"I want you to go down on 'Change for me. Hurry, boy! There is not a single moment to lose. I want you to get there before the market closes, and tell Caswell for me, to buy two thousand Western Union, Buyer 30, and sell five thousand Northwest preferred, Seller 60. I have just had a 'pointer' by which I shall make a pile if the market goes as I have been informed. You have just three-quarters to make it. If you get there—— Ah, that is right. That boy is invaluable."
The sentence was finished to himself, the break being caused by the exit of the boy to whom he had been speaking.
The white-haired old gentleman stood for some time with a smile upon his lips, rubbing his hands together with an expression of profound satisfaction.
But gradually it faded.
First came a look of deep thought, then one of fear, followed by an expression so full of consternation that to a disinterested observer it would have been laughable.
"By Jove!" he exclaimed aloud, "I am positive that I told that boy to buy Western Union and sell Northwest preferred! If he gives that order as I gave it to him, it will ruin me! What in Heaven's name could ever have made me such a colossal fool! It is impossible to do anything now! He has been gone fully fifteen minutes, and—what in the name of common sense am I to do? Nothing, I suppose. Five thousand Chicago and Northwestern preferred short! Caswell will think I have gone mad! Here! Sarah! Sarah! Tell William to bring the cart to the door, quick! There is not a moment to lose! Don't stand staring at me in that insane way, but hurry! There is not a confounded one of them on this place that is worth the salt in their bread but that boy whom I never saw until a week ago. Where the devil is my coat? I never can find it without that boy. Lord! if Caswell has bought that—— Oh, here it is at last. William, what in the name of Heaven are you doing here? Didn't Sarah tell you to bring the cart to the door?"
"I thought——"
"Never mind what you thought, you infernal fool! What business had you to think? It is too late now. I shall take the elevated."
He banged the door after him as he spoke, and hurried down the street to the nearest elevated station, rushed up the steps, and was forced to wait something over five minutes for the train, during which time he looked at his watch about twenty times.
The day was decidedly cool, but in spite of that fact, the perspiration rolled down his face like rain.