stock right, and in three years--"

Bob Wharton signaled frantically to his wife, but there was no
stopping the discussion that had begun to rage back and forth. It
lasted until the conclusion of the meal, and it was only with an
effort that Adoree tore herself away. She was in her element, and
in a little time had won the critic's undivided attention; he
listened with absorption; he even made occasional notes.

As the two girls dressed hurriedly for the theater, Adored
confessed:

"Golly! I'm glad I stayed. He's not bright; he's perfectly silly
about some things, and yet he's the most interesting talker I ever
heard. And--CAN'T he play a piano?"




CHAPTER XVII


Hannibal Wharton arrived in New York at five o'clock and went
directly to Merkle's bank. At eight o'clock Jarvis Hammon died.
During the afternoon and evening other financiers, summoned
hurriedly from New England shores and Adirondack camps, were
busied in preparations for the struggle they expected on the
morrow. During the closing hours of the market prices had slumped
to an alarming degree; a terrific raid on metal stocks had begun,
and conditions were ripe for a panic.