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’Yes, I did,’ said Henry, ’but there’s nothing for you to worry about

The plane was properly insured and the company is completely covered, so they incurred no loss and the stock has re I’m interested in,’ said Abel ’This could be our best chance yet for a little trial run to discover just how strong Mr Kane’s constitution is’

’I don’t think I understand, Abel What do you mean?’

’Listen carefully, and I’ll explain exactly what I want you to do when the Stock Exchange opens on MondayI’ll be back in New York by Tuesday to orchestrate the final crescendo myself’

Henry Osborne listened attentively to Abel Rosnovski’s instructions

Twenty minutes - later, Abel replaced the phone on the hook

He was through

30

William realised he could expectthat Curtis Fenton phoned to let hiroup’s bank accounts with Continental Trust and was accusing Fenton hiht I did the con - ect thing in writing to you about Mr

Rosnovski’s acquisitions in Lester’s,’ said the banker unhappily, ’and it has ended with est customers I don’t knohat my board of directors will say’

Williay, and cal him he would speak to his superiors He was, however,what Abel Rosnovski’s next oing through the bank’s Mondayhim that someone had placed a million dollars worth of Interstate Airways’

stock on the market William had to make the instant decision that his per - sonal trust should pick up the shares, and he issued an immediate buy order for them At two o’clock that afternoon, another million dollars’ worth was put on the market Before Willia By the tie closed at three o’clock, the price of Interstate Airways had fallen by a third

At ten , Williaitated broker Another million dollars worth of shares had been placed on thebell, The broker reported that the latest du had had an avalanche effect : Interstate sell orders were co on to the floor from every quarter, the botto at only a few cents a share Only twenty - four hours previously, Interstate had been quoted at four and a half

Williaers, the co Monday He needed the ti By Wednesday, he had abandoned any atte all the shares that came on the market himself At the close of business that day, the Securities and Exchange Co an enquiry into all Interstate transactions William knew that Lester’s board would now have to decide whether to support the airline for the three to six adon or whether to let the co, both to William’s pocket and to the bank’s reputation