A GAMBLER'S CHANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14250, 22 December 1909, Page 4 (Supplement)

A GAMBLER'S CHANCE.

tITTLE did it avail Jakio Feinberg that he; cold more Tageblatts , than any other boy in Seward Park, for the Semitic ancestry that determined the quality of hia business ability had endowed him with an inordinate lust for gambling, which confumed all the profits of his newspaper Vending. Now, Jimmie Brennan's attitude toward gambling was different. He played craps because it was the vogue. If you didn't shoot dice, you weren't one of the gang, he reasoned ; and so he continued to risk not only the small sum at stake, but a good licking from hie mother to boot. Mrs. Brennan allowed Jimmie out of his weekly stipend sixty cents for lunches, which he was permitted to spend at the rate of ten cents daily; aftd to the end that none of it should go for riotous living, he whs obliged each night to display the correct unexpended balance, or suffer the penalty. Barely did he exceed his daily allowance, for his mother's hand was heavy, and, laid on in correction, potent for good. Accordingly, one Monday morning it was an untoward'destiny that confronted Jimmie with the tempter, Jakie Feinberg, and ho arrived a half hour late at Mr. Goodel's office, with but twenty of the hebdomadal fif'y cents remaining in his troupers. Only the necessity of reaching the office beforo his employer had Drought the game to a reluctant close, and it was with the promise to renew the contest on tho dock at. the foot of Wall-street between one and two that Jimmie had _hastened down-town to his labour. He arrived breathless, to find his employer, Mr. Goodel, seated in the private office. Mr. Goodel frowned severely as Jimmie tiptoed to his little desk in the outer room. , "Boy!" he cried in an awful voice, " you're late!" Jimmie gulped and made no reply. " Where have you been?" Mr. Goodel continued, and waited for a reply. At last Jimmies excuse found husky enunciation. " I was sick," he muttered. His cheeks, already flushed by the exertion, became crimson in his effort to stem the impending tears ; but do as he might, a large drop formed in the corner of his eye and rolled slowly down his cheek. Mr. Goodel plunged behind the extended sheets of his morning paper ami grew suddenly interested in the editorial columns. Well, sit down in your chair and take it easy," he said, in tones of gruff kindliness. "Maybe you'll feel better after a

■while." Then from the editorial page he turned to the stock quotations. In the transaction of his business of investment securities Mr. Goodel at all times displayed a conservative moderation. He dreaded wildcat enterprises, and in reading the market report it was his custom to skim over in the most cursory fashion all references to mining securities, and rarely did he give more than passing notice to the quotations of industrials. To-day, however, his eye wandered over the financial page, and, caught by the leaded heading, " United Chocolate and Cocoa," he read with interest the item that followed : —

"In United Chocolate and Cocoa ther* was a resumption of the phenomenal activity which developed yesterday on the agreement between, both, caucuses of the House to increase the duty on manufactured cocoa fifty per cent, ad valorem. It is expected that the tariff-revision bill will pass the House by a large majority this afternoon, and in anticipation of the result the price of the preferred stock rose thirty points yesterday. Conservative op % erators predict that it will touch par before the close of the market to-day." Thus read Mr. Goodel. He made a rapid calculation by which he found that in selling five hundred N.Y.S. fours at ninety-nine, and investing the proceeds in •'Chocolate," as tho abbreviated term has it, he would net a profit of something like goodness knows ho v many thousand dollars before breakfast the next morning. Then his better judgment prevailed and he laid down the paper with a sigh. New York Southern bond« are as tangible as gold eagles, but "Chocolate"— well, " Chocolate" was an unlisted security dealt in by curb-brokers on Broad-street— and, to Mr. Goodel, a curb-broker was even as a dissenting minister to a clergyman of the Church of England.

11. At this- juncture Goodel's brother-in-law. one Rushmore. Luddington, entered and greeted him noisily. Luddington waa a dealer in commercial paper—the dealer in commercial paper, and hail-fellow-well-met •with every bank president in Wall-street. His conversation waa studded with allusions to dialogues between himself and thee© executive officers, wherein ho addressed each one of them by hie abbreviated Christian name, and they called him in return, " Luddy, old boy." He hid a «hrewd temperament beneath a/boyish. and jovial exterior that in an old man might be thought a trifle unbecoming. Goodel, however, had a high opinion of * hie brother-in-law's judgment, and could always gauge the importance of the information, which Luddington could, if he would, disclose, by tho decree of hilarity be developed. Tni3 morning he was particularly boisterous, and Goodel scented a valuable mar-ket-tip under the cloak of his brother-in-law's, merriment. " H'i», Xjuddy," ho cried. " How's the market? Sit down make yourself comfortable." • » Luddy sank into the chair with a grunt. His two hundred pounds, contained within a trifle more than five feet, were further compressed by a frock-coat, which fitted without a wrinkle and made almost an acrobatic feat out of the simple act of sitting down. " Look here, Coodel," he said, in tonws of a melting confidential timber. " There's the opportunity of a lifetime to-day. The House is euro to pass the Tariff Revision Bill, and when it does there will be some astounding developments." Goodel blew clouds of smoke that expressed his interest more* eloquently than speech alone. " I see you've been reading the financial page," Luddy went on; "but their prediction isn't Half bright enough." His voice -sank to a. whisper. "I have K.P.'e word for it,' Chocolate' will touch*one hundred and fifty by next

week.'" Goodel shook hie head. It's no use, Luddy," he &aid. " I haven't the available uncle, and if I had. speculation is not in my line. Luddington made an impatent gesture. " The opportunity of a lifetime," ho repeated "You know I never take a flier, for I couldn't buy a hundred shares " without everyone on Wall-street' knowing * it; but really, my dear Goodel, it would bo*' criminal to neglect this splendid occasion." • ; "I tell you what 111 do, . Goodel in- . terru'ted. "Co and take lunch with me. In the meantime I'll think, it over, and if I decide on anything I'l let you know then." • ' ' '• ' • Luddington arose and fairly wafted himself' out .of j the office, for, despite his weight, he was remarkably light on hie fe©t, : and • dashed around from. bank to bank, peddling his commercial paper, with all tho agility of a man half his age. " I'll see you at twelve," he eaid, going out He loft a faint odour of violets behind him, for Luddy's boutonniere was as much a part of him ae his little epiked beard*

BY MONTAGUE GLASS.

Goodel smoked furiously at his- cigar until the ends of his moustache were perilously near to scorching. " Boy," he called, flinging away the end, "how do you fool now?" Jimmie arose and murmured that ho was better. Then' go out and buy me three evening papers, showing the opening prices," he said. "Be sure to get one showingthe opening prices. Do you understand .' " Yeesir," Jimmie replied, and ran for the elevator. Ho returned ten minutes later with throe papers, one of them pink, Goodel took them into his room and shut the door. Ho turned theip over and over, but not a trace of any market news was visible. " Bov," he roared, didn't I tell you to buy'me a paper with the opening prices in it ?"

" Yessir," said Jimmie. . "Well, where are they?" Jimmie folded the first page and grinned triumphantly. "Here they are, sir," he cried, and pointed . to a double heading "To-Day's Entries and Probable? Odds." Goodel seemed to bo on the verge of apoplexy. " You take these papers back,!' lie yelled, "and get me the edition showing the stock-market opening." When Jimmio came back Mr. Goodel ascertained that "Chocolate" had opened at ninety with ten sales in tho first three minutes. Ho paced up and down tho room, and then, with an air of determination, he put ou his hat and went down to the office of Matthews and Company, his brokers, where ho watched the ticker for a good three-quarters of an hour. "Chocolate" advanced on thousand-share sales to ninety-five, and had Mr. Goodel been a man of nervous temperament, his excitement might have conquered his judgment and he would have loaded himself up with every share of " Chocolate" available. As it was, when he entered his office ;t needed little pressure on the part of Mr. Luddington, for he had about made up his mind to buy a thousand shares. The inmost confidence prevailed in Wall-street that the- Tariff Revision Bill would go through before two o'clock, and not only "Chocolate," but many other industrials on the list reflected, by a sharp advance in prices, the excited tone of the market. Luddington arrived twelve, and Goodel and he left immediately, nor did they return until nearly one. Luddington's strident laughter testified to a successful luncheon, with at least two quarts of wine, while even Goodel was a trifle flushed: and garrulous. He sat down immediately and drew a cheque for a large amount, which, together with an order to purchase two thousand " Chocolate," he enclosed in an envelope addressed to Matthews and Company.

111. It was now ten minutes past one, and Jimmie chafed at the delay. No doubt Jakio Feinberg would wait for him, but one hour was a trifling period in which to recoup his morning's losses. At length Mr. Goodel called him into his office. " Bov," he said, "you go to lunch now, and while you're out take this letter to Matthews and Company. Be'cure to go there first." Jimmie seized the envelop© and was off like a flash. " Be careful," Mr. Gdodel called aftor him. " Don't lose it.'-' Luddington rose, and they shook hands with such cordiality as a bottle of wine will engender. " Wish you luck, old man," he said. "You're in for a good thing.", Goodel smiled a little vacuously and, as Luddington closed the door, sighed heavily. Speculation, he reflected, plays the deuce with a man's money and peace of mind. His. lips uttered and reuttered tho words till a faint drowsiness came over him and. induced by his unwonted intemperance i»t luncheon, his head lurched forward on his breast, and he sank into a profound slumber. Jimmie hastened down to the foot of Wall-street, the note tucked in his breast pocket, 'and the thought of Jakie waiting there spurred him on", so that he arrived at about half-past One. For once Jakie's luck stayed with him while they shook the dice and threw again and again until Jimmy's twenty cents dwindled to five, mounted to fifteen, diminished once more. At last, at a quarter to three, fortune entirely deserted him, ami he was obliged to declare himself flat broke.

Ho retraced his steps to the office, plunged in despondency. As ho reached the corner of Broad-street an excited mob surged round the curb-brokers' enclosure. Messengers ran hither and thither, and overgrown newsboys with husky base voices were yelling their extras. His hands were thrust' deep into his trousers pockets and his mind dwelt on the licking to come, so that when Luddington bounded clown the steps of the Industrial Trust Company building, Jimmie not only failed to see him, but was knocked squarely Into the gutter as well. Luddington rushed over to Goodel's quarters and burst into the private office like a whirlwind. Its occupant snored in oblivion of the disaster that awaited him as Luddington entered and shook him by the shoulder. " Goodel, wake up," Luddington yelled. There was no trace of the debonair " Luddy, old man," in the perspiring and dishevelled figure that fairly danced with excitement. • "What's the matter?" gasped the rudely awakened Goodel. "Awful, awful!" Luddy ejaculated. " The TarijT Revision Bill waa defeated. Some misunderstanding among the leaders; ' Chocolate' dropped to fifty, and the bottom's fallen out of the whole market." Goodel turned white and almost fainted. "Let's get a paper., Here you, boy," he yelled. There was no answer. Goodel jumped up and reached the outer office just as the forlorn Jimmie entered, all dusty from hie tumble, and attempted to reach his desk unnoticed. "Here, you boy, where've you been?" he said. "To lunch," Jimmie croaked. "To lunch !" Goodel shouted. " Great heavens, it's almost three o'clock!'' Jimmie made no reply. I "Did you deliver that letter?" Goodel said. Jimmie jumped as though he had been shot. "Oh, gee!" he muttered. "I forgot all about it," and reaching down into his breast pocket, he pulled out the crumpled missive addressed to Matthews and Company._ " Give it to me. give it to me !" Goodel shrieked hysterically, and without waiting to open it, tore envelope; cheque, and order to a. thousand pieces. He sank into a chair utterly exhausted with excitement. "What delayed you all this time?" lie said weakly, trying to maintain a semblance of composure. Jimmie hung his head. " I met a kid I know and we were shooting craps," he almost whispered. "What-!" roared Goodel. "Gambling, hey? And you lost, too, I'll bet a million." Jimyie nodded dolefully. "Well," said hie employer, reaching down into his pocket, " here's a ten-dollar bill for you. Don't ever gamble again. It's a terrible thing to do. It loses your money and destroys ydfcr peace of mind, by gad !" He turned to Luddington with a smile. "And now, Luddington," he said cheerfully. " Let's go down and steady our nerves.'"