l
bill's fate, and it is for him to seize the skirts of chance. I'll
write the note now and deliver it at the office myself in the morning.
Then we will see."

"We will see," I echoed, and we parted for the night.

At one o'clock the following afternoon Indiman and I stood watching the
ticker in an up-town broker's office.

"The Senate rejects the canal treaty," read out Indiman. "Now for the
next quotation of Panama common; the last sale was at 70 1/2. Will you
take the tape, Mr. Barnes?"

There was an instant's pause in the click-click of the instrument, the
heart-gripping lull before the breaking of the tempest. Then the wheels
began to revolve again, and the white tape, our modern thread of the
Norns, sped through the twitching fingers of the young chap to whom
Indiman had yielded place.

"Five hundred Pan. com., 68," he read out. "One thousand, 67 1/2; four
hundred, 67; two thousand, 65. I guess I've seen enough, gentlemen;
it's my--my finish." He gulped down something in his throat and walked
over to the water-cooler,

"And enough for us," whispered Indiman. "Let us go."

"It's the way of the world," I philosophized as we gained the street.
"One man up and another down. He is young; he will have his chance
again."

"It is Harding's day," said Indiman.

Panama common had closed at 50, a drop of twenty points; there was a
fortune to be made in selling even a few thousand shares short of the
market. It was Harding's day, indeed.

Eight o'clock and Indiman and I sat awaiting his coming. The electric
bell rang sharply, and Bolder ushered in our protege. He came forward,
shook hands, accepted a cigar, and sat down.

"You received my note?" said Indiman.

"Yes."

"What did you do?"

"I bought five thousand Pan. com. at 70."

"Oh, the deuce!" and Indiman stared blankly at his guest.

"You see, it's no use--" began the young man, apologetically, but
Indiman cut him short.

"No use! And with my message in your hand before the market opened--the
exclusive, the absolute information--"

"Here it is," said Mr. Harding, and handed Indiman his own note. The
latter glanced at the contents, and suddenly his face changed.

"Read that, Thorp," he said, and tossed me the message. The letter
contained these words:

"The canal treaty will pass the Senate. Use your own judgment."

"In some inexplicable absence of mind I left out the all-important
'not,'" said Indiman, ruefully, "and it has cost me one hundred