“Not yet,” I returned, hardly sharing the little man's enjoyment of the scene. The size of the stakes made me tremble. I could see nothing of Doddridge Knapp, and the uneasy feeling that he was at Livermore came over me. What was my duty in case he did not appear? Had he left his fortune at the mercy of the market to follow his lawless schemes? Had he been caught in his own trap, and was he now to be ruined as the result of his own acts? For a moment I felt a vengeful hope that he might have come to grief. But when I remembered that it was Luella who must suffer with him, I determined to make an effort to save the deal, even without authority, if the money or credit for buying the remaining shares was to be had. I might have spared my worry. The call had not proceeded far, when the massive form of Doddridge Knapp appeared at the railing. The strong wolf-marks of the face were stronger than ever as he watched the scene on the floor. I looked in vain for a trace upon him of last night's work. If he had been at Livermore, he showed no sign of the passions or anxieties that had filled the dark hours. He nodded carelessly for me to come to him as he caught my eye. “You have the stock?” “All safe.” “And the proxies?” “Just as you ordered.” The King of the Street looked at me sharply. “I told you to keep sober till this deal was over,” he growled. “You are obeyed,” I said. “I have not touched a drop.” “Well, you look as though you had taken a romp with the devil,” he said. “I have,” I returned with a meaning look. His eyes fell before my steady gaze, and he turned them on the noisy throng before us. “Any orders?” I asked at last. “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!”