"Never mind what I think. I've got the contract for doing the thinking
for this job, and I reckon I can 'tend to it."

The great speculator was silent for a few moments.

"I might as well be frank with you," he said at last. "You'll have to
know something, to work intelligently. I must get control of the Omega
Company, and to do it I've got to have more stock. I've been afraid of
a combination against me, and I guess I've struck it. I can't be sure
yet, but when those ten thousand shares were gobbled up on a panicky
market, I'll bet there's something up."

"Who is in it?" I asked politely.

"They've kept themselves covered," said the King of the Street, "but
I'll have them out in the open before the end. And then, my boy, you'll
see the fur fly."

As these words were uttered I could see the yellow-gray goatee rise
like bristles, and the fangs of the Wolf shine white under the yellow-
gray mustache.

"I've got a few men staked out," he continued slowly, "and I reckon
I'll know something about it by this time to-morrow." There was the
growl of the Wolf in his voice.

"Now for this afternoon," he continued. "There's got to be some sharp
work done. I reckon the falling movement is over. We've got to pay for
what we get from now on. I've got a man looking after the between-Board