Jadwin’s luck⁠—the never-failing guardian of the golden wings⁠—seemed to have the affair under immediate supervision, and reports of timely rains in the wheat belt kept the price inert while the trade was being closed. In the end the deal was brilliantly successful, and Gretry was still chuckling over the setback to the Porteous gang. Exactly the amount of his friend’s profits Jadwin did not know. As for himself, he had received from Gretry a check for fifty thousand dollars, every cent of which was net profit.

“I’m not going to congratulate you,” continued Cressler. “As far as that’s concerned, I would rather you had lost than won⁠—if it would have kept you out of the Pit for good. You’re cocky now. I know⁠—good Lord, don’t I know. I had my share of it. I know how a man gets drawn into this speculating game.”

“Charlie, this wasn’t speculating,” interrupted Jadwin. “It was a certainty. It was found money. If I had known a certain piece of real estate was going to appreciate in value I would have bought it, wouldn’t I?”