Halsey Co. | Page 8

her
and said in a half whisper:
"Because you are the most beautiful girl I ever saw."
"Oh, my!" and her face flushed and eyes sparkled.
Young as she was, she was woman enough to know that it was honest
admiration on the part of the youth. Fred seemed half frightened over
what he had said and drew back. But she gave him a look and a smile
that told him plainly he had not offended. He was going to say more to
her, but at that moment her father turned to her, saying:
"Here, daughter, your purse is yours again," and he held it out to her.
She took it, opened it quickly and glanced at its contents.
"Young man," said Mr. Gaines, turning to Fred, "you've got the right
stuff in you," and he extended his hand, which Fred grasped and shook.
"I won't forget you. I have a brother who is a member of the Stock
Exchange, and I want send your name to him. What is it?"
"I have his name, father," said the young girl.
"Ah, very well, then," and he gave Fred's hand another shake and
turned away.
But he left a $20 gold coin in it, which Fred's fingers closed over very
promptly. The next moment they were gone. Fred put the goldpiece in
his pocket, while the thought flashed through his mind that the young
girl was all gold herself. The officer took his name and address as a
witness, and then led his prisoner away to the police station. Just as he

was leaving the room a broker called out to Fred:
"That man will never forgive you for his arrest. He will set some
friends of his after you, so you had better be on your guard."
"I'm on my guard all the time, sir," Fred replied.
"What is your name?"
"Fred Halsey."
The broker wrote the name on his cuff and then went out of the room.
Fred thought nothing of the incident, and went out a moment or two
later himself, going to the street, hoping to see Bob and find out how B.
& H. was doing. Out on the street he found that nobody had heard of
the pickpocket's arrest in the Exchange building.
"I am $20 in on that racket, anyhow," he said to himself as he walked
around to the side entrance of the Exchange. "I would like to do as well
every day in the year. Lord, but she is a beauty!"
He was thinking of the girl. Somebody ran into him and the two came
near going down in a heap together.
"Hello, Fred! I'm in a hurry!" exclaimed the other.
It was Bob!
"Well, don't you know me well enough not to try to run over or through
me? You can save time by running around me every time."
But Bob was off like a flash, and Fred judged by that B. & H. was
humming, for Manson was booming it and Bob was his messenger.
Seeing two brokers talking near the New street entrance, Fred went
over near enough to hear one say:
"It will go to 70 to-morrow and somebody will be burnt."
"Yes, I think so, too,"

The Exchange closed for the day, and Fred went around to meet Bob
again. He met Manson at the foot of the stairs, his face flushed from the
excitement of his tremendous battle in the Exchange.
"Ah!" the big broker exclaimed. "I see you caught another thief to-day.
Why don't you turn detective? It seems to be your forte."
"I'd rather be a broker, sir," Fred replied.
"A broker, eh?" and Manson looked him full in the eyes. "Think you
have nerve enough for that?"
"Yes, sir. I've got nerve enough. It's money I want."
Manson laughed and shook his head.
"We all want money. That's what we are here for. But there are more
losers than winners."
"What one man loses another one wins," said Fred.
"Of course, but one man sometimes wins from a thousand at one turn,
so you see there are always more losers than winners," and the big
broker went on up to his office, leaving Fred at the foot of the stairs
waiting for Bob.
He was quietly waiting there and watching people come and go when
he was startled by a cry above. He glanced up and saw some one falling
from the upper floor and sprang aside just in time to escape being
crushed. It was a messenger boy from Broker Tracey's office.
"Oh, Lord!" gasped Fred. "He must be killed!" and he sprang forward
to pick him up.
The boy was unconscious. Instantly a dozen brokers were on hand to
render aid. Broker Tracey came running down to see about him and get
the