bsorbed in a stock in which Tavistock did not know he had any interest whatever。 〃G。 L。 and G。？〃 he said。 〃Not muchperhaps thirty thousand shares。 It's been quiet for a long time。 It's an investment stock； you know。〃
Dumont smiled peculiarly。 〃I want a list of the stock…holdersnot all； only those holding more than a thousand shares。〃
〃There aren't many big holders。 Most of the stock's in small lots in the middle West。〃
〃So much the better。〃
〃I'm pretty sure I can get you a fairly accurate list。〃
Tavistock； Dumont's very private and personal broker； had many curious ways of reaching into the carefully guarded books and other business secrets of brokers and of the enterprises listed on the New York Stock Exchange。 He and Dumont had long worked together in the speculative parts of Dumont's schemes。 Dumont was the chief source of his rapidly growing fortune； though no one except Culver； not even Mrs。 Tavistock； knew that they had business relations。 Dumont moved through Tavistock secretly； and Tavistock in turn moved through other agents secretly。 But for such precautions as these the great men of Wall Street would be playing with all the cards exposed for the very lambs to cock their ears at。
〃I want it immediately；〃 said Dumont。 〃Only the larger holders； you understand。〃
〃Haste always costs。 I'll have to get hold of a man who can get hold of some one high up in the Great Lakes dividend department。〃
〃Pay what you musttentwenty thousandmore if necessary。 But get it to…night！〃
〃I'll try。〃
〃Then you'll get it。〃
He slept； with a break of fifteen minutes； until ten the next morning。 Then Tavistock appeared with the list。 〃It was nearly midnight before my man could strike a bargain； so I didn't telephone you。 The dividend clerk made a memory list。 I had him verify it this morning as early as he could get at the books。 He says at least a third of the road is held in small lots abroad。 He's been in charge of the books for twenty years； and he says there have been more changes in the last two months than in all that time。 He thinks somebody has sold a big block of the stock on the quiet。〃
Dumont smiled significantly。 〃I think I understand that；〃 he said。 He glanced at the list。 〃It's even shorter than I thought。〃
〃You notice； one…third of the stock's tied up in the Wentworth estate；〃 said Tavistock。
〃Yes。 And here's the name of Bowen's dividend clerk。 Bowen is traveling in the far East。 Probably he's left no orders about his Great Lakeswhy should he when it's supposed to be as sound and steady as Government bonds？ That means another fifty thousand shares out of the way for our purposes。 Which of these names stand for the Fanning…Smiths？〃
〃I only recognize ScannellJames Fanning…Smith's private secretary。 But there must be others； as he's down for only twenty…one thousand shares。〃
〃Then he's the only one；〃 said Dumont； 〃for the Fanning…Smiths have only twenty…one thousand shares at the present time。 I know that positively。〃
〃What！〃 Tavistock showed that he was astounded。 〃I knew James Fanning…Smith was an ass； but I never suspected him of such folly as that。 So they are the ones that have been selling？〃
〃Yesnot only selling what they owned but also However； no matter。 It's safe to say there are less than a hundred and fifty thousand shares for us to take care of。 I want you to get meright awayoptions for fifteen days on as many of these remaining big lots as possible。 Make the best terms you cananything up to one hundred and twenty…fiveand offer five or even ten dollars a share forfeit for the option。 Make bigger offersfifteenwhere it's necessary。 Set your people to work at once。 They've got the rest of to…day； all day to…morrow； all day Sunday。 But I'd rather the whole thing were closed up by Saturday night。 I'll be satisfied when you've got me control of a hundred thousand sharesthat'll be the outside of safety。〃
〃Yes； you're reasonably sure to win； if you can carry that and look after offerings of fifty thousand in the market。 The options on the hundred thousand shares oughtn't to cost you much more than a million。 The fifty thousand you'll have to buy in the market may cost you six or seven millions。〃 Tavistock recited these figures carelessly。 In reality he was watching Dumont shrewdly； for he had believed that the National Woolens raid had ruined him； had certainly put him out of the large Wall Street moves。
〃In that small drawer； to the left； in the desk there；〃 said Dumont； pointing。 〃Bring me the Inter…State National check…book； and pen and ink。〃
When he had the book he wrote eight checks； the first for fifty thousand； the next five for one hundred thousand each； the last two for two hundred and fifty thousand each。 〃The first check；〃 he said； 〃you may use whenever you like。 The others； except the last two； will be good after two o'clock to…day。 The last two can be used any time after eleven to…morrow。 Anddon't forget！ I'm supposed to be hopelessly illbut then； no one must know you've seen me or know anything about me。 Spread it as a rumor。〃
Tavistock went away convinced； enthusiastic。 There was that in Dumont which inspired men to their strongest； most intelligent efforts。 He was harsh； he was tyrannical； treacherous evenin a large way； often cynically ungrateful。 But he knew how to lead； knew how to make men forget all but the passion for victory； and follow him loyally。 Tavistock had seen his financial brain solve too many 〃unsolvable〃 problems not to have confidence in it。
〃I might have known！〃 he reflected。 〃Why； those fellows apparently only scotched him。 They got the Woolens Company away from him。 He lets it go without a murmur when he sees he's beaten； and he turns his mind to grabbing a big railway as if Woolens had never existed。〃
Just after his elevated train passed Chatham Square on the way down…town Tavistock suddenly slapped his leg with noisy energy and exclaimed half…aloud； 〃By Jove； of course！〃 to the amusement of those near him in the car。 He went on to himself： 〃Why didn't I see it before？ Because it's so beautifully simple； like all the things the big 'uns do。 He's a wonder。 So THAT'S what he's up to？ Gad； what a breeze there'll be next week！〃
At eleven o'clock Doctor Sackett came into Dumont's bedroom； in arms against his patient。
〃You're acting like a lunatic。 No business； I saynot for a week。 Absolute quiet； Mr。 Dumont； or I'll not answer for the consequences。〃
〃I see you want to drive me back into the fever；〃 replied Dumont。 〃But I'm bent on getting well。 I need the medicine I've had this morning； and Culver's bringing me another dose。 If I'm not better when he leaves； I agree to try your prescription of fret and fume。〃
〃You are risking your life。〃
Dumont smiled。 〃Possibly。 But I'm risking it for what's more than life to me； my dear Sackett。〃
〃You'll excite yourself。 You'll〃
〃On the contrary； I shall calm myself。 I'm never so calm and cheerful as when I'm fighting； unless it's when I'm getting ready to fight。 There's something inside meI don't know whatbut it won't let me rest till it has pushed me into action。 That's my nature。 If any one asks how I am； say you've no hope of my recovery。〃
〃I shall tell only the truth in that case；〃 said Sackett； but with resignationhe was beginning to believe that for his extraordinary patient extraordinary remedies might be best。
Dumont listened to Culver's report without interrupting him once。 Culver's position had theretofore been most disadvantageous to himself。 He had been too near to Dumont； had been merged in Dumont's big personality。 Whatever he did well seemed to Dumont merely the direct reflection of his own abilities； whatever he did ill seemed far more stupid than a similar blunder made by a less intimate subordinatewhat excuse for Culver's going wrong with the guiding hand of the Great Man always upon him？
In this； his first important independent assignment； he had at last an opportunity to show his master what he could do； to show that he had not learned the Dumont methods parrot…fashion； but intelligently； that he was no mere reflecting asteroid to the Dumont sun； but a self…luminous； if lesser and dependent； star。
Dumont was in a peculiarly appreciative mood。
〃Why； the fellow's got brainsGOOD brains；〃 was his inward comment again and again as Culver unfolded the information he had collectedclear； accurate； non…essentials discarded； essentials given in detail； hidden points brought to the surface。
It was proof positive of Dumont's profound indifference to money that he listened without any emotion either of anger or of regret to the first part of Culver's tale； the survey of the wreckwhat had been forty millions now reduced to a dubious six。 Dumont had neither time nor strength for emotion； he was using all his mentality in gaging what he had for the work in handjust how long and how efficient was the broken sword with which he must face his enemies in a struggle that meant utter ruin to him if he failed。 For he felt that if he should fail he would never again be able to gather himself together to renew the combat； either he would die outright or he would abandon himself to the appe