red down at the papers on his desk. Once he started to speak, but
checked himself. Then at last he turned about.

"All right," he said, briskly. "We'll see what that will do."

"I'm going over to the Illinois Trust now," said Jadwin, putting on his
hat. "When your boys come in for their orders, tell them for to-day
just to support the market. If there's much wheat offered they'd better
buy it. Tell them not to let the market go below a dollar twenty. When
I come back we'll make out those cables."

That day Jadwin carried out his programme so vehemently announced to
his broker. Upon every piece of real estate that he owned he placed as
heavy a mortgage as the property would stand. Even his old house on
Michigan Avenue, even the "homestead" on North State Street were
encumbered. The time was come, he felt, for the grand coup, the last
huge strategical move, the concentration of every piece of heavy
artillery. Never in all his multitude of operations on the Chicago
Board of Trade had he failed. He knew he would not fail now; Luck, the
golden goddess, still staid at his shoulder. He did more than mortgage
his property; he floated a number of promissory notes. His credit,
always unimpeachable, he taxed to its farthest stretch; from every
source he gathered in the sinews of the war he was waging. No sum was
too great to daunt him, none too small to be overlooked. Reserves, van
and rear, battle line and skirmish outposts he summoned together to
form one single vast column of attack.

It was on this same day while Jadwin, pressed for money, was leaving no
stone unturned to secure ready cash, that he came across old Hargus in
his usual place in Gretry's customers' room, reading a two days old
newspaper. Of a sudden an idea occurred to Jadwin. He took the old man
aside. "Hargus," he said, "do you want a good investment for your
money, that money I turned over to you? I can give you a better rate
than the bank, and pretty good security. Let me have about a hundred
thousand at--oh, ten per cent."

"Hey--what?" asked the old fellow querulously. Jadwin repeated his
request.

But Hargus cast a suspicious glance at him and drew away.

"I--I don't lend my money," he observed.

"Why--you old fool," exclaimed Jadwin. "Here, is it more interest you
want? Why, we'll say fifteen per cent., if you like."

"I don't lend my money," exclaimed Hargus, shaking his head. "I ain't
got any to lend," and with the words took himself off.

O