Page:The Wizard of Wall Street and his Wealth.djvu/316

 "Six thousand five hundred dollars a year," replied Col. Hain.

"Is the increase in salary your only reason for your resignation?"

"Yes, sir."

"Will you stay with us for $15,000 a year?" asked Mr. Gould.

"Certainly," responded Col. Hain.

"Very well, let it be so," said Mr. Gould. "And, Colonel, I am perfectly satisfied with your work. Never let a question of money come between us."

The loyalty of S. S. H. Clark, general manager of the Missouri Pacific and president of the Union Pacific, to Mr. Gould has been the subject of frequent comment. Mr. Clark is by no means a low-priced man, and the fact that he has long been one of Mr. Gould's trusted lieutenants means that he has not worked for low pay.

It is related that the Atchison people once tried to get Mr. Clark to enter their employ by offering him an advance of $10,000 on the salary the Missouri Pacific company was giving him. Mr. Clark promptly refused the offer and said nothing. Mr. Gould, however, heard of the matter from other sources, and on the Christmas day following Mr. Clark received a check for $50,000 with a short note which read: "A merry Christmas to my loyal friend.—Jay Gould."

"During the big strike troubles in the Missouri Pacific," said one broker, "one of the employees who stood by the company was shot and killed. I en