The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-09-30

Wall street magnate into whose private
office he had, with an air of indolent
interest, quietly sauntered
What are you afraid Of GregsOn?"
he asked, hating in a familiar way
near the bankers desk.
1t was barely O'clock, yet Gregson
of Gregson &c GreeH. already was down
for business. He long had been a fig
ure I'm Wall street, this Gregson and
his millions; and, just at this time, he
was the figure. For his stupendous op-
erations in Northern Traction had set
the entire street aghast.
Yet, that Gregson was a man of
| shrewdest methods, as well as artful
power, men Of the street had, on more
/ than one occasion, learned 10 their bit
ter cost; and few were inclined to fiat
~ declare in the present instance that
he did not know what he was about.
= Actions frequently speak louder than
words however. and the bitterness
born of depleted bank deposits creates
an undying thirst for vengeance. Hence
Gregson's present mystification of the
public over some coming deal in North
ern Traction, by which lever he long
had been lifting the stock at eXtraordi-
nary strides, and finally had invited the
opposition OF an army of financial foes
resulting in the piling up OF a short in
terest against him OF colossal proper
tons.
Gregson had the name OF being, at
such times, a fiercely wicked antago-
mist. When It was up to him to make
good, Gregson invariably was there
with both feet. Nor I'm the present case
had he showed the first sign of weaken
ing. With aggressive confidence,
backed with a buying power that ap-
peared utterly ineXhaustible, he never
once had wavered under the repeated
\
by-hOrse, until wiseacres not involved
In the bitter conflict were beginning to
dryly remark. with an amusement dis
interested observers only can feel over
one OF Wall streets mysteries" not
that Gregson was the president of
Northern Traction--as was really the
case-but that GregsOn was Northern
Traction itself, and his associates
therein only q lot of ciphers.
The actual facts concerning Northern
Traction. however, OF whatever they
consisted. are not here essential; for
they have only an indirect bearing
upon the present visit and subsequent
work of Mr.. Felix Boyd I'm the exceed
inly peculiar case now presented.
Gregson looked quickly up at him.
somewhat surprised by his unexpected
entrance, and more by his curious
question.
Y.
Yes, Gregson," nodded Boyd, still
smiling oddly. "Of what are you
afraid?'
Gregson grunted impatiently over his
mail. at which he occasionally shook
his head like baited bull; but present.
ly he snorted, like one a bit perplexed:
Afraid OF. Boyd? OF God-and the
Wall street bears!''
And then the magnate of Northern
Frv1c ff In, l.;
desk chair and gave way to a long
resonant laugh, which dispelled for a
time. at least, Che lines of care from
his refined. resolute face-that Of e
man Of nearly so.
why. Boyd. my dear fellow III
presently cried, when he could govern
his amusement, what a curious ques.
tionr'
ut emanates from a rather more Sc
.riOus impression on my part than yol
appear to imagine" said Felix Boyd
more graVely. You should know
Gregson, that am not one to idl,
-intrude upon the time of a man as bus,
as yourself
so 1 do. Boyd. for a fact" the bank
or quickly answered. What do yol
mean? Explain yourself"
Have you any reason to fear a SO
cret foe. Mr.. Gregson, who would d
you personal injury if he had
CHANGER"
sarGregson laughed.
IT have an abundance Of foes. al
right" he replied, significantly; "but
hardly think they are of the order o
ruffians. No. no. Boyd: I know of n
man who deliberately would do m
personal injury. Why do you ask?''
because I discovered several day
ago, Gregson, that you were being con
stantly Swallowed by man who"
Gregson interrupted him with a laug
that made the room ring.
"Ah, I seer" he exclaimed, when h
could suppress his visibility. "Yo
have discovered my shadow. eh? Yo
have tumbIed to Finley Why, Boy(
dear fellow. that chap is my privat
bodyguard."
Your bodyguard2''
''Precisely-nothing Less cried GREG
son, who appeared immensely tickle
over the idea. as well as by Boyd
manifest perplexity. MY bodyguard-
yes, that's the term. I've had him q
my heels for more than a week. Lik
the autocEat of all the Russias, thu
insure proper regard for my angus
person, which, as Northern Tractfo
scars higher, certainly should comman
a corresponding degree of respect.
Boyd smiled only family.
''Pshawi" Gregson then added al
ruptiy: 'Tevity aside, Boyd. there
really nothing in this little discover
of yours. But now see why you hav
called, and with so curious a question
Since you say it's all right, Gregsol
OF course It's no affair for me TO medd
with" Boyd indifferently rejoine,
"GIad to hear you say so. You are or
OF my clients, you know, over all
whom and whose interests I am en-
ployed to feel a constant care. Henc
when discover anything out OF the OF
binary, I invariably look into it,"
Quite right, certainly; and very GOO
Of you"
IT observed, only by chance, that yc
were being watched by the party mel
toned" Boyd deliberately explaine
buttoning his coat. as II about TO d,
part. cat odd times I since have kel
an eye on him. without his knowing
and found that he was very persisten
~ upon your track"
Good enough laughed Gregso
That speaks well for his devotio
Very glad TO hear it."