Part 37 (1/2)

'Yes, he seemed quite confident about it. Well, what do you think, Maude? Is it good enough or not?'

'O Frank, I hardly dare advise you. Just imagine if we were to lose it all. Do you think it would be wiser to get a hundred shares, and then we could buy twenty-five pounds' worth of Royal Bonanza as well.

It would be impossible for them both to go wrong.'

'The Royal Bonanza shares are dear, and then we have had no information about it. I think we had better back our own opinion.'

'All right, Frank.'

'Then that is settled. I have a telegraph-form here.'

'Could you not buy them yourself when you are in town?'

'No, you can't buy things yourself. You have to do it through a broker.'

'I always thought a broker was a horrid man, who came and took your furniture away.'

'Ah, that's another kind of broker. He comes afterwards. I promised Harrison that he should have any business which I could put in his way, so here goes. How is that?' -

'Harrison, 13a Throgmorton Street, E.C.--Buy two hundred El Dorado Proprietaries.

'CROSSE, Woking.'

'Doesn't it sound rather peremptory, Frank?'

'No, no, that is mere business.'

'I hope he won't be offended.'

'I think I can answer for that.'

'You have not said the price.'

'One cannot say the price because one does not know it. You see, it is always going up and down. By this time it may be a little higher or a little lower than yesterday. There cannot be much change, that is certain. Great Scot, Maude, it is ten-fifteen. Three and a half minutes for a quarter of a mile. Good-bye, darling! I just love you in that bodice. O Lord--good-bye!'

'Well, has anything happened?'

'Yes, you have come back. Oh I am so glad to see you, you dear old boy!'

'Take care of that window, darling!'

'Oh, my goodness, I hope he didn't see. No, it's all right. He was looking the other way. We have the gold shares all right.'

'Harrison has telegraphed?'

'Yes, here it is.' -

'Crosse, The Lindens, Woking.--Bought two hundred El Dorados at 4.75.