e could induce him to buy stocks by telling
him how well the companies were doing, how bright the prospects, etc.
That was bait for "suckers," not for clever young stock operators.
But any one, even a stranger, who said that "they"--the perennially
mysterious "they," the "big men," the mighty "manipulators" whose
life was one prolonged conspiracy to pull the wool over the public's
eyes--"they" were going to "jack up" these or the other shares, was
welcomed and his advice acted upon. Young Freeman believed in nothing
but "their" wickedness and "their" power to advance or depress stock
values at will. Thinking of his wisdom had given him a chronic sneer.

"You're just the man I was looking for," said Gilmartin, who hadn't
thought of the young man at all.

"Are you a deputy sheriff?"

"No." A slight pause for oratorical effect. "I had a long talk with Sam
to-day."

"What Sam?"

"Sharpe. The old boy sent for me. He was in mighty good humor
too. Tickled to death. He might well be--he's got 60,000 shares of
Pennsylvania Central. And there's going to be from 50 to 60 points
profit in it."

"H'm!" sniffed Freeman, sceptically, yet impressed by the change In
Gilmartin's attitude from the money-borrowing humility of the previous
week to the confident tone of a man with a straight tip. Sharpe was
notoriously kind to his old friends--rich or poor.

"I was there when the papers were signed," Gilmartin said, hotly. "I
was going to leave the room, but Sam told me I needn't. I can't tell you
what it is about; really I can't. But he's simply going to put the stock
above par. It's 64 1/2 now, and you know and I know that by the time it
is 75 the newspapers will all be talking about inside buying; and at 85
everybody will want to buy it on account of important developments; and
at 95 there will be millions of bull tips on it and rumors of increased
dividends, and people who would not look at it thirty points lower will
rush in and buy it by the bushel. Let me know who is manipulating a
stock, and to h--l with dividends and earnings. Them's _my_ sentiments,"
with a final hammering nod, as if driving in a profound truth.

"Same here," assented Freeman, cordially. He was attacked on his
vulnerable side.

Strange things happen in Wall Street. Sometimes tips come true. It so
proved in this case. Sharpe started the stock upward brilliantly--the
movement became historic in the Street--and Pa. Cent, soared dizzily and
all the newspape