"Of course," said Randall, "there are times when it doesn't matter one way or the other. But when--well, when the market's in the state it is now, it's life or death, almost, to be on the spot." "I don't understand," I said. "When the market looks fussy, why not sell out, and wait for better times?" "We _can't_ sell out," said Billoo. "We're loaded up to the muzzle." "You look as if you had been," I said courteously; but Billoo brushed the remark aside as if it had been a fly. "If we _try_ to unload," he said, "the market begins to collapse. We _can't_ unload, except a little at a time, and still prices get lower and lower and margins thinner and thinner. Now, I happen to _know_"--he looked about him importantly--"that to-morrow will hear the failure of a _very well-known_ house, and after that's announced--God knows." "How true that is!" I said. "But tell me: suppose you gentlemen deliberately absented yourselves for a few days--wouldn't it restore confidence? Wouldn't the other brokers say: 'Billoo, Randall, Tombs, Marshall, Bedlo, etc., don't seem to think there's much doing. None of 'em's here--what's the use of _me_ being scared?'" "It would have the contrary effect, Sam," said Tombs solemnly. "They would think that we had decamped in a body for Canada." "I don't know," said I, "but it would be a better thing for the country if you all did ship to Canada--I don't think there's much doing out-doors to-day. Hear that wind!" "If I can get rid of all my holdings," said Billoo, "I'll sit tight. We'll see lower prices before we see higher." "Well," said I, "I'll bet you we don't." "Young man," said Billoo, and he looked almost well and happy, "just name your sum." "I'll bet you a thousand," I said. "Sammy," said Tombs very sweetly, "have you got another thousand up your sleeve?" "Sure," I said. "Done with you," said Tombs. In about five minutes I had bet with everybody present. "But mind," I said, "there mustn't be any dirty work. You people mustn't go to town to-morrow with the idea of forming a strong coalition and _putting_ prices down." "It wouldn't be worth while," said Billoo. "As a matter of fact, we'd like nothing better than to see you win your bet, but as you can't, possibly--why, a thousand dollars is always a thousand dollars." "Just the same," said I, "_no_ coalitions." The wind went on howling till late in the afternoon and then it began to peter out. We had spent the whole day in the house, and everybody was tired and bored, and nervous about Monday, and bedtime came earlier than usual. "Sam," said Sally, when we were alone, "it's just occurred to me that we _may_ be causing some of these people to lose a lot of money." "Why, Sally," I said, "you look scared." "I am," she said. "Don't _you_ think it would be rather awful?" "No, I don't," I said; "I think it would be split-tingly funny. But they won't lose. Their absence will steady the market." "Who told you that, Sam?" said Sally. "Sam!" said I. IV