right and left, to be delivered at a future day, and found plenty of
purchasers, every one but those in the plot expecting the consolidation
of the roads and a consequent advance in the value of the stock. They
let their friends into the secret, and there was soon a great deal of
"selling short" in this stock. Commodore Vanderbilt managed to acquaint
himself with the whole plot; but he held his peace, and resolved upon
revenge. He went into the market quietly, with all the funds he could
raise, and bought every certificate of Harlem stock that he could find.
These certificates he locked up in his safe. When the bill came before
the Legislature on its final passage, it was defeated.

The conspirators were jubilant. They were sure that the defeat of the
bill would bring "Harlem" down with a rush. To their astonishment,
however, "Harlem" did not fall. It remained stationary the first day,
and then to their dismay rose steadily. Those to whom they had sold
demanded the delivery of the stock, but the speculators found it
impossible to buy it. There was none in the market at any price. In
many of these instances Vanderbilt was the real claimant, the brokers
acting in the transactions being merely his agents. Being unable to
deliver the stock, the conspirators were forced to settle the demands
against them in money, and the result was that they were ruined. One of
the shrewdest operators in New York lost over $200,000. He refused to
pay, and his name was stricken from the list of stockholders. This
brought him to his senses, and he made good his contracts. Vanderbilt
made money enough out of this transaction to pay for all the stock he
owned in the Harlem Road.

Daniel Drew is a great operator. His gains are immense, as are also his
losses. He is not popular in the street, and the brokers are fond of
abusing him. He has handled too many of them mercilessly to have many
friends. They say that he does not hesitate to sacrifice a friend to
gain his ends, and that he is utterly without sympathy for those who go
down before his heavy blows.

Bogus stock companies appear from time to time in Wall street. An office
is rented and fitted up in magnificent style, a flaring programme is
issued, and seemingly substantial evidences of the stability and
prosperity of the company are exhibited to inquirers. The stock offered
is readily taken up by the eager to be rich crowd. A dividend, most
hopefully large, is declar