Page:The Wizard of Wall Street and his Wealth.djvu/205

 $450,000, the actual capital, at times of great activity on 'Change, ran up into the millions.

But Mr. Connor was not Gould's only broker. Charles J. Osborn was for years one of Gould's closest lieutenants and associates, and a more dashing broker never stepped into the Stock Exchange. William Heath, "the antelope of Wall street," as he was called because of his long legs and slender body, was also long a favorite with Gould. Heath was a master at keeping secrets. None of his customers could ever learn what his other customers were doing. His faithfulness, experience and ability, however, availed him little in the end. He assisted Gould in Black Friday and helped him in many a risky transaction. When Heath failed with Henry N. Smith in 1885, Mr. Gould, though, with Morosini, the principal creditor, did not come to his assistance. It was thought that Gould would put him on his feet again, but he did not do so, and Heath—alone, broken in spirit and in fortune—died shortly after in Staten Island, but not until he had been lodged for a while in Ludlow street jail, a prisoner for debt.

On the dissolution of W. E. Conner & Co., Dec. 31, 1885, Mr. Gould announced his permanent retirement from the street. That perhaps was his intention (though he was as prolific in retirements as Charlotte Cushman), but it was not long before his presence was again felt in the Stock Exchange.

Gould had other personal encounters besides the one with Major Selover. Once, while lunching in Delmonico's, a lawyer named Marrin addressed him