of prices more, and then he passed them on to the American people
for a couple of prices more than that."

Gamble paused. "That's where they get these fortunes," he added,
waving his fat little hand. "Sometimes it makes a fellow laugh to
think of it. Every concern they bought was overcapitalised to begin
with; I doubt if two hundred million dollars' worth of honest
dollars was ever put into the Steel Trust properties, and they
capitalised it at a billion, and now they've raised it to a billion
and a half! The men who pulled it off made hundreds of millions, and
the poor public that bought the common stock saw it go down to six!
They gave old Harrison a four-hundred-million-dollar mortgage on the
property, and he sits back and grins, and wonders why a man can't
die poor!"

Gamble's car was opposite one of the clubs. Suddenly he signalled
his chauffeur to stop.

"Hello, Billy!" he called; and a young naval officer who was walking
down the steps turned and came toward him.

"What have you been doing with yourself?" said Gamble. "Mr.
Montague, my friend Lieutenant Long, of the Engineers. Where are you
going, Billy?"

"Nowhere in particular," said the officer.

"Get in," said Gamble, pointing to the vacant seat between them. "I
am showing Mr. Montague the town."