Some lots of his in West Philadelphia, bought three years before, had increased notably in value.

His street-car holdings, augmented by still additional lots of fifty and one hundred and one hundred and fifty shares in new lines incorporated, were slowly rising, in spite of hard times, from the initiative five dollars in each case to ten, fifteen, and twenty-five dollars a share--all destined to go to par.

He was liked in the financial district and he was sure that he had a successful future.
Because of his analysis of the brokerage situation he had come to the conclusion that he did not want to be a stock gambler.

Instead, he was considering the matter of engaging in bill-brokering, a business which he had observed to be very profitable and which involved no risk as long as one had capital.

Through his work and his father's connections he had met many people--merchants, bankers, traders.