t whatever expense; only that it be rushed to our
markets with all the swiftness of steam and steel." At home, upon the
Chicago Board of Trade, Jadwin was as completely master of the market
as of his own right hand. Everything stopped when he raised a finger;
everything leaped to life with the fury of obsession when he nodded his
head. His wealth increased with such stupefying rapidity, that at no
time was he able to even approximate the gains that accrued to him
because of his corner. It was more than twenty million, and less than
fifty million. That was all he knew. Nor were the everlasting hills
more secure than he from the attack of any human enemy. Out of the
ranks of the conquered there issued not so much as a whisper of
hostility. Within his own sphere no Czar, no satrap, no Caesar ever
wielded power more resistless.

"Sam," said Curtis Jadwin, at length to the broker, "Sam, nothing in
the world can stop me now. They think I've been doing something big,
don't they, with this corner. Why, I've only just begun. This is just a
feeler. Now I'm going to let 'em know just how big a gun C. J. really
is. I'm going to swing this deal right over into July. I'm going to buy
in my July shorts."

The two men were in Gretry's office as usual, and as Jadwin spoke, the
broker glanced up incredulously.

"Now you are for sure crazy."

Jadwin jumped to his feet.

"Crazy!" he vociferated. "Crazy! What do you mean? Crazy! For God's
sake, Sam, what--Look here, don't use that word to me. I--it don't
suit. What I've done isn't exactly the work of--of--takes brains, let
me tell you. And look here, look here, I say, I'm going to swing this
deal right over into July. Think I'm going to let go now, when I've
just begun to get a real grip on things? A pretty fool I'd look like to
get out now--even if I could. Get out? How are we going to unload our
big line of wheat without breaking the price on us? No, sir, not much.
This market is going up to two dollars." He smote a knee with his
clinched fist, his face going abruptly crimson. "I say two dollars," he
cried. "Two dollars, do you hear? It will go there, you'll see, you'll
see."

"Reports on the new crop will begin to come in in June." Gretry's
warning was almost a cry. "The price of wheat is so high now, that God
knows how many farmers will plant it this spring. You may have to take
care of a record harvest."

"I know better," retorted Jadwin. "I'm watching this thing. You can't
t