“I don’t think my bank account would stand for that,” answered Jack, with a grin. “Seriously, Jack,” said his boss, “I wouldn’t advise you to buy any stock on margins. I don’t want you to catch the fever. It’s dangerous. You’ve no idea of the money engaged in productive industry, money earned by hard years of labor and economy, money held in trust for widows and orphans, money stolen from banks and corporations, money abstracted by clerks and office boys, is carried into Wall Street, in the vain hope of acquiring a sudden fortune, and there remains.” Mr. Atherton turned to his desk, and Jack went back to his duties, satisfied he had learned something, at any rate. “How could I find out if Bentley & Clews have any D. & G. stock?” asked Jack of Mr. Bishop, at the first opportunity. “Why do you wish to know?” asked the manager, perhaps a bit sharply, for the question coming from Jack rather surprised him. “I have a personal reason for wishing to know,” replied the boy, respectfully. Mr. Bishop looked at him a moment or two before he answered. “I happen to know that Bentley & Clews have no D. & G. stock in their possession--at least, they didn’t have an hour ago. They delivered a large block of it this morning to Mr. Hartz--all they had on hand.” “Thank you, sir.” “Of course, whatever I tell you or you may accidentally learn while in our employ must go no further. You understand that, I suppose?” “Certainly, sir.” That night, before Jack went to the theatre, he had decided to buy as many shares of D. & G. on a ten-per-cent margin as he could afford. The bank where Jack had his money on deposit--except $500 with which he had reopened an account at the Seaman’s Savings--had a department devoted to the purchase and sale, through outside brokers, of stock for the accommodation of its customers. D. & G. opened at 62⅜, and as soon as he got a chance the boy ran over to the bank, saw Mr. Black, who had charge of the department in question, and asked him to buy for his account 700 shares of D. & G. at the ruling figure, provided that in the meantime the stock did not go above 63. Mr. Black ’phoned one of their brokers, but it was some little time before that number of shares was obtained, as it seemed to be scarce that morning. At any rate, it cost Jack 63, the 700 shares figuring up $44,100. Ten per cent of the purchase price, or $4,410, Jack drew and paid to Mr. Black. When the Exchange closed for the day D. & G. was quoted at 64⅝, and Jack was therefore something like $1,000 to the good.