Page:The Wizard of Wall Street and his Wealth.djvu/55

 interesting the wealthiest and most powerful men in his schemes. He has himself said that it is just as easy to obtain the acquaintance and secure the friendship of the most powerful as of the most insignificant if only one will set about it in the right way. Well, Gould returned to Gouldsboro with Leupp's backing. He found Pratt looking over the books and puzzled by their intricacies. He discovered that Gould had started a private bank at Stroudsburg in his own name, and he became suspicious that the firm's funds were used in the bank. Pratt then demanded an explanation and finally threatened to close up the tannery and dissolve the partnership. Gould protested that this would ruin him, when Pratt said that he must buy or sell. This was what Gould was waiting for, and he told Mr. Pratt to make him an offer. Pratt gave his energetic young partner the choice of two alternatives, either to take $10,000 for his interest in the business and retire from the firm, or pay $40,000 for the interest of the senior partner. Gould got ten days' time in which to make up his mind, and at the expiration of that period surprised Mr. Pratt by buying him out on his own terms.

Of course he drew on Leupp for the money. This made Gould a partner of Leupp with full powers. He continued with Leupp the policy he had begun with Pratt. He branched out in many speculations in Leupp's name, but without his knowledge. It is said that he bought another tannery, attempted to get up a "corner" in hides, and in