The Duck Kidnapping

This goes way back to the early days of the old floor. When McDonnell Douglas was listed there were split opinions on what the stock would be called. This was important stuff because whatever name that was chosen would be used and heard maybe hundreds of times a day. Should it be Mad Dog or Duck? Duck somehow won. They got a cute stuffed animal duck as a mascot and displayed it prominently at the post. It was kidnapped after the close one day. Ransom letters were left with instructions. The whole crowd was to hop on one foot and do other stupid things to get the duck back. I was a big suspect and people grilled me daily to bring the Duck back. I had nothing to do with it, but suspected Bill Sinquefield. He repeatedly denied taking the Duck. Enraged traders said they were going to “get me” etc. if the Duck was not returned. If I didn’t do it, then I knew who did.

Another ransom note appeared with letters cut out from magazines, like in the movies. When the joke had seemed to get stale, pictures of the Duck in front of Big Ben and the Eiffel Tower were sent to the crowd. And finally one of the Duck’s webbed feet was cut off and sent in an envelope with a threatening message: “This is not a joke. I’ve got your Duck.”