9:41 by Iannuzzi John Nicholas;

9:41 by Iannuzzi John Nicholas;

Author:Iannuzzi, John Nicholas;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MADCAN Books
Published: 2016-06-25T04:00:00+00:00


A GENTLEMEN’S WAGER

The blue-grey wisps of smoke curled upward, and then slowly drifted toward the window. They squirmed through the small opening at the top, which was left to assure the passage of fresh air into the office, and flew out over the interminable, eternal, huddling of the mortar subjects of the goddess New York. Large buildings, small buildings, dimly lit ones, neon emblazoned ones, all sat and huddled together for extra warmth, while without, the humans were walking faster to stay warm. Small spumes of steam emitted from their mouths as they rushed toward Broadway, or down to Rector Street, or over to Wall Street, or Greenwich Street.

“It’ll probably be colder than all kinds of hell, on the island tonight”, said Frank, his shoulder against the window frame, watching the insect-sized people spuming steam and scampering into the innards of the silent building entrances far below.

“Don’t let that worry you”, replied Jim, who was across the room, bending over the small cabinet bar that he had built into his office for convenience sake.

“C’mon, let me have that glass of yours, so I can freshen it. This damn bottle of scotch has been here almost a week … you want it to go sour?”

“You must wrap yourself in your money when you get home”, said Frank, chuckling, “that’s why you’re so much warmer than I am. You have so much more of it than I do”.

“Now come on, Frank. I know damn well you’ve been doing quite well yourself lately. Why, just yesterday, Henderson was telling me that that Helicon Mountain deal of yours made quite a nice bundle. You’re not fooling me, Frank. You must keep pretty warm in that house of yours, too”.

“Sure, Helicon Mountain went fine”, said Frank, “but did you hear about the fiasco of that Quatrain Supply? I lost my shirt”.

“Let’s not talk any more business now”, said Jim with a wave of his hand. “I’m pretty tired from all battling and trading today. Give me your glass, and let me get you another drink so we can just relax and not go on with all this nonsense”.

Frank handed Jim his glass. He remained at the window, looking across the room at the wide expanse of fine wool worsted that covered Jim’s broad back. Jim … James A. Ackland to be sure, most successful of the securities traders in the neighborhood of Wall Street. “Why the hell should he worry about a little loss or gain, … he’s worth millions to begin with. Just a drop in the bucket to him”, thought Frank, Francis R. Graham, to be sure, who was one of the most successful new-comers to the market.

Though it was never discussed broadly or openly, it was fairly common knowledge to those of the inner groups on the Street, that Jim had given Frank his start, had taken him into the fold when Frank began to invest, had guided him and helped him build up his holdings through loans and advice. Jim had



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