t the spring wheat, and in every
direction there were complaints of weevils and chinch bugs. Later on
other deluges had discoloured and damaged the winter crop. Jadwin was
now, by virtue of his recent purchases, "long" one million bushels, and
the market held firm at seventy-two cents--a twelve-cent advance in two
months.

"She'll react," warned Gretry, "sure. Crookes and Sweeny haven't taken
a hand yet. Look out for a heavy French crop. We'll get reports on it
soon now. You're playing with a gun, J., that kicks further than it
shoots."

"We've not shot her yet," Jadwin said. "We're only just loading
her--for Bears," he added, with a wink.

In July came the harvesting returns from all over the country, proving
conclusively that for the first time in six years, the United States
crop was to be small and poor. The yield was moderate. Only part of it
could be graded as "contract." Good wheat would be valuable from now
on. Jadwin bought again, and again it was a "lot" of half a million
bushels.

Then came the first manifestation of that marvellous golden luck that
was to follow Curtis Jadwin through all the coming months. The French
wheat crop was announced as poor. In Germany the yield was to be far
below the normal. All through Hungary the potato and rye crops were
light.

About the middle of the month Jadwin again called the broker to his
country house, and took him for a long evening's trip around the lake,
aboard the "Thetis." They were alone. MacKenny was at the wheel, and,
seated on camp stools in the stern of the little boat, Jadwin outlined
his plans for the next few months.

"Sam," he said, "I thought back in April there that we were to touch
top prices about the first of this month, but this French and German
news has coloured the cat different. I've been figuring that I would
get out of this market around the seventies, but she's going higher.
I'm going to hold on yet awhile."

"You do it on your own responsibility, then," said the broker. "I warn
you the price is top heavy."

"Not much. Seventy-two cents is too cheap. Now I'm going into this
hard; and I want to have my own lines out--to be independent of the
trade papers that Crookes could buy up any time he wants to. I want you
to get me some good, reliable correspondents in Europe; smart, bright
fellows that we can depend on. I want one in Liverpool, one in Paris,
and one in Odessa, and I want them to cable us about the situation
every day."

Gr