The whole five hundred and sixty-one thousand shares were bought and sold; and from first to last there came never a glimpse of Mr.Bayard.
It had been Mr.Bayard's earlier thought to let Northern Consolidated fall as low as twenty-five.

For the sake of poor men in peril from that defiance of all things German, Mr.Bayard in the last hours of his preparations decided to support the market.

To hold Northern Consolidated above thirty against the double pressure of a falling market and a "bear" raid would be to the general stock list as a prop to a leaning wall.

It would save hundreds from annihilation, and Mr.Bayard resolved for their rescue.

It would cost him nothing, lose him nothing; once cornered, the question whether that osprey pool were cornered at twenty or at thirty or at forty was unimportant.