“Devil take the hindmost”

Wingrave and Aynesworth were alone in a private room of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.  The table at which the former was seated was covered with letters and papers.  A New York directory and an atlas were at his elbow.

“I propose,” Wingrave said, leaning back in his chair, “to give you some idea of the nature of my business in this country.  You will be able then, I trust, to carry out my instructions more intelligibly.”

Aynesworth nodded.

“I thought,” he said, “that you came here simply to remain in seclusion for a time.”

“That is one of my reasons,” Wingrave admitted, “but I had a special purpose in coming to America.  During my—­enforced seclusion—­I made the acquaintance of a man called Hardwell.  He was an Englishman, but he had lived in America for some years, and had got into trouble over some company business.  We had some conversation, and it is upon his information that I am now going to act.”

“He is trustworthy?” Aynesworth asked.

“I take the risk,” Wingrave answered coolly.  “There is a small copper mine in Utah called the Royal Hardwell Copper Mine.  The shares are hundred dollar ones, and there are ten thousand of them.  They are scarcely quoted now, as the mine has become utterly discredited.  Hardwell managed this himself with a false report.  He meant to have the company go into liquidation, and then buy it for a very small amount.  As a matter of fact, the mine is good, and could be worked at a large profit.”

“You have Hardwell’s word for that,” Aynesworth remarked.

“Exactly!” Wingrave remarked.  “I am proceeding on the assumption that he told me the truth.  I wish to buy, if possible, the whole of the shares, and as many more as I can get brokers to sell.  The price of the shares today is two dollars!”

“I presume you will send out an expert to the mine first?” Aynesworth said.

“I shall do nothing of the sort,” Wingrave answered.  “The fact that I was buying upon information would send the shares up at once.  I mean to buy first, and then go out to the mine.  If I have made a mistake, I shall not be ruined.  If Hardwell’s story is true, there will be millions in it.”

Aynesworth said nothing, but his face expressed a good deal.

“Here are the names of seven respectable brokers,” Wingrave continued, passing a sheet of paper towards him.  “I want you to buy five hundred shares from each of them.  The price may vary a few points.  Whatever it is, pay it.  Here are seven signed checks.  I shall buy myself as many as I can without spoiling the market.  You had better start out in about a quarter of an hour and see to this.  You have my private ledger?”

“Yes.”

“Open an account to Hardwell in it; a quarter of all the shares I buy are to be in his name, and a quarter of all the profits I make in dealing in the shares is to be credited to him.”