Pharaoh's Broker: Being the Very Remarkable Experiences in Another World of Isidor WernerDouglass, Ellsworth
Science
Pharaoh's Broker: Being the Very Remarkable Experiences in Another World of Isidor Werner
Douglass, Ellsworth
Science fiction
"The friends of Isidor Werner, a young man prominent in Board of
Trade circles, are much concerned about him, as he has not been seen
for several days. He made his last appearance in the wheat pit as a
heavy buyer Tuesday forenoon. That afternoon he left his office at
Room 87 Board of Trade, and has not been seen since, nor can his
whereabouts be learned. He is six feet two inches high, of athletic
build, with black hair and moustache, a regular nose, and an
unpronounced Jewish appearance. His age is hardly more than
twenty-seven, but he has often made himself felt as a market force on
the Board of Trade, where he was well thought of."
But it was the _Evening Post_ of the same date which prided itself on
unearthing the real sensation. A scare-head across the top of a first
page column read:
"A PLUNGER'S LAST PLUNGE!"
"The daring young broker who held the whole wheat market in his hands
a few months ago, amassing an independent fortune in three days, but
losing most of it gamely on subsequent changes in the market, has
made his last plunge. This time he has gone into the cold, kind bosom
of Lake Michigan. Isidor Werner evened up his trades in the wheat
market last Tuesday forenoon, and then applied for his balance-sheet
at a higher clearing house! No trace of him or clue to his
whereabouts was found, until the _Evening Post_, on the principle of
setting one mystery to solve another, sent its representative to
examine a strange steel rocket, discovered half-buried in the sands
of Lake Michigan, near Berrien Springs, two days ago. Our reporter
investigated this bullet-shaped contrivance and found an opening into
it, and within he discovered a scrap of paper on which were written
the words: 'Farewell to Earth for ever!' Werner's friends, when
interviewed by the _Evening Post_, all positively identified the
handwriting of this scrap as his chirography. It is supposed that he
took an excursion steamer to St. Joseph, Michigan, last Tuesday or
Wednesday afternoon, and walking down the shore toward Berrien
Springs, finally threw himself into the Lake. Neither Israel Werner,
with whom the dead man lived on Indiana Avenue, nor Patrick Flynn,
the chief clerk at his office, can give any reason for the suicide,
or explain the exact connection of the infernal machine (if such it
be) with the sad circumstance. But they both positively identify the
handwriting on the scrap of paper. We have wired our representative
to bring the mysterious machine to Chicago; and those who think they
may be able to throw any light upon the case, are invited to call at
the office of the _Evening Post_ and examine it."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account