Part 8 (1/2)
Fred hastened to Bowles' office and told him to sell. In five minutes it was done, and they had made over $6,000 on the deal. Manson sent Bob to Bryant with a note. Somebody had just dumped 3,000 shares on the big broker and he was in a bad humor when Bob came to him with the note. He looked down and saw who it was--the boy who had gotten the situation for his typewriter--and quick as a flash he gave him a kick that sent him sprawling on the floor. Bob had the note still in his hand when he scrambled to his feet again. But he did not deliver it. He staggered out of the Exchange, feeling sick from the effects of the blow, and made his way back to the office, where he told Mr. Manson what had happened.
”It was an accident, Bob,” the broker said. ”The excitement in there is awful, you know.”
”No, sir. It was no accident,” said Bob. ”He hates me because I found a place for his typewriter who left him because he wanted to make love to her.”
Munson laughed and said:
”That must me a mistake, my boy.”
”No mistake about it. The girl is in Bowles' office, and she'll tell you the same thing. I am going to have him arrested.”
”Oh, that won't do.”
”I'll make it do.”
Bob was mad.
”See here, young man, I'll give you your walking papers if I hear any more talk like that!”
”Give 'em to me right away then,” said Bob. ”I'm going to see if a man can kick the innerds out of a boy just for fun and not pay for it.”
Manson was surprised at Bob's s.p.u.n.k. He looked at him in silence for a minute or two and then said:
”You are mad clear through, eh?”
”You bet I am!”
”Well, wait till I see him before doing anything.”
”All right; but you want to see him soon.”
”I'll see him after 3 o'clock.”
After 3 o'clock Bob, Fred and Broker Manson went over to Bryant's office. Bryant was at his desk.
”Why did you kick my messenger, Bryant?” Manson asked.
”Was it your messenger?”
”Yes.”
”I didn't know who it was. I felt some one pulling my coat-tail and kicked out. It was no time for fooling. You know, somebody is always fooling over there?”
”That's a lie,” said Bob. ”You know I touched your elbow, not your coat-tail. You looked down in my face, saw who it was and then kicked me.”
Bryant was so astounded at being given the lie so bluntly he sat still and heard Bob through without uttering a word; then he looked up at Manson and said:
”There's cheek for you!”
”Cheek!” exclaimed Bob. ”Don't say a word about cheek! Your cheek drove your typewriter out of your office. I got a place for her, and you had the cheek to go to her new place and raise a row. That is what you kicked me for. Two members of the Exchange told me to prosecute you and call them as witnesses--Mr. Turner and Mr. Agnew.”