At the close of the call
they had forced it back and one point higher than at the opening.
This, however, was but a skirmish of outposts. The fighting began at
the call of Crown Diamond.
It opened at sixty-three. The first bid was hardly made when with a
bellow Wallbridge charged on Decker's broker, filled his bid, and
offered a thousand shares at sixty-two.
There was an answering roar from a hundred throats and a mob rushed on
Wallbridge with the apparent intent of tearing him limb from limb.
Wallbridge's offer was snapped up at once, but a few weak-kneed holders
of the stock threw small blocks on the market.
These were taken up at once, and Decker's brokers were bidding sixty-
five.
At this Eppner gave a blast like a cornet, and, waving his arms
frantically, plunged into a small-sized riot. I had entrusted him with
five thousand shares of Crown Diamond to be sold for the best price
possible, and he was feeding the opposition judiciously. The price
wavered for a moment, but rallied and reached sixty-six.
At this I signaled to Wallbridge, and with another bellow he started an
opposition riot on the other side of the room from Eppner, and fed
Crown Diamond in lumps to the howling forces of the Decker combination.
The battle was raging furiously.
I had no wish to break the price of the stock. I was intent only at
selling shares at a good price, but I had convinced the Decker forces
that there was a raid on the stock, and they had rallied to protect it
at whatever cost.
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