'They will run up, old fellow--see?' and the Broker rubbed his hands
gleefully.
'How are you going to get up a "Boom" on them?' asked the wiry man,
sceptically; 'the public won't buy blindly, they must see
something.'
'And so they shall,' said Barraclough, eagerly; 'Tollerby is sending
down some of the stone.'
'From the Magpie Reef?' asked the other, suspiciously.
'Of course,' retorted the Broker, indignantly; 'you did not think it
was salted, did you? There is gold in the reef, but it is patchy.
See,' pulling out a pocket-book, 'I got this telegram from Tollerby
at four o'clock to-day;' he took a telegram from the pocket-book and
handed it to his companion.
'Struck it rich--evidently pocket--thirty ounces to machine,' read
the other slowly; 'gad! that looks well, why don't you put it in the
papers?'
'Because I don't hold enough shares,' replied the other,
impatiently; 'don't you understand? To-morrow I go on 'Change and
buy up all the shares at four shillings I can lay my hands on, then
at the end of the week the samples of stone--very rich--come down. I
publish this telegram from the manager, and the "Boom" starts.'
'How high do you think the shares will go?' asked the wiry man,
thoughtfully.
Barraclough shrugged his shoulders, and replaced the telegram in his
pocket-book.
'Two or three pounds, perhaps more,' he replied, rising.
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