Millers in St. Paul and Minneapolis
are anxious already, and there is talk of a big corner in Chicago.
Nobody is offering grain, while you know what land lies fallow in
Manitoba, and the activity of their brokers shows the fears of Winnipeg
millers with contracts on hand. This is not my opinion alone. I can
convince you from the papers and market reports I see before you."
Barrington could not controvert the unpleasant truth he was still
endeavoring to shut his eyes to. "The demand from the East may
slacken," he said.
Winston shook his head. "Russia can give them nothing. There was a
failure in the Indian monsoon, and South American crops were small.
Now, I am going to take a further liberty. How much are you short?"
Barrington was never sure why he told him, but he was hard pressed
then, and there was a quiet forcefulness about the younger man that had
its effect on him.
"That," he said, holding out a document, "is the one contract I have
not covered."
Winston glanced at it. "The quantity is small. Still, money is very
scarce and bank interest almost extortionate just now."
Barrington flushed a trifle, and there was anger in his face. He knew
the fact that his loss on this sale should cause him anxiety was
significant, and that Winston had surmised the condition of his
finances tolerably correctly.
"Have you not gone quite far enough?" he said.
Winston nodded. "I fancy I need ask no more, sir. You can scarcely
buy the wheat, and the banks will advance nothing further on what you
have to offer at Silverdale.
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