the　clock。　　What　I　say　will　put　my　mind　at　rest。　　Then　I'll　eat　something　and　sleep　for　a　day　at　least。〃

The　nurse　hesitated；　but　his　eyes　fairly　forced　her　out　of　the　room　to　fetch　Culver。　　〃Now　remember；　Mr。　Dumontless　than　a　minute；〃　she　said。　　〃I'll　come　back　in　just　sixty　seconds。〃

〃Come　in　forty；〃　he　replied。　　When　she　had　closed　the　door　he　said　to　Culver：　　〃What　are　the　quotations　on　Woolens？〃

〃Preferred　twenty…eight；　Common　seven；〃　answered　Culver。　　〃They've　been　about　steady　for　two　weeks。〃

〃Good。　　And　what's　Great　Lakes　and　Gulf？〃

Culver　showed　his　surprise。　　〃I'll　have　to　consult　the　paper；〃　he　said。　　〃You　never　asked　me　for　that　quotation　before。　　I'd　no　idea　you'd　want　it。〃　　He　went　to　the　next　room　and　immediately　returned。　　〃G。　L。　and　G。　one　hundred　and　two。〃

Dumont　smiled　with　a　satisfied　expression。

〃Nowgo　down…townwhat　time　is　it？〃

〃Eight　o'clock。〃

〃Morning？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　morning。〃

〃Go　down…town　at　once　and　set　expert　accountantsget　Evarts　and　Schumanset　them　at　work　on　my　personal　accounts　with　the　Woolens　Company。　　Tell　everybody　I'm　expected　to　die；　and　know　it；　and　am　getting　facts　for　making　my　will。　　And　stay　down…town　yourself　all　dayfind　out　everything　you　can　about　National　Woolens　and　that　raiding　crowd　and　about　Great　Lakes　and　Gulf。　　The　better　you　succeed　in　this　mission　the　better　it'll　be　for　you。　　Thank　you；　by　the　way；　for　keeping　my　accident　quiet。　　Find　out　how　the　Fanning…Smiths　are　carrying　National　Woolens。　　Find　out〃

The　door　opened　and　the　plain；　clean　figure　of　the　nurse　appeared。　　〃The　minute's　up；〃　she　said。

〃One　second　more；　please。　　Close　the　door。〃　　When　she　had　obeyed　he　went　on：　　〃See　Tavistockyou　know　you　must　be　careful　not　to　let　any　one　at　his　office　know　that　you're　connected　with　me。　　See　himask　himno；　telephone　Tavistock　to　come　at　onceand　you　find　out　all　you　can　independentlyespecially　about　the　Fanning…Smiths　and　Great　Lakes　and　Gulf。〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　Culver。

〃A　great　deal　depends　on　your　success；〃　continued　Dumont〃a　great　deal　for　me；　a　great　deala　VERY　great　deal　for　you。〃

His　look　met　Culver's　and　each　seemed　satisfied　with　what　he　saw。　　Then　Culver　went；　saying　to　himself：　　〃What　makes　him　think　the　Fanning…Smiths　were　mixed　up　in　the　raid？　　And　what　on　earth　has　G。　L。　and　G。　　got　to　do　with　it？　　Gad；　he's　a　WONDER！〃　　The　longer　Culver　lived　in　intimacy　with　Dumont　the　greater　became　to　him　the　mystery　of　his　combination　of　bigness　and　littleness；　audacity　and　caution；　devil　and　man。　　〃It　gets　me；〃　he　often　reflected；　〃how　a　man　can　plot　to　rob　millions　of　people　in　one　hour　and　in　the　next　plan　endowments　for　hospitals　and　colleges；　despise　public　opinion　one　minute　and　the　next　be　courting　it　like　an　actor。　　But　that's　the　way　with　all　these　big　fellows。　　And　I'll　know　how　to　do　it　when　I　get　to　be　one　of　'em。〃

As　the　nurse　reentered　Dumont's　bedroom　he　called　out；　lively　as　a　boy：　　〃SOMETHING　to　eat！　　ANYthing　to　eat！　　EVERYthing　to　eat！〃


The　nurse　at　first　flatly　refused　to　admit　Tavistock。　　But　at　half…past　nine　he　entered；　tall；　lean；　lithe；　sharp　of　face；　shrewd　of　eye；　rakish　of　mustache；　by　Dumont's　direction　he　closed　and　locked　the　door。　　〃Why！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃you　don't　look　much　of　a　sick　man。　　You're　thin；　but　your　color's　not　bad　and　your　eyes　are　clear。　　And　down…town　they　have　you　dying。〃

Dumont　laughed。　　Tavistock　instantly　recognized　in　laugh　and　look　Dumont's　battle　expression。　　〃Dyingyes。　　Dying　to　get　at　'em。　　Tavistock；　we'll　kick　those　fellows　out　of　Wall　Street　before　the　middle　of　next　week。　　How　much　Great　Lakes　is　there　floating　on　the　market？〃

Tavistock　looked　puzzled。　　He　had　expected　to　talk　National　Woolens；　and　this　man　did　not　even　speak　of　it；　seemed　absorbed　in　a　stock　in　which　Tavistock　did　not　know　he　had　any　interest　whatever。　　〃G。　L。　and　G。？〃　he　said。　　〃Not　muchperhaps　thirty　thousand　shares。　　It's　been　quiet　for　a　long　time。　　It's　an　investment　stock；　you　know。〃

Dumont　smiled　peculiarly。　　〃I　want　a　list　of　the　stock…holdersnot　all；　only　those　holding　more　than　a　thousand　shares。〃

〃There　aren't　many　big　holders。　　Most　of　the　stock's　in　small　lots　in　the　middle　West。〃

〃So　much　the　better。〃

〃I'm　pretty　sure　I　can　get　you　a　fairly　accurate　list。〃

Tavistock；　Dumont's　very　private　and　personal　broker；　had　many　curious　ways　of　reaching　into　the　carefully　guarded　books　and　other　business　secrets　of　brokers　and　of　the　enterprises　listed　on　the　New　York　Stock　Exchange。　　He　and　Dumont　had　long　worked　together　in　the　speculative　parts　of　Dumont's　schemes。　　Dumont　was　the　chief　source　of　his　rapidly　growing　fortune；　though　no　one　except　Culver；　not　even　Mrs。　Tavistock；　knew　that　they　had　business　relations。　　Dumont　moved　through　Tavistock　secretly；　and　Tavistock　in　turn　moved　through　other　agents　secretly。　　But　for　such　precautions　as　these　the　great　men　of　Wall　Street　would　be　playing　with　all　the　cards　exposed　for　the　very　lambs　to　cock　their　ears　at。

〃I　want　it　immediately；〃　said　Dumont。　　〃Only　the　larger　holders；　you　understand。〃

〃Haste　always　costs。　　I'll　have　to　get　hold　of　a　man　who　can　get　hold　of　some　one　high　up　in　the　Great　Lakes　dividend　department。〃

〃Pay　what　you　musttentwenty　thousandmore　if　necessary。　　But　get　it　to…night！〃

〃I'll　try。〃

〃Then　you'll　get　it。〃

He　slept；　with　a　break　of　fifteen　minutes；　until　ten　the　next　morning。　　Then　Tavistock　appeared　with　the　list。　　〃It　was　nearly　midnight　before　my　man　could　strike　a　bargain；　so　I　didn't　telephone　you。　　The　dividend　clerk　made　a　memory　list。　　I　had　him　verify　it　this　morning　as　early　as　he　could　get　at　the　books。　　He　says　at　least　a　third　of　the　road　is　held　in　small　lots　abroad。　　He's　been　in　charge　of　the　books　for　twenty　years；　and　he　says　there　have　been　more　changes　in　the　last　two　months　than　in　all　that　time。　　He　thinks　somebody　has　sold　a　big　block　of　the　stock　on　the　quiet。〃

Dumont　smiled　significantly。　　〃I　think　I　understand　that；〃　he　said。　　He　glanced　at　the　list。　　〃It's　even　shorter　than　I　thought。〃

〃You　notice；　one…third　of　the　stock's　tied　up　in　the　Wentworth　estate；〃　said　Tavistock。

〃Yes。　　And　here's　the　name　of　Bowen's　dividend　clerk。　　Bowen　is　traveling　in　the　far　East。　　Probably　he's　left　no　orders　about　his　Great　Lakeswhy　should　he　when　it's　supposed　to　be　as　sound　and　steady　as　Government　bonds？　　That　means　another　fifty　thousand　shares　out　of　the　way　for　our　purposes。　　Which　of　these　names　stand　for　the　Fanning…Smiths？〃

〃I　only　recognize　ScannellJames　Fanning…Smith's　private　secretary。　　But　there　must　be　others；　as　he's　down　for　only　twenty…one　thousand　shares。〃

〃Then　he's　the　only　one；〃　said　Dumont；　〃for　the　Fanning…Smiths　have　only　twenty…one　thousand　shares　at　the　present　time。　　I　know　that　positively。〃

〃What！〃　Tavistock　showed　that　he　was　astounded。　　〃I　knew　James　Fanning…Smith　was　an　ass；　but　I　never　suspected　him　of　such　folly　as　that。　　So　they　are　the　ones　that　have　been　selling？〃

〃Yesnot　only　selling　what　they　owned　but　also　However；　no　matter。　　It's　safe　to　say　there　are　less　than　a　hundred　and　fifty　thousand　shares　for　us　to　take　care　of。　　I　want　you　to　get　meright　awayoptions　for　fifteen　days　on　as　many　of　these　remaining　big　lots　as　possible。　　Make　the　best　terms　you　cananything　up　to　one　hundred　and　twenty…fiveand　offer　five　or　even　ten　dollars　a　share　forfeit　for　the　option。　　Make　bigger　offersfifteenwhere　it's　necessary。　　Set　your　people　to　work　at　once。　　They've　got　the　rest　of　to…day；　all　day　to…morrow；　all　day　Sunday。　　But　I'd　rather　the　whole　thing　were　closed　up　by　Saturday　night。　　I'll　be　satisfied　when　you've　got　me　control　of　a　hundred　thousand　sharesthat'll　be　the　outside　of　safety。〃

〃Yes；　you're　reasonably　sure　to　win；　if　you　can　carry　that　and　look　after　offerings　of　fifty　thousand　in　the　market。　　The　options　on　the　hundred　thousand　shares　oughtn't　to　cost　you　much　more　than　a　million。　　The　fifty　thousand　you'll　have　to　buy　in　the　market　may　cost　you　six　or　seven　millions。〃　　Tavistock　recited　these　figures　carelessly。　　In　reality　he　was　watching　Dumont　shrewdly；　for　he　had　believed　that　the　National　Woolens　raid　had　ruined　him；　had　certainly　put　him　out　of　the　large　Wall　Street　moves。

〃In　that　small　drawer；　to　the　left；　in　the　desk　there；〃　said　Dumont；　pointing。　　〃Bring　me　the　Inter…State　National　check…book；　and　pen　and　ink。〃

When　he　had　the　book　he　wrote　eight　checks；　the　first　for　fifty　thousand；　the　next　five　for　one　hundred　thousand　each；　the　last　two　for　two　hundred　and　fifty　thousand　each。　　〃The　first　check；〃　he　said；　〃you　may　use　whenever　you　like。　　The　others；　except　the　last　two；　will　be　good　after　two　o'clock　to…day。　　The　last　two　can　be　used　any　time　after　eleven　to…morrow。　　Anddon't　forget！　　I'm　supposed　to　be　hopelessly　illbut　then；　no　one　must　know　you've　seen　me　or　know　anything　about　me。　　Spread　it　as　a　rumor。〃

Tavistock　went　away　convinced；　enthusiastic。　　There　was　that　in　Dumont　w