Page:Hugh Pendexter--Tiberius Smith.djvu/220

 was simply cold storage as he began pulling out the tape and even tried to emulate the dot and dash of the real clicker.

"‘Something doing in Dry Lizard Preferred, boys,' he began, in a deep, pool-room bass. 'It opens heartily at three.' And he allowed them to peep at the tape and admire my very best lizard.

"Evidently they had never conceived of a picture before, and they jabbered in astonisment [sic] and their eyes sparkled as they observed the selling-price. In a second the gamble lust peeped from their eyes, and I could see they were instinctively resolving themselves into bulls and bears.

"‘B-r-r-r,' purred Tib, as he unrolled more bark bosh. 'Here we have Water-Pig's Tooth Consolidated going at two. Click! click! Stand back to receive the latest in Amalgamated Dog. As I live, it's up to ten, with the price still climbing.'

"Well, sir, you'd never believe those innocents would twig so quickly. I reckon that simple exhibition changed their whole lives. Eating an adjacent tribe lost its savor. They knew the values would fluctuate daily, and each beetle-browed capitalist sneaked aside to plan a raid on his neighbor's pet stock. Talk about frenzied finance and the wolf gnawing at the cottage door! Why, those Caripunas were wizards at the go-in, and the old chief was the biggest sport in the outfit.