52 WALL STREET AND THE WILDS 



for ninety dollars more of the scrip. That aft- 

 ernoon I returned the forty dollars to my 

 friend and had about fifty dollars of my own 

 in my pocket. 



There have been times in my life when I was 

 well to do, but never again have I felt as rich as 

 on that night. My gratitude to the friend who 

 thus financed me half a century ago goes forth 

 for an obligation that I am glad to feel was not 

 lessened by the fact that I subsequently set him 

 up in business at the cost of many thousand dol- 

 lars. 



Soon my capital of fifty dollars was doubled 

 and my contract with Mr. Taylor carried out, 

 but he offered to continue his purchases of me 

 at the same price without limit of amount. 



Edmund Clarence Stedman once proposed 

 partnership with me, moved thereto by what he 

 called my poetic business imagination. Mr. 

 Taylor's unlimited bid must have fired that im- 

 agination, for on my mental ledger I at once cred- 

 ited myself with ten per cent on the entire is- 

 sue of the scrip, never doubting my ability to buy 



