“What’s your selection for to-day, Hodson?” asked Ames, as the man entered.
Hodson laid on his desk three lists of suggested deals on the exchanges of New York, London, and Paris. Ames glanced over them hurriedly, drawing his pencil through certain that did not meet his approval, and substituting others in which for particular reasons he wished to trade that morning. “What’s your reason for thinking I ought to buy Public Utilities?” he asked, looking up at his broker.
“They have the letting of the Hudson river tunnel contract,” replied Hodson.
Ames studied the broker’s face a moment. Then his own brightened, as he began to divine the man’s reason. “By George!” he ejaculated, “you think there’s quicksand along the proposed route?”
“I know it,” said Hodson calmly.
“Pick up ten thousand shares, if you can get them,” returned Ames quickly. Then––“I’m going to attend a meeting of the Council of American Grain Exchanges at two to-day. I want you to be just outside the door.”
Hodson nodded understandingly. Ames concluded, “I guess that’s all. I’m at the bank at ten; at the Board of Trade at ten-thirty; Stock Exchange at eleven; and lunch at Rector’s at twelve sharp, returning here immediately afterward.”
Hodson again bowed, and left the office to undertake his various commissions.
For the next half hour Ames pored over the morning’s quota of letters and messages, making frequent notes, and often turning to the telephone at his hand. Then he summoned a stenographer and rapidly dictated a number of replies. Finally he again called Willett.
“In my next vacant hour, following the one devoted to Lafelle, I want to see Reverend Darius Borwell,” he directed. “Also,” he continued, “wire Strunz that I want a meeting of the Brewers’ Union called at the earliest possible date. By the way, ask Lafelle if he can spend the night with me on board 110 the Cossack, and if so, notify Captain McCall. That will save an hour in the day. Here is a bundle of requests for charity, for contributions to hospitals, orphan asylums, and various homes. Turn them all down, regretfully. H’m! ’Phone to the City Assessor to come over whenever you can arrange an hour and go over my schedule with me. By the way, tell Hood to take steps at once to foreclose on the Bradley estate. Did you find out where Ketchim does his banking?”