“At least a hundred thousand, exclusive of commission, which would be twelve and a half a hundred shares.”  Despite the most strenuous opposition from Gardner, Brewster adhered to his design, and the broker executed the order the next morning.  He knew that Brewster had but one chance to win, and that was to buy the stock in a lump instead of distributing it among several brokers and throughout the session.  This was a point that Monty had overlooked.

There had been little to excite the Stock Exchange for some weeks:  nothing was active and the slightest flurry was hailed as an event.  Every one knew that the calm would be disturbed at some near day, but nobody looked for a sensation in Lumber and Fuel.  It was a foregone conclusion that a slump was coming, and there was scarcely any trading in the stock.  When Elon Gardner, acting for Montgomery Brewster; took ten thousand shares at 108 3/4 there was a mighty gasp on the Exchange, then a rubbing of eyes, then commotion.  Astonishment was followed by nervousness, and then came the struggle.

Brewster, confident that the stock could go no higher, and that sooner or later it must drop, calmly ordered his horse for a ride in the snow-covered park.  Even though he knew the venture was to be a failure in the ordinary sense he found joy in the knowledge that he was doing something.  He might be a fool, he was at least no longer inactive.  The feel of the air was good to him.  He was exhilarated by the glitter of the snow, the answering excitement of his horse, the gaiety and sparkle of life about him.

Somewhere far back in his inner self there seemed to be the sound of cheering and the clapping of hands.  Shortly before noon he reached his club, where he was to lunch with Colonel Drew.  In the reading-room he observed that men were looking at him in a manner less casual than was customary.  Some of them went so far as to smile encouragingly, and others waved their hands in the most cordial fashion.  Three or four very young members looked upon him with admiration and envy, and even the porters seemed more obsequious.  There was something strangely oppressive in all this show of deference.

Colonel Drew’s dignity relaxed amazingly when he caught sight of the young man.  He came forward to meet him and his greeting almost carried Monty off his feet.

“How did you do it, my boy?” cried the Colonel.  “She’s off a point or two now, I believe, but half an hour ago she was booming.  Gad, I never heard of anything more spectacular!”

Monty’s heart was in his mouth as he rushed over to the ticker.  It did not take him long to grasp the immensity of the disaster.  Gardner had bought in at 108 3/4, and that very action seemed to put new life into the stock.  Just as it was on the point of breaking for lack of support along came this sensational order for ten thousand shares; and there could be but one result.  At one time in the morning Lumber and Fuel, traded in by excited holders, touched 113 1/2 and seemed in a fair way to hold firm around that figure.