Page:The Wizard of Wall Street and his Wealth.djvu/199

 he added, "and regardless of the fact that he had played Jim Keene the same trick. He is notoriously treacherous, and this is not the first time he has been punished for the same offense." Poor Mr. Selover never amounted to very much in Wall street after this, though he continued to be seen there daily. Gould, after this incident, rarely appeared in the street unless accompanied by stalwart G. P. Morosini.

It is related that not long after this Keene came near getting his revenge on Gould. The latter was putting all his energies into Union Pacific, and carrying $22,000,000 of the stock, mostly in margins Keene organized an opposition party and nearly succeeded in breaking Gould. Sage, however, came to the latter's assistance with $2,000,000 of much-needed cash, and Gould was saved. Keene's purpose was to drive Gould from the street forever, but he not only failed, but in a few years he was himself a bankrupt, with Gould more powerful and richer than ever.

Rumors of Gould's death and of his impending bankruptcy were not infrequently circulated in Wall street. Rumors of death could be easily disproved, but once, at least, the street was firmly convinced that Gould was in financial difficulties, and Gould was obliged to exhibit his wealth in order to prove that he was solvent. On March 13, 1882, Gould exhibited to Sage, Field and Frank Work his box of securities, to show that he was not only solid, but also had not been a seller of stocks. He exhibited