"Toll, how much Crooked Valley stock have you?"
"A thousand shares."
"What did you buy it for?"
"To help you."
"What have you kept it for?"
"To help keep the General at the head of the management."
"Turn about is fair play, isn't it?"
"That's the adage," responded Talbot.
"Well, I'm going to put that stock up; do you understand?"
"How will you do it?"
"By saying I'll do it. I want it whispered along the line that the
General is going to put that stock up within a week. They're all greedy.
They are all just like the rest of us. They know it isn't worth a
continental copper, but they want a hand in the General's speculations,
and the General wants it understood that he would like to have them
share in his profits."
"I think I understand," said Talbot.
"Toll, I've got another vision. Hold on now! I behold a man in the
General's confidence--a reliable, business man--who whispers to his
friend that he heard the General say that he had all his plans laid for
putting up the Crooked Valley stock within a week. This friend whispers
it to another friend. No names are mentioned. It goes from friend to
friend. It is whispered through every town along the line.
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