“Men of Wall Street, it is impossible to prevent the repetition of those acts by which in five years I have accumulated a billion dollars, impossible so long as a short sale or a repurchase and resale, is allowed.  When short sales, and repurchases and resales, are made impossible, stock speculation will be dead.  When stock speculation is dead, the people can no longer be robbed by the ‘System.’  In leaving you, the Exchange, and stock-gambling forever, as I shall when I leave this platform, I will say from the depth of a heart that has been broken, from the profoundity of a soul that has been withered by the ‘System’s’ poison, with a full sense of my responsibility to my fellow-man and to my God, that I advise every one of you to do what I have done and to do it quickly, before the doing of it by others shall have made it impossible, before the doing of it by others shall have blown up the whole stock-gambling structure.  In accepting my advice you can quiet your conscience, those of you who have any, with this argument:  ’If I start, I am sure of success.  If I succeed, no one will be the wiser.  The millions I secure I will take from men who took them from others, and who would take mine.  The more I and others take, the sooner will come the day when the stock-gambling structure will fall.’

“The day on which the stock-gambling structure falls is the day for which all honest men and women should pray.”

Bob Brownley paused and let his eyes sweep his dumfounded audience.  There was not a murmur.  The crowd was speechless.

Again his eyes swept the room.  Then he slowly raised his right hand with fist clenched, as though about to deal a blow.

“Men of Wall Street”—­his voice was now deep and solemn—­“to show that Robert Brownley knew what was fitting for the last day of his career, he has revealed to you the trick—­and more.

“Many of you are desperate.  Many of you by to-morrow will be ruined.  The time of all times for such to put my trick in practice is now.  The victim of victims is ready for the experiment.  I am he.  I have a billion dollars.  With this billion dollars I am able to buy ten million shares of the leading stocks and to pay for them, even though after I have bought they fall a hundred dollars a share.  Here is your chance to prevent your ruin, your chance to retrieve your fortune, your chance to secure revenge upon me, the one who has robbed you.”

He paused only long enough for his astounding advice to connect with his listener’s now keenly sensitive nerve centres; then deep and clear rang out, “Barry Conant.”  The wiry form of Bob’s old antagonist leaped to the rostrum.

“I authorise you to buy any part of ten million shares of the leading stocks at any price up to fifty points above the present market.  There is my check-book signed in blank, and I authorise you to use it up to a billion dollars, and I agree to have in bank to-morrow sufficient funds to meet any checks you draw.  You have failed to-day for seven millions, and, therefore, cannot trade, but I herewith announce that I will pay all the indebtedness of Barry Conant and his house.  Therefore he is now in good standing.”  Bob had kept his eye on the great clock; as the last word passed his lips, the President’s gavel descended.