"Be where I can call you the minute I want you," he replied.
"Now, my boy," he continued after a minute, "you are going to see what
hasn't been seen in the Boards for years, and I reckon you'll never see
it again."
"What is it?" I asked politely. I was prepared for almost
any kind of fire-works in that arena.
Doddridge Knapp made no reply, but raised his hand as if to command
silence, and a moment later the call of Omega was heard. And, for a
marvel, a strange stillness did fall on the throng.
At the word of call I saw Doddridge Knapp step down to the floor of the
pit, calm, self-possessed, his shoulders squared and his look as proud
and forceful as that of a monarch who ruled by the might of his sword,
while a grim smile played about his stern mouth.
The silence of the moment that followed was almost painful. In that
place it seemed the most unnatural of prodigies. Brokers, speculators
and spectators were as surprised as I, and a long-drawn "Ah-h!"
followed by a buzzing as of a great swarm of bees greeted his
appearance. The stillness and the buzzing seemed to take an hour, but
it could not have been as much as a minute when the voice of Doddridge
Knapp rang like a trumpet through the Boardroom.
"Five hundred for Omega!"
This was a wild jump from the three hundred and twenty-five that was
marked against the stock at the close on Saturday, but I supposed the
King of the Street knew what he was about.
At the bid of Doddridge Knapp a few cries rose here and there, and he
was at once the center of a group of gesticulating brokers.
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