Other men came up and listened eagerly.  Brewster realized that his dash in Lumber and Fuel had been a master-stroke of cleverness when considered from the point of view of these men, but a catastrophe from his own.

“I hope you sold it when it was at the top,” said the Colonel anxiously.

“I instructed Gardner to sell only when I gave the word,” said Monty, lamely.  Several of the men looked at him in surprise and disgust.

“Well, if I were you I’d tell him to sell,” remarked the Colonel, coldly.

“The effect of your plunge has worn off, Brewster, and the other side will drive prices down.  They won’t be caught napping again, either,” said one of the bystanders earnestly.

“Do you think so?” And there was a note of relief in Monty’s voice.

From all sides came the advice to sell at once, but Brewster was not to be pushed.  He calmly lighted a cigarette, and with an assured air of wisdom told them to wait a little while and see.

“She’s already falling off,” said some one at the ticker.

When Brewster’s bewildered eyes raced over the figures the stock was quoted at 112.  His sigh of relief was heard but misunderstood.  He might be saved after all.  The stock had started to go down and there seemed no reason why it should stop.  As he intended to purchase no more it was fair to assume that the backbone was at the breaking point.  The crash was bound to come.  He could hardly restrain a cry of joy.  Even while he stood at the ticker the little instrument began to tell of a further decline.  As the price went down his hopes went up.

The bystanders were beginning to be disgusted.  “It was only a fluke after all,” they said to each other.  Colonel Drew was appealed to urge Monty to save himself, and he was on the point of remonstrance when the message came that the threatened strike was off, and that the men were willing to arbitrate.  Almost before one could draw breath this startling news began to make itself felt.  The certainty of a great strike was one of the things that had made Brewster sure that the price could not hold.  With this danger removed there was nothing to jeopardize the earning power of the stock.  The next quotation was a point higher.

“You sly dog,” said the Colonel, digging Monty in the side.  “I had confidence in you all the time.”

In ten minutes’ time Lumber and Fuel was up to 113 and soaring.  Brewster, panic-stricken, rushed to the telephone and called up Gardner.

The broker, hoarse with excitement, was delighted when he recognized Brewster’s voice.

“You’re a wonder, Monty!  I’ll see you after the close.  How the devil did you do it?” shouted Gardner.

“What’s the price now?” asked Brewster.

“One thirteen and three-fourths, and going up all the time.  Hooray!”

“Do you think she’ll go down again?” demanded Brewster.

“Not if I can help it.”