t, or at least he probably tried to. Within a few
minutes, however, he was back at it again, with the result that by the
time they reached the banking-district, Montague had agreed to draw
sixty thousand.

They stopped at his bank. "It isn't open yet,--" said Oliver, "but the
paying teller will oblige you. Tell him you want it before the Exchange
opens."

Montague went in and got his money, in six new, crisp,
ten-thousand-dollar bills. He buttoned them up in his inmost pocket,
wondering a little, incidentally, at the magnificence of the place, and
at the swift routine manner in which the clerk took in and paid out
such sums as this. Then they drove to Oliver's bank, and he drew a
hundred and twenty thousand; and then he paid off the cab, and they
strolled down Broadway into Wall Street. It lacked a quarter of an hour
of the time of the opening of the Exchange; and a stream of
prosperous-looking men were pouring in from all the cars and ferries to
their offices.

"Where are your brokers?" Montague inquired.

"I don't have any brokers--at least not for a matter such as this,"
said Oliver. And he stopped in front of one of the big buildings. "In
there," he said, "are the offices of Hammond and Streeter--second floor
to your left. Go there and ask for a member of the firm, and introduce
yourself under an assumed name--"

"What!" gasped Montague.

"Of course, man--you would not dream of giving your own name! What
difference will that make?"

"I never thought of doing such a thing," said the other.

"Well, think of it now."

But Montague shook his head. "I would not do that," he said.

Oliver shrugged his shoulders. "All right," he said; "tell him you
don't care to give your name. They're a little shady--they'll take your
money."

"Suppose they won't?" asked the other.

"Then wait outside for me, and I'll take you somewhere else."

"What shall I buy?"

"Ten thousand shares of Transcontinental Common at the opening price;
and tell them to buy on the scale up, and to raise the stop; also to
take your orders to sell over the 'phone. Then wait there until I come
for you."

Montague set his teeth together and obeyed orders. Inside the door
marked Hammond and Streeter a pleasant-faced young man advanced to meet
him, and led him to a grey-haired and affable gentleman, Mr. Streeter.
And Montague introduced himself as a stranger in town, from the South,
and wishing to buy some stock. Mr. Streeter led him into an i