登陆注册
5237600000034

第34章 "DEVIL TAKE THE HINDMOST"(1)

Wingrave and Aynesworth were alone in a private room of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. The table at which the former was seated was covered with letters and papers. A New York directory and an atlas were at his elbow.

"I propose," Wingrave said, leaning back in his chair, "to give you some idea of the nature of my business in this country. You will be able then, I trust, to carry out my instructions more intelligibly."Aynesworth nodded.

"I thought," he said, "that you came here simply to remain in seclusion for a time.""That is one of my reasons," Wingrave admitted, "but I had a special purpose in coming to America. During my--enforced seclusion--I made the acquaintance of a man called Hardwell. He was an Englishman, but he had lived in America for some years, and had got into trouble over some company business. We had some conversation, and it is upon his information that I am now going to act.""He is trustworthy?" Aynesworth asked.

"I take the risk," Wingrave answered coolly. "There is a small copper mine in Utah called the Royal Hardwell Copper Mine. The shares are hundred dollar ones, and there are ten thousand of them. They are scarcely quoted now, as the mine has become utterly discredited. Hardwell managed this himself with a false report. He meant to have the company go into liquidation, and then buy it for a very small amount. As a matter of fact, the mine is good, and could be worked at a large profit.""You have Hardwell's's word for that," Aynesworth remarked.

"Exactly!" Wingrave remarked. "I am proceeding on the assumption that he told me the truth. I wish to buy, if possible, the whole of the shares, and as many more as I can get brokers to sell. The price of the shares today is two dollars!""I presume you will send out an expert to the mine first?" Aynesworth said.

"I shall do nothing of the sort," Wingrave answered. "The fact that I was buying upon information would send the shares up at once. I mean to buy first, and then go out to the mine. If I have made a mistake, I shall not be ruined.

If Hardwell's story is true, there will be millions in it."Aynesworth said nothing, but his face expressed a good deal.

"Here are the names of seven respectable brokers," Wingrave continued, passing a sheet of paper towards him. "I want you to buy five hundred shares from each of them. The price may vary a few points. Whatever it is, pay it. Here are seven signed checks. I shall buy myself as many as I can without spoiling the market. You had better start out in about a quarter of an hour and see to this. You have my private ledger?""Yes."

"Open an account to Hardwell in it; a quarter of all the shares I buy are to be in his name, and a quarter of all the profits I make in dealing in the shares is to be credited to him.""A fairly generous arrangement for Mr. Hardwell," Aynesworth remarked.

"There is nothing generous about it," Wingrave answered coldly. "It is the arrangement I made with him, and to which I propose to adhere. You understand what I want you to do?""Perfectly," Aynesworth answered; "I still think, however, that much the wiser course would be to send an expert to the mine first.""Indeed!" Wingrave remarked politely. "That is all, I think. I shall expect to see you at luncheon time. If you are asked questions as to why you are dealing in these shares to such an extent, you can say that the friend for whom you are acting desires to boom copper, and is going on the low price of the metal at the moment. They will think you a fool, and perhaps may not trouble to conceal their opinion after they have finished the business. You must endeavor to support the character. I have no doubt but that you will be successful."Aynesworth moved towards the door.

Once more Wingrave called him back. He was leaning a little forward across the table. His face was very set and cold.

"There is a question which I wish to ask you, Aynesworth," he said. "It concerns another matter altogether. Do you know who sent the Marconigram to Dr. Travers, which brought him to New York to meet his wife?""I do not," Aynesworth answered.

"It was sent by someone on board the ship," Wingrave continued "You have no suspicion as to whom it could have been?""None!" Aynesworth answered firmly. "At the same time, I do not mind telling you this. If I had thought of it, I would have sent it myself."Wingrave shrugged his shoulders.

"It is perhaps fortunate for the continuation of our mutual relations that you did not think of it," he remarked quietly. "I accept your denial. I shall expect you back at one o'clock."At a few minutes after that hour the two men sat down to luncheon. Wingrave at that time was the possessor of six thousand shares in the Royal Hardwell Copper Mine, which had cost him, on an average, two dollars twenty-five. The news of the dealing, however, had got about, and although derision was the chief sentiment amongst the brokers, the price steadily mounted. A dozen telegrams were sent out to the mine, and on receipt of the replies, the dealing became the joke of the day. The mine was still deserted, and no fresh inspection had been made. The price dropped a little. Then Wingrave bought a thousand more by telephone, and it rose again to four. A few minutes before closing time, he threw every share of which he was possessed upon the market, and the next morning Royal Hardwells stood at one dollar seventy-five.

同类推荐
  • 佛说般舟三昧经

    佛说般舟三昧经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 煮药漫抄

    煮药漫抄

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 无言童子经

    无言童子经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛法金汤编

    佛法金汤编

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 聘礼

    聘礼

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 一代圣女倾城弃妃

    一代圣女倾城弃妃

    她本就看淡了世间的繁华,只想为家人报仇,却不曾想,那是她人生的另--个开始为了救弟弟而进入皇宫,却不知是进入了别人的圈套她只能靠自己,为了报仇,她不惜一切代价但是当她遇_上了曾经的爱人,恢复了以前的记忆,她还能坚持着最开始想走的路吗?那一夜,本是夏季,雪却一直下,没人知道怎么回事只有他,痛苦....
  • 狂妃权倾天下

    狂妃权倾天下

    她是相府嫡出的小姐,圣上特封的公主。却因从小体弱多病,又没有习武天赋,被父亲冷落。爹爹不疼,姨娘欺凌,姐妹算计,最终惨死在独门小院,身体差点就被炼成傀儡。她行踪诡异,杀伐果断,是世界杀手之王,却因一块血玉让她的灵魂穿越。杀手之王成为相府千金那日,风云变换,星象紊乱,护国神兽惶惶不安,国师开坛问卜不得其要却遭反噬。百姓传言天人下凡,故不可窥探也……她要的很简单,来去自如的世界,俯首称臣的众生,恩爱无双的男人。且看无能草包,如何扶摇九天。...--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 不能不知的1000个最基本的文化常识

    不能不知的1000个最基本的文化常识

    《不能不知的1000个最基本的文化常识》可以让你轻松获得丰富知识,开拓你的人生境界,浓缩古今中外文化精粹1000条中外优秀文化常识。无论是朋友聚会,还是在社交场合;无论是谈情说爱,还是商务交际;懂得这些常识,将会加倍彰显你的文化底蕴,提升你的档次!
  • 朝闻道

    朝闻道

    高等宇宙生命来到地球,给人类提供一个获得终极答案的可能性,代价是在得到答案之后做一个永远保密的人:最能保密的人是死人。地球科学家排队以求朝闻道,哪怕“夕死”就在眼前。
  • 相遇再见

    相遇再见

    世间的一切相遇都是再见的奖赏,一切再见都是为了下一次相遇做准备
  • 傲娇竹马你不要跑

    傲娇竹马你不要跑

    他们因为一场娃娃亲被绑在一起,就连名字都是被绑在一起的。小时候的易水寒每次出门玩都要带上风潇潇,这并不是易水寒他自己愿意的,而是他的妈妈和他的干妈。易母&风母:“水寒出去玩啊!带上潇潇一起吧。”导致易水寒的小伙伴每次一看到风潇潇都喊:“易水寒~她来了。”这让易水寒特别想甩掉身后的跟屁虫。某一天,易水寒发现风潇潇不再黏他了,好像…有点…不适应了。好像有一种奇怪情愫在他的心中悄悄的发芽…… 【青梅竹马】
  • 校园交通安全管理与教育

    校园交通安全管理与教育

    中小学生是社会未来的接班人,他们能否健康成长,关系到民族的兴衰和社会的进步。育人不仅要进行智力教育,还要进行道德、纪律教育。“十年树木,百年树人”,交通安全宣传教育工作要从学生抓起,使学生从小就接受交通安全知识教育,达到自己教育自己,自己管理自己,养成自觉遵守交通法规的良好习惯。
  • 周赏集(郑欣淼散文)

    周赏集(郑欣淼散文)

    原北京故宫博物院院长、“故宫学”的首倡者郑欣淼先生的散文精选集!书中所记多是怀德含芳的文化名人,有纪念怀想、回忆风云人物的生平事迹,与故友知己的深情厚谊,文中所记颇有许多造诣深厚的艺术界、收藏界名家。散文感情真挚,言辞恳切,眼界高远,思考深刻。文中涉及种种文化、艺术方面的知识和思考,文博界相关的名人轶事,有极强的社会教育意义和可读性;文从字顺,间有佳句妙词,值得品味。《周赏集》是原北京故宫博物院院长、“故宫学”的首倡者郑欣淼先生的散文精选集!本书收录了郑欣淼多年来创作的长短八十多篇文章,约20万字。
  • 终是思君不负卿

    终是思君不负卿

    和亲前夜,苏洵身着白色锦衣长袍,站着她的身后,手指轻柔地捋着三千青丝。“阿楚,你是大梁最锋利的刀,是孤最信任的人。”萧楚无论如何也不会想到,自己心心念念十年的男人,亲手把她送上了绝路。漠北风潇水亦寒,终是思君不负卿。
  • 健康早餐

    健康早餐

    《妈咪私房菜丛书》根据家庭一日三餐的营养需求,精选了一千三百多道营养食谱,食物搭配具有较强的针对性,富含营养,有益身心,让你吃得美味,吃出健康。《妈咪私房菜丛书》内容丰富,实用性强,通俗易懂,是家庭主妇的有益参考书。