the pit-第50节

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；　he　would　have　liked　to　have　his　friends　see　him　just　now　talking　with　this　man。　〃Crookes　was　saying　to…day〃　he　would　observe　when　next　he　met　an　acquaintance。　　For　C。　　H。　　Crookes　was　conceded　to　be　the　〃biggest　man〃　in　La　Salle　Street。　Not　even　the　growing　importance　of　the　new　and　mysterious　Bull　could　quite　make　the　market　forget　the　Great　Bear。　　Inactive　during　all　this　trampling　and　goring　in　the　Pit；　there　were　yet　those　who；　even　as　they　strove　against　the　Bull；　cast　uneasy　glances　over　their　shoulders；　wondering　why　the　Bear　did　not　come　to　the　help　of　his　own。

〃Well；　yes；〃　admitted　Cressler；　combing　his　short　beard；　〃yes；　he　is　a　fool。〃

The　contrast　between　the　two　men　was　extreme。　　Each　was　precisely　what　the　other　was　not。　　The　one；　long；　angular；　loose…jointed；　the　other；　tight；　trig；　small；　and　compact。　　The　one　osseous；　the　other　sleek；　the　one　stoop…shouldered；　the　other　erect　as　a　corporal　of　infantry。

But　as　Cressler　was　about　to　continue　Crookes　put　his　chin　in　the　air。

〃Hark！〃　he　said。　　〃What's　that？〃

For　from　the　direction　of　the　Wheat　Pit　had　come　a　sudden　and　vehement　renewal　of　tumult。　　The　traders　as　one　man　were　roaring　in　chorus。　　There　were　cheers；　hats　went　up　into　the　air。　　On　the　floor　by　the　lowest　step　two　brokers；　their　hands　trumpet…wise　to　their　mouths；　shouted　at　top　voice　to　certain　friends　at　a　distance；　while　above　them；　on　the　topmost　step　of　the　Pit；　a　half…dozen　others；　their　arms　at　fullest　stretch；　threw　the　hand　signals　that　interpreted　the　fluctuations　in　the　price；　to　their　associates　in　the　various　parts　of　the　building。　　Again　and　again　the　cheers　rose；　violent　hip…hip…hurrahs　and　tigers；　while　from　all　corners　and　parts　of　the　floor　men　and　boys　came　scurrying　up。　　Visitors　in　the　gallery　leaned　eagerly　upon　the　railing。　　Over　in　the　provision　pit；　trading　ceased　for　the　moment；　and　all　heads　were　turned　towards　the　commotion　of　the　wheat　traders。

〃Ah；〃　commented　Crookes；　〃they　did　get　it　there　at　last。〃

For　the　hand　on　the　dial　had　suddenly　jumped　another　degree；　and　not　a　messenger　boy；　not　a　porter　not　a　janitor；　none　whose　work　or　life　brought　him　in　touch　with　the　Board　of　Trade；　that　did　not　feel　the　thrill。　The　news　flashed　out　to　the　world　on　a　hundred　telegraph　wires；　it　was　called　to　a　hundred　offices　across　the　telephone　lines。　　From　every　doorway；　even；　as　it　seemed；　from　every　window　of　the　building；　spreading　thence　all　over　the　city；　the　State；　the　Northwest；　the　entire　nation；　sped　the　magic　words；　〃Dollar　wheat。〃

Crookes　turned　to　Cressler。

〃Can　you　lunch　with　me　to…dayat　Kinsley's？　　I'd　like　to　have　a　talk　with　you。〃

And　as　soon　as　Cressler　had　accepted　the　invitation；　Crookes；　with　a　succinct　nod；　turned　upon　his　heel　and　walked　away。

At　Kinsley's　that　day；　in　a　private　room　on　the　second　floor；　Cressler　met　not　only　Crookes；　but　his　associate　Sweeny；　and　another　gentleman　by　the　name　of　Freye；　the　latter　one　of　his　oldest　and　best…liked　friends。

Sweeny　was　an　Irishman；　florid；　flamboyant；　talkative；　who　spoke　with　a　faint　brogue；　and　who　tagged　every　observation；　argument；　or　remark　with　the　phrase；　〃Do　you　understand　me；　gen'lemen？〃　Freye；　a　German…　American；　was　a　quiet　fellow；　very　handsome；　with　black　side　whiskers　and　a　humourous；　twinkling　eye。　　The　three　were　members　of　the　Board　of　Trade；　and　were　always　associated　with　the　Bear　forces。　　Indeed；　they　could　be　said　to　be　its　leaders。　　Between　them；　as　Cressler　afterwards　was　accustomed　to　say；　〃They　could　have　bought　pretty　much　all　of　the　West　Side。〃

And　during　the　course　of　the　luncheon　these　three；　with　a　simplicity　and　a　directness　that　for　the　moment　left　Cressler　breathless；　announced　that　they　were　preparing　to　drive　the　Unknown　Bull　out　of　the　Pit；　and　asked　him　to　become　one　of　the　clique。

Crookes；　whom　Cressler　intuitively　singled　out　as　the　leader；　did　not　so　much　as　open　his　mouth　till　Sweeny　ad　talked　himself　breathless；　and　all　the　preliminaries　were　out　of　the　way。　　Then　he　remarked；　his　eye　as　lifeless　as　the　eye　of　a　fish；　his　voice　as　expressionless　as　the　voice　of　Fate　itself：

〃I　don't　know　who　the　big　Bull　is；　and　I　don't　care　a　curse。　　But　he　don't　suit　my　book。　　I　want　him　out　of　the　market。　　We've　let　him　have　his　way　now　for　three　or　four　months。　　We　figured　we'd　let　him　run　to　the　dollar　mark。　　The　May　option　closed　this　morning　at　a　dollar　and　an　eighth。。。。　　Now　we　take　hold。

〃But；〃　Cressler　hastened　to　object；　〃you　forgetI'm　not　a　speculator。〃

Freye　smiled；　and　tapped　his　friend　on　the　arm。

〃I　guess；　Charlie；〃　he　said；　〃that　there　won't　be　much　speculating　about　this。〃

〃Why；　gen'lemen；〃　cried　Sweeny；　brandishing　a　fork；　we're　going　to　sell　him　right　out　o'　the　market；　so　we　are。　　Simply　flood　out　the　son…of…a…gunyou　understand　me；　gen'lemen？〃

Cressler　shook　his　head。

〃No；〃　he　answered。　　〃No；　you　must　count　me　out。　　I　quit　speculating　years　ago。　　And；　besides。　　to　sell　short　on　this　kind　of　marketI　don't　need　to　tell　you　what　you　risk。〃

〃Risk　hell！〃　muttered　Crookes。

〃Well；　now；　I'll　explain　to　you；　Charlie；〃　began　Freye。

The　other　two　withdrew　a　little　from　the　conversation。　Crookes；　as　ever　monosyllabic；　took　himself　on　in　a　little　while；　and　Sweeny；　his　chair　tipped　back　against　the　wall；　his　hands　clasped　behind　his　head；　listened　to　Freye　explaining　to　Cressler　the　plans　of　the　proposed　clique　and　the　lines　of　their　attack。

He　talked　for　nearly　an　hour　and　a　half；　at　the　end　of　which　time　the　lunch　table　was　one　litter　of　papers　letters；　contracts；　warehouse　receipts；　tabulated　statistics；　and　the　like。

〃Well；〃　said　Freye；　at　length；　〃well；　Charlie；　do　you　see　the　game？　　What　do　you　think　of　it？〃

〃It's　about　as　ingenious　a　scheme　as　I　ever　heard　of；　Billy；〃　answered　Cressler。　　〃You　can't　lose；　with　Crookes　back　of　it。〃

〃Well；　then；　we　can　count　you　in；　hey？〃

〃Count　nothing；〃　declared　Cressler；　stoutly。　　〃I　don't　speculate。〃

〃But　have　you　thought　of　this？〃　urged　Freye；　and　went　over　the　entire　proposition；　from　a　fresh　point　of　view；　winding　up　with　the　exclamation：　〃Why；　Charlie；　we're　going　to　make　our　everlasting　fortunes。〃

〃I　don't　want　any　everlasting　fortune；　Billy　Freye；〃　protested　Cressler。　　〃Look　here；　Billy。　　You　must　remember　I'm　a　pretty　old　cock。　　You　boys　are　all　youngsters。　　I've　got　a　little　money　left　and　a　little　business；　and　I　want　to　grow　old　quiet…like。　　I　had　my　fling；　you　know；　when　you　boys　were　in　knickerbockers。　Now　you　let　me　keep　out　of　all　this。　　You　get　some　one　else。〃

〃No；　we'll　be　jiggered　if　we　do；〃　exclaimed　Sweeny。　〃Say；　are　ye　scared　we　can't　buy　that　trade　journal？　Why；　we　have　it　in　our　pocket；　so　we　have。　　D'ye　think　Crookes；　now；　couldn't　make　Bear　sentiment　with　the　public；　with　just　the　lift　o'　one　forefinger？　　Why；　he　owns　most　of　the　commercial　columns　of　the　dailies　already。　　D'ye　think　he　couldn't　swamp　that　market　with　sellin'　orders　in　the　shorter　end　o'　two　days？　　D'ye　think　we　won't　all　hold　together；　now？　　Is　that　the　bug　in　the　butter？　　Sure；　now；　listen。　　Let　me　tell　you〃

〃You　can't　tell　me　anything　about　this　scheme　that　you've　not　told　me　before；〃　declared　Cressler。　　〃You'll　win；　of　course。　　Crookes　&　Co。　are　like　Rothschild　earthquakes　couldn't　budge　'em。　　But　I　promised　myself　years　ago　to　keep　out　of　the　speculative　market；　and　I　mean　to　stick　by　it。〃

〃Oh；　get　on　with　you；　Charlie；〃　said　Freye；　good…　humouredly；　〃you're　scared。〃

〃Of　what；〃　asked　Cressler；　〃speculating？　　You　bet　I　am；　and　when　you're　as　old　as　I　am；　and　have　been　through　three　panics；　and　have　known　what　it　meant　to　have　a　corner　bust　under　you；　you'll　be　scared　of　speculating　too。〃

〃But　suppose　we　can　prove　to　you；〃　said　Sweeny；　all　at　once；　〃that　we're　not　speculatingthat　the　other　fellow；　this　fool　Bull　is　doing　the　speculating？〃

〃I'll　go　into　anything　in　the　way　of　legitimate　trading；〃　answered　Cressler；　getting　up　from　the　table。　〃You　convince　me　that　your　clique　is　not　a　speculative　clique；　and　I'll　come　in。　　But　I　don't　see　how　your　deal　can　be　anything　else。〃

〃Will　you　meet　us　here　to…morrow？〃　asked　Sweeny；　as　they　got　into　their　overcoats。

〃It　won't　do　you　any　good；〃　persisted　Cressler。

〃Well；　will　you　meet　us　just　the　same？〃　the　other　insisted。　　And　in　the　end　Cressler　accepted。

On　the　steps　of　the　restaurant　they　parted；　and　the　two　leaders　watched　Cressler's　broad；　stooped　shoulders　disappear　down　the　street。

〃He's　as　good　as　in　already；〃　Sweeny　declared。　　〃I'll　fix　him　to…morrow。　　Once　a　speculator；　always　a　speculator。　　He　was　the　cock　of　the　cow…yard　in　his　day；　and　the　thing　is　in　the　blood。　　He　gave　himself　clean；　clean　away　when　he　let　out　he　was　afraid　o'　speculating。　　You　can't　be　afraid　of　anything　that　ain't　got　a　hold　on　you。　　Y'　understand　me　now？〃

〃Well；〃　observed　Freye；　〃we've　got　to　get　him　in。〃

〃Talk　to　me　about　that　now；〃　Sweeny　answered。　　〃I'm　new　to　some　parts　o'　this　scheme　o'　yours　yet。　　Why　is　Crookes　so　keen　on　having　him　in？　　I'm　not　so　keen。　　We　could　get　along　without　him。　　He　ain't　so　god…awful　rich；　y'　know。〃

〃No；　but　he's　a　solid；　conservative　cash　grain　man；〃　answered　Freye；　〃who　hasn't　been　associated　with　speculating　for　years。　　Crookes　has　got　to　have　that　element　in　the　clique　bef