annihilated space was marvellous to behold. Though the thing was
almost a miracle, they met the condition within the time limit, and we
had turned over to us 150,000 shares of stock.

The moment Mr. Rogers saw the deal was a "go" all his hardness melted as
the snow upon the mountainsides under the April sun. Nothing could be
softer, kinder, and fairer. The blood had disappeared; the tiger was a
great, purring house-cat, intent only on catching naughty rats and mice
for the good of the household. Why, he would do anything to help out
these good gentlemen; certainly, the world should know of his great
interest in the Utah properties, and as the millions of golden dollars
clinked into his golden bucket the next day, the world did learn of the
great value of Utah, for his private counsel was made president, and
certain other gentlemen who bear the uncounterfeitable "Standard Oil"
tag were appointed as directors. There was a general jubilation--I had
almost said, a killing of the fatted calf; but that part of the ceremony
had been most ably attended to by Mr. Rogers in the preliminary stages
of the entertainment.

NOTE.--When this startling and cold-blooded-trick part of my
story was published in _Everybody's Magazine_, it astounded
the world, and my enemies took advantage of the fierce anger
which was aroused to call attention to my part, which they
attempted to show was as bad as that of Rogers. Right here I
wish to go on record: If I had been a human angel instead of
a stock-broker, actuated solely by a desire to do just
right, to do that which would work least harm to the
greatest number of innocents, and least good to the largest
number of tricksters, I should have done as I did.

AUTHOR.

CHAPTER XIV

LAWYER UNTERMYER DISCOVERS THE "NIGGER"

I have dwelt on this Utah episode because it shows phases of the
"System's" methods never heretofore made public, just as episodes which
are to follow in the narrative will develop other startling and
ingenious deviltries. But, before going on, the sequel to the Utah
affair deserves a place in the story. A sequel there was, and my readers
will agree, I think, that it has a mordant humor quite its own. To-day,
after the years that have gone by, I cannot think of this tremendous
bunco game, in spite of its cruel and tragic phases, without a laugh at
the manner in which the smart gentlemen who composed the Utah
Co