, I take off my hat to you. I thought you were wrong from the very first, but I guess you know this game better than I do.’ Yes, sir, that’s what he said, and Sam Gretry has been trading in wheat for pretty nearly thirty years. Oh, I knew it,” he cried, with a quick gesture; “I knew wheat was going to go up. I knew it from the first, when all the rest of em laughed at me. I knew this European demand would hit us hard about this time. I knew it was a good thing to buy wheat; I knew it was a good thing to have special agents over in Europe. Oh, they’ll all buy now⁠—when I’ve showed ’em the way. Upon my word, I haven’t talked so much in a month of Sundays. You must pardon me, Mr. Corthell. I don’t make five hundred thousand every day.”

“But this is the last⁠—isn’t it?” said Laura.

“Yes,” admitted Jadwin, with a quick, deep breath. “I’m done now. No more speculating. Let someone else have a try now. See if they can hold five million bushels till it’s wanted. My, my, I am tired⁠—as I’ve said before. D’that tea come, Laura?”