we were downed by a
conspiracy in which one of the syndicate was engaged. Those boys are not
deep enough to do what they did by their own account."

"You forget that Allison is in their employ," said the other.

"I don't think he had anything to do with it."

Just then Fred entered the Exchange in search of a broker he wanted to
see.

Broker Tabor saw him, caught him by the arm and said:

"Here, Halsey, I want to ask you a question."

"Fire away," said Fred.

"How did you get on to that Rock Island deal?"

"Bryant gave it away."

"Eh! What!"

"Bryant gave the snap away," Fred repeated, and just then he saw the man
he was in search of and went over to him.

Tabor returned to where Bryant and other members of the syndicate were
standing and said:

"You were right, Bryant. One of the syndicate did give it away, and
Halsey admits it."

"Ah! Did he name the scoundrel?" Bryant asked.

"Yes. I asked him how he got on to it, and he said 'Bryant gave it
away.'"

Bryant gave a start as if stung and dashed across the room to where Fred
was standing, grabbed him by the collar and hissed in his face:

"Did you say I gave the Rock Island deal away?"

"Yes, but you didn't mean to do it."

"What do you mean?"

Brokers crowded around them.

"On the very day you began buying I was standing near you, and heard you
say, 'I'll take all I can get of that stock.' I knew then you were going
to boom it, so I went off and loaded up for you. Mr. Barron bought the
stock for you in less than thirty minutes after I heard you say that.
Did I get any of your fleece?"

Bryant hurled him from him and turned away.

CHAPTER XII.--Fred Makes a Discovery.

The great deal in Rock Island made the young bankers and speculators one
of the best known firms in Wall Street. It was known that they had a
vast sum of cold cash on hand, and that they had nerve and good
judgment, and so scores of men came to them to buy and sell for them.
Gertie Clayton received about $36,000 for the tip she had given them,
and she left it on deposit in the bank.

"Bob," she said to him a few days later, "I am not going to do any more
typewriting. I was not made for the business, and never did like it."

"What are you going to do, then?" he asked.

"I'll tell you what I want to do," she replied, "I am engaged to a
handsome young banker and we are to marry in two years. I think it is my
duty to fit myself to be his wife by educating myself so he will