“Oh, have no fears on that score. We shall make the stock market contribute to your missionary fund. All you’ll have to do is to look on the financial page of your paper every evening and keep posted.”
“I fear, Brother Shaw,” said Dr. Ramsdell, deprecatingly, “that I shall have no little trouble in—ah—keeping posted.”
“Not at all. See, here,” and he took up his paper and turned to the stock tables. “Draw up your chair, Doctor. You see, here is Erie. Yesterday, on transactions of 18,230 shares, Erie Railroad stock sold as high as 64¾ and as low as 63¼, the last or closing sale being at 64½. The numbers mean dollars per share. It was very strong. Haven’t you got a report on that 500 Erie yet, John?”
“Yes, sir,” said John. “Sixty-five and one-eighth.”
“You see, Doctor, the stock is still going up. Well, every day when you look on the table you will see at what price Erie stock is selling. If it is more than 65⅛, why, that will show you are making money. Every point up, that is, every unit, will mean that your missionary fund is $500 richer.”
“And—Brother Shaw—ahem!—if it should be—ah—less?”
“What’s the use of thinking such things, Dr. Ramsdell? All you have to remember is that I am going to make some money for you; and that I paid 65⅛ for the stock I bought.”
“You really think——”
“Have no fears, Doctor. You understand, of course, that it is well not to give such matters undue publicity.”
“Of course, of course,” assented the doctor. “I understand.” But he did not.