CHAPTER XLI.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1583, 26 August 1882, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER XLI.

For some time aftorlie had arrived at Grit Jack was occupied in transacting business. His purchases had been so laige that it took up half an hour in singing cheques and receiving sciip.. Large as was his balance at the Lank, he had to sign for a much heavier amount, and he would have to deposit the shares with Keenman, his banker, and obtain an overdraft. The t-igning took place in Jolliboy's office, Avheie a game of 100 was going on, and the pop of champagne corks was incessant. As Jack signed the last cheque, which was for a, very large sum, a stiange feeling came over him. What was he doing ? Would it not be better if he, were to east aside his purchases,, and stick to the ready money ? ,13ut he dismissed this idea at once. To lose his name, was to lose everything ; and besides, could he not make several thousands already ontheHcsperos^ Extended shares he had purchased ? r There was no reason to .fear a, revulsion, in these shares at least,, ; He felt morally, confident that they would pay the amount in dividends in two years. So he signed ijhe last cheque, and rising, took a stiff .glasaof champagne, and walked out to, see ; what was going oil under v th.e Beehive^ . resisting, the importunity of the low-pjayers, who. wanted him to join in their/little game. ,, , ■ It was.* almost I'impossible1 ' impossible 'to move through * the immense -crowd that had congregated. Every section of Grit, of 'Melbourne, <of Sydney,' I and of Adelaide, was represented there, cfrom.the humbler brokers and i share- job' bera^ who (-went in for penny stocky to* the * leviathans : who speculated their tens of thousands. ,Men , never thought of lettirigTtHeirpocketbooks 6nt'of their / hands t ; l ifcwasa»c6nstant ease 'ofscrijbble. Every tent minutest a new frun -Wad^estai&lisKe dt. > - 'Stocku worth six. jjence would be discovered.-j'to' b^>: v&luable;^ffdjtstprice would-be 'run up' to^s. v luWb'&n;tne speeu'latbra^wbuld^Je r ave iir'ah'dwgelhold'of? /another, f • Jacki? Btood f ; 2ini a^re^iiniit«Hi3'iraii^l?^wents . &cfe¥io|J tKe^ldfigi^pjf jlfatl; Ifafb^^'tfo^aldu|if#tbS^aoli*s%^ '1/KwCf6el^ s wie«Afgftt*bxirdSwliQotiij^*wl' tißv

trees, the discordant squeak of th 6 opossum now and then breaking the illusion of peace and po63y. Oh, fatal remembrance ! On this very spot Bertha and be played together ' when the 'earth mas unscarred and the waters clears^as crystal. He felt • a choking sensation, and the hot drops came- into his ieyeB. Oh, for the blessed days of the past ! when there was no gas 3 - nothing 'b'nt the moonbeams ;-— when, instead of the 1 discordant band that now brayed on the balcony of 'the Garryowen, the wind matte mtisre' in -the trees, and the frogs croaked in the lagoons. Now the bands played, • the ' >■ crowd ■ bufczed, the cabs rattled, and r in- th« distance could be heard the* mighty pulse-like throbbing of 'the machinery.* Jaok had little time for ' reverie. < He was immediately {surrounded by< is crowd who eagerly sought him^fotf he was 'wow the hero of Giit; the king of milling; men' — like 'other kings' most * 'unhappy. Brokerd rushed him, • begging f (H'esperua Extended scrip, but he Would not hear them. He still continued to buy; - but, such was' the excitement over the stock that few eared to sell. sl! ' <'< " It's all very well," said. one holder, when Jack asked him to name a 1 price, " but I'm nota fool. Why the manager told me to-day that the 1 cef was 60' feet wide, 1 and would go lOoz. to the < t»n. I've calculated the length and depth,' and made out that the million pounds' worth of gold ought to be got. ' The Shares will go to £50." *' I remember," saida despondent man, who stood by, '• when I held a thoi'isand shares which I brought for 25. ; 6d. each." ■ " Is it going to last ?" asked anotlier, in a doubting tone. 1 ' * "Last !"saidJolliboy, contemptuously. •'Of course it will. As long'»as the gold returns are so good it must.'' The temendous crowd was in a state of mental and physical intoxication.' From ten o'clock that day they had been imbibing, and many of them were' excited to madness with drink and speculation. Their faces where flushed, their eyes wild, their motions feverish and restless. But amongst the crowd there were men who were not blind to what was going on, and who came the conclusion that things could not continue at such 'High pressure. In the greed of their grasping s-ouls, however, they desired to obtain the highest figur°, and 'calculated that they would get that to-morrow. They had come to the same determination every clay for the past week ; but each morning when they saw the tide of speculation setting it witli fresh ardor, they could not lesist, and they were borne along with it like, helpless straws.. They would sell out to-monow. But the majority of these men were agreed' that the moment the market appeared jthe least shaky, they would sell at any loss. If we take a note of this, what followed is easy of explanation. In all that whirl of exitement the bank managers might be seen hovering around the edges of the crowd. Now and then they would meet together and discus?. The times were big with their fate.