In the Exchange, stocks were called alphabetically, and the first upon the list of railroad securities was the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe. This was not a dividend-paying or favorite investment stock, and, probably, three-fourths of it had been held in the street for years, in speculative and marginal holdings. Morning had special reasons for securing control of this road in addition to his general purpose of thwarting the conspirators. Prior to the panic, Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe had vibrated for months between $27 and $33, and on the Saturday previous to the Monday which saw the beginning of the bear raid, it had closed at $30. Under the operations of the conspirators, it had been hammered down to $15, at which figure it closed on the previous Saturday.
One of the syndicate brokers who sat by Wolf, opened the ball by offering two hundred shares of Atchison at $15.
“Taken,” cried Morning, from his seat.
“Five hundred Atchison at $15½,” said the broker.
“Taken,” replied Morning.
A shade of uneasiness covered the features of the broker, but, in response to a gesture from Wolf, he called again:—
“One thousand Atchison offered at $16.”
“Taken,” said Morning.
The broker dropped into his seat and mopped his face with his handkerchief.
“Any further offers of Atchison for sale?” cried the caller.