Indicated would trouble him or interrupt his great career.

She really knew nothing about life. And life could not teach Apparently this was not true. What should she do? What her. Reaction in her from salty thought-processes was not pos-say? How act? Her none too brilliant mind was not of much sible. She was not alive in the sense that Aileen Butler was, service in this crisis. She did not know very well how either and yet she thought that she was very much alive. All illusion.

to plan or to fight.

She wasn’t. She was charming if you loved placidity. If you did The conventional mind is at best a petty piece of machin-not, she was not. She was not engaging, brilliant, or forceful.

ery. It is oyster-like in its functioning, or, perhaps better, clam-Frank Cowperwood might well have asked himself in the be-like. It has its little siphon of thought-processes forced up or ginning why he married her. He did not do so now because he down into the mighty ocean of fact and circumstance; but it did not believe it was wise to question the past as to one’s uses so little, pumps so faintly, that the immediate contigu-failures and errors. It was, according to him, most unwise to ity of the vast mass is not disturbed. Nothing of the subtlety regret. He kept his face and thoughts to the future.

of life is perceived. No least inkling of its storms or terrors is But Mrs. Cowperwood was truly distressed in her way, ever discovered except through accident. When some crude, and she went about the house thinking, feeling wretchedly.

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She decided, since the letter asked her to see for herself, to tion at the meeting, quite as erect, secure, defiant, convinc-wait. She must think how she would watch this house, if at ing as he had ever been, “you see how things are. These secu-all. Frank must not know. If it were Aileen Butler by any rities are worth just as much as they ever were. There is noth-chance—but surely not—she thought she would expose her ing the matter with the properties behind them. If you will to her parents. Still, that meant exposing herself. She deter-give me fifteen days or twenty, I am satisfied that I can mined to conceal her mood as best she could at dinner-time—

straighten the whole matter out. I am almost the only one but Cowperwood was not able to be there. He was so rushed, who can, for I know all about it. The market is bound to so closeted with individuals, so closely in conference with recover. Business is going to be better than ever. It’s time I his father and others, that she scarcely saw him this Monday want. Time is the only significant factor in this situation. I night, nor the next day, nor for many days.

want to know if you won’t give me fifteen or twenty days—

For on Tuesday afternoon at two-thirty he issued a call for a month, if you can. That is all I want.” a meeting of his creditors, and at five-thirty he decided to go He stepped aside and out of the general room, where the into the hands of a receiver. And yet, as he stood before his blinds were drawn, into his private office, in order to give his principal creditors—a group of thirty men—in his office, he creditors an opportunity to confer privately in regard to his did not feel that his life was ruined. He was temporarily situation. He had friends in the meeting who were for him.

embarrassed. Certainly things looked very black. The city-He waited one, two, nearly three hours while they talked.

treasurership deal would make a great fuss. Those hypoth-Finally Walter Leigh, Judge Kitchen, Avery Stone, of Jay ecated city loan certificates, to the extent of sixty thousand, Cooke & Co., and several others came in. They were a com-would make another, if Stener chose. Still, he did not feel mittee appointed to gather further information.

that he was utterly destroyed.

“Nothing more can be done to-day, Frank,” Walter Leigh

“Gentlemen,” he said, in closing his address of explana-informed him, quietly. “The majority want the privilege of 233

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examining the books. There is some uncertainty about this Judge Kitchen commiserated with him also; but what good entanglement with the city treasurer which you say exists.

did that do? He was being compelled to suspend. An expert They feel that you’d better announce a temporary suspen-accountant would have to come in and go over his books.

sion, anyhow; and if they want to let you resume later they Butler might spread the news of this city-treasury connection.

can do so.”

Stener might complain of this last city-loan transaction. A half-

“I’m sorry for that, gentlemen,” replied Cowperwood, the dozen of his helpful friends stayed with him until four o’clock least bit depressed. “I would rather do anything than sus-in the morning; but he had to suspend just the same. And pend for one hour, if I could help it, for I know just what it when he did that, he knew he was seriously crippled if not means. You will find assets here far exceeding the liabilities if ultimately defeated in his race for wealth and fame.

you will take the stocks at their normal market value; but When he was really and finally quite alone in his private that won’t help any if I close my doors. The public won’t bedroom he stared at himself in the mirror. His face was pale believe in me. I ought to keep open.” and tired, he thought, but strong and effective. “Pshaw!” he

“Sorry, Frank, old boy,” observed Leigh, pressing his hand said to himself, “I’m not whipped. I’m still young. I’ll get affectionately. “If it were left to me personally, you could out of this in some way yet. Certainly I will. I’ll find some have all the time you want. There’s a crowd of old fogies out way out.”

there that won’t listen to reason. They’re panic-struck. I guess And so, cogitating heavily, wearily, he began to undress.

they’re pretty hard hit themselves. You can scarcely blame Finally he sank upon his bed, and in a little while, strange as them. You’ll come out all right, though I wish you didn’t it may seem, with all the tangle of trouble around him, slept.

have to shut up shop. We can’t do anything with them, how-He could do that—sleep and gurgle most peacefully, the while ever. Why, damn it, man, I don’t see how you can fail, really.

his father paced the floor in his room, refusing to be comIn ten days these stocks will be all right.” forted. All was dark before the older man—the future hope-234

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less. Before the younger man was still hope.

tom. There were the children. They must not be injured.

And in her room Lillian Cowperwood turned and tossed Frank must be reclaimed, if possible. He would get over this.

in the face of this new calamity. For it had suddenly ap-But what a blow!

peared from news from her father and Frank and Anna and her mother-in-law that Frank was about to fail, or would, or had—it was almost impossible to say just how it was. Frank was too busy to explain. The Chicago fire was to blame. There was no mention as yet of the city treasurership. Frank was caught in a trap, and was fighting for his life.

In this crisis, for the moment, she forgot about the note as to his infidelity, or rather ignored it. She was astonished, frightened, dumbfounded, confused. Her little, placid, beautiful world was going around in a dizzy ring. The charming, ornate ship of their fortune was being blown most ruthlessly here and there. She felt it a sort of duty to stay in bed and try to sleep; but her eyes were quite wide, and her brain hurt her. Hours before Frank had insisted that she should not bother about him, that she could do nothing; and she had left him, wondering more than ever what and where was the line of her duty. To stick by her husband, convention told her; and so she decided. Yes, religion dictated that, also cus-235

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Chapter XXXI

wit had told him there were ways to assign his holdings in favor of his largest creditors, which would tend to help him THE SUSPENSION of the banking house of Frank A.

later to resume; and he had been swift to act. Indeed, Harper Cowperwood & Co. created a great stir on ‘change and in Steger had drawn up documents which named Jay Cooke & Philadelphia generally. It was so unexpected, and the amount Co., Edward Clark & Co., Drexel & Co., and others as pre-involved was comparatively so large. Actually he failed for ferred. He knew that even though dissatisfied holders of one million two hundred and fifty thousand dollars; and his smaller shares in his company brought suit and compelled assets, under the depressed condition of stock values, barely readjustment or bankruptcy later, the intention shown to totaled seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars. There had prefer some of his most influential aids was important. They been considerable work done on the matter of his balance-would like it, and might help him later when all this was sheet before it was finally given to the public; but when it over. Besides, suits in plenty are an excellent way of tiding was, stocks dropped an additional three points generally, and over a crisis of this kind until stocks and common sense are the papers the next day devoted notable headlines to it.

restored, and he was for many suits. Harper Steger smiled Cowperwood had no idea of failing permanently; he merely once rather grimly, even in the whirl of the financial chaos wished to suspend temporarily, and later, if possible, to per-where smiles were few, as they were figuring it out.

suade his creditors to allow him to resume. There were only

“Frank,” he said, “you’re a wonder. You’ll have a network two things which stood in the way of this: the matter of the of suits spread here shortly, which no one can break through.

five hundred thousand dollars borrowed from the city trea-They’ll all be suing each other.” sury at a ridiculously low rate of interest, which showed Cowperwood smiled.

plainer than words what had been going on, and the other,

“I only want a little time, that’s all,” he replied. Neverthe-the matter of the sixty-thousand-dollar check. His financial less, for the first time in his life he was a little depressed; for 236

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now this business, to which he had devoted years of active they refused, and injury was done him, he proposed to let work and thought, was ended.

them wait until he was “good and ready,” which in all prob-The thing that was troubling him most in all of this was ability would be never. But, really, it was not quite clear how not the five hundred thousand dollars which was owing the action against him was to be prevented—even by them. The city treasury, and which he knew would stir political and money was down on his books as owing the city treasury, social life to the center once it was generally known—that and it was down on the city treasury’s books as owing from was a legal or semi-legal transaction, at least—but rather the him. Besides, there was a local organization known as the matter of the sixty thousand dollars’ worth of unrestored city Citizens’ Municipal Reform Association which occasionally loan certificates which he had not been able to replace in the conducted investigations in connection with public affairs.

sinking-fund and could not now even though the necessary His defalcation would be sure to come to the ears of this money should fall from heaven. The fact of their absence body and a public investigation might well follow. Various was a matter of source. He pondered over the situation a private individuals knew of it already. His creditors, for in-good deal. The thing to do, he thought, if he went to stance, who were now examining his books.

Mollenhauer or Simpson, or both (he had never met either This matter of seeing Mollenhauer or Simpson, or both, of them, but in view of Butler’s desertion they were his only was important, anyhow, he thought; but before doing so he recourse), was to say that, although he could not at present decided to talk it all over with Harper Steger. So several days return the five hundred thousand dollars, if no action were after he had closed his doors, he sent for Steger and told him taken against him now, which would prevent his resuming all about the transaction, except that he did not make it clear his business on a normal scale a little later, he would pledge that he had not intended to put the certificates in the sink-his word that every dollar of the involved five hundred thou-ing-fund unless he survived quite comfortably.

sand dollars would eventually be returned to the treasury. If Harper Steger was a tall, thin, graceful, rather elegant man, 237

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of gentle voice and perfect manners, who walked always as ment or perhaps larceny as bailee. In this instance, you were though he were a cat, and a dog were prowling somewhere the bailee. And the only way out of that would be to swear in the offing. He had a longish, thin face of a type that is that you had received the check with Stener’s knowledge and rather attractive to women. His eyes were blue, his hair brown, consent. Then it would only be a technical charge of irre-with a suggestion of sandy red in it. He had a steady, inscru-sponsibility on your part, as I see it, and I don’t believe any table gaze which sometimes came to you over a thin, delicate jury would convict you on the evidence of how this relation-hand, which he laid meditatively over his mouth. He was ship was conducted. Still, it might; you never can tell what a cruel to the limit of the word, not aggressively but indiffer-jury is going to do. All this would have to come out at a trial, ently; for he had no faith in anything. He was not poor. He however. The whole thing, it seems to me, would depend on had not even been born poor. He was just innately subtle, which of you two—yourself or Stener—the jury would be with the rather constructive thought, which was about the inclined to believe, and on how anxious this city crowd is to only thing that compelled him to work, that he ought to be find a scapegoat for Stener. This coming election is the rub.

richer than he was—more conspicuous. Cowperwood was If this panic had come at any other time—” an excellent avenue toward legal prosperity. Besides, he was Cowperwood waved for silence. He knew all about that.

a fascinating customer. Of all his clients, Steger admired

“It all depends on what the politicians decide to do. I’m Cowperwood most.

doubtful. The situation is too complicated. It can’t be hushed

“Let them proceed against you,” he said on this occasion, up.” They were in his private office at his house. “What will his brilliant legal mind taking in all the phases of the situa-be will be,” he added.

tion at once. “I don’t see that there is anything more here

“What would that mean, Harper, legally, if I were tried on than a technical charge. If it ever came to anything like that, a charge of larceny as bailee, as you put it, and convicted?

which I don’t think it will, the charge would be embezzle-How many years in the penitentiary at the outside?” 238

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Steger thought a minute, rubbing his chin with his hand.

motion for a new trial and the obtaining of a certificate of

“Let me see,” he said, “that is a serious question, isn’t it? The reasonable doubt. It usually takes that long.” law says one to five years at the outside; but the sentences The young banker sat there staring out of the window, usually average from one to three years in embezzlement cases.

and Steger observed, “It is a bit complicated, isn’t it?” Of course, in this case—”

“Well, I should say so,” returned Frank, and he added to

“I know all about that,” interrupted Cowperwood, irrita-himself: “Jail! Five days in prison!” That would be a terrific bly. “My case isn’t any different from the others, and you slap, all things considered. Five days in jail pending the ob-know it. Embezzlement is embezzlement if the politicians taining of a certificate of reasonable doubt, if one could be want to have it so.” He fell to thinking, and Steger got up obtained! He must avoid this! Jail! The penitentiary! His com-and strolled about leisurely. He was thinking also.

mercial reputation would never survive that.

“And would I have to go to jail at any time during the proceedings—before a final adjustment of the case by the higher courts?” Cowperwood added, directly, grimly, after a time.

“Yes, there is one point in all legal procedure of the kind,” replied Steger, cautiously, now rubbing his ear and trying to put the matter as delicately as possible. “You can avoid jail sentences all through the earlier parts of a case like this; but if you are once tried and convicted it’s pretty hard to do anything—as a matter of fact, it becomes absolutely necessary then to go to jail for a few days, five or so, pending the 239

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Chapter XXXII

for years been following on the trail of the dominant Republican administration in a vain attempt to bring it to a sense THE NECESSITY of a final conferencee between Butler, of some of its political iniquities. He was a serious and aus-Mollenhauer, and Simpson was speedily reached, for this situ-tere man—one of those solemn, self-righteous souls who see ation was hourly growing more serious. Rumors were float-life through a peculiar veil of duty, and who, undisturbed by ing about in Third Street that in addition to having failed notable animal passions of any kind, go their way of up-for so large an amount as to have further unsettled the al-holding the theory of the Ten Commandments over the or-ready panicky financial situation induced by the Chicago der of things as they are.

fire, Cowperwood and Stener, or Stener working with The committee in question had originally been organized Cowperwood, or the other way round, had involved the city to protest against some abuses in the tax department; but treasury to the extent of five hundred thousand dollars. And since then, from election to election, it had been drifting the question was how was the matter to be kept quiet until from one subject to another, finding an occasional evidence after election, which was still three weeks away. Bankers and of its worthwhileness in some newspaper comment and the brokers were communicating odd rumors to each other about frightened reformation of some minor political official who a check that had been taken from the city treasury after ended, usually, by taking refuge behind the skirts of some Cowperwood knew he was to fail, and without Stener’s con-higher political power—in the last reaches, Messrs. Butler, sent. Also that there was danger that it would come to the Mollenhauer, and Simpson. Just now it was without impor-ears of that very uncomfortable political organization known tant fuel or ammunition; and this assignment of as the Citizens’ Municipal Reform Association, of which a Cowperwood, with its attendant crime, so far as the city trea-well-known iron-manufacturer of great probity and moral sury was concerned, threatened, as some politicians and bank-rectitude, one Skelton C. Wheat, was president. Wheat had ers saw it, to give it just the club it was looking for.

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However, the decisive conference took place between and was an interesting figure in the United States Senate at Cowperwood and the reigning political powers some five Washington, where his voice in all the conservative and mon-days after Cowperwood’s failure, at the home of Senator eyed councils of the nation was of great weight.

Simpson, which was located in Rittenhouse Square—a re-The house that he occupied, of Venetian design, and four gion central for the older order of wealth in Philadelphia.

stories in height, bore many architectural marks of distinc-Simpson was a man of no little refinement artistically, of tion, such as the floriated window, the door with the Quaker extraction, and of great wealth-breeding judgment semipointed arch, and medallions of colored marble set in which he used largely to satisfy his craving for political pre-the walls. The Senator was a great admirer of Venice. He had dominance. He was most liberal where money would bring been there often, as he had to Athens and Rome, and had him a powerful or necessary political adherent. He fairly brought back many artistic objects representative of the civi-showered offices—commissionerships, trusteeships, judge-lizations and refinements of older days. He was fond, for ships, political nominations, and executive positions gener-one thing, of the stern, sculptured heads of the Roman emally—on those who did his bidding faithfully and without perors, and the fragments of gods and goddesses which are question. Compared with Butler and Mollenhauer he was the best testimony of the artistic aspirations of Greece. In more powerful than either, for he represented the State and the entresol of this house was one of his finest treasures—a the nation. When the political authorities who were trying carved and floriated base bearing a tapering monolith some to swing a national election were anxious to discover what four feet high, crowned by the head of a peculiarly goatish the State of Pennsylvania would do, so far as the Republican Pan, by the side of which were the problematic remains of a party was concerned, it was to Senator Simpson that they lovely nude nymph—just the little feet broken off at the appealed. In the literal sense of the word, he knew. The Sena-ankles. The base on which the feet of the nymph and the tor had long since graduated from State to national politics, monolith stood was ornamented with carved ox-skulls in-241

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tertwined with roses. In his reception hall were replicas of best of the local vintners looked after with extreme care. He Caligula, Nero, and other Roman emperors; and on his stairwas a man who loved to entertain lavishly; and when his resi-walls reliefs of dancing nymphs in procession, and priests dence was thrown open for a dinner, a reception, or a ball, the bearing offerings of sheep and swine to the sacrificial altars.

best of local society was to be found there.

There was a clock in some corner of the house which chimed The conference was in the Senator’s library, and he received the quarter, the half, the three-quarters, and the hour in his colleagues with the genial air of one who has much to gain strange, euphonious, and pathetic notes. On the walls of the and little to lose. There were whiskies, wines, cigars on the rooms were tapestries of Flemish origin, and in the receptable, and while Mollenhauer and Simpson exchanged the tion-hall, the library, the living-room, and the drawing-room, commonplaces of the day awaiting the arrival of Butler, they richly carved furniture after the standards of the Italian Re-lighted cigars and kept their inmost thoughts to themselves.

naissance. The Senator’s taste in the matter of paintings was It so happened that upon the previous afternoon Butler inadequate, and he mistrusted it; but such as he had were of had learned from Mr. David Pettie, the district attorney, of distinguished origin and authentic. He cared more for his the sixty-thousand-dollar-check transaction. At the same time curio-cases filled with smaller imported bronzes, Venetian the matter had been brought to Mollenhauer’s attention by glass, and Chinese jade. He was not a collector of these in any Stener himself. It was Mollenhauer, not Butler who saw that notable sense—merely a lover of a few choice examples. Hand-by taking advantage of Cowperwood’s situation, he might some tiger and leopard skin rugs, the fur of a musk-ox for his save the local party from blame, and at the same time most divan, and tanned and brown-stained goat and kid skins for likely fleece Cowperwood out of his street-railway shares his tables, gave a sense of elegance and reserved profusion. In without letting Butler or Simpson know anything about it.

addition the Senator had a dining-room done after the Jaco-The thing to do was to terrorize him with a private threat of bean idea of artistic excellence, and a wine-cellar which the prosecution.

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Butler was not long in arriving, and apologized for the estry on the opposite wall but said nothing.

delay. Concealing his recent grief behind as jaunty an air as

“There is one thing sure,” continued Senator Simpson, after possible, he began with:

a time, seeing that no one else spoke, “and that is, if we do

“It’s a lively life I’m leadin’, what with every bank in the not begin a prosecution on our own account within a reacity wantin’ to know how their loans are goin’ to be taken sonable time, some one else is apt to; and that would put care of.” He took a cigar and struck a match.

rather a bad face on the matter. My own opinion would be

“It does look a little threatening,” said Senator Simpson, that we wait until it is very plain that prosecution is going to smiling. “Sit down. I have just been talking with Avery Stone, be undertaken by some one else—possibly the Municipal of Jay Cooke & Company, and he tells me that the talk in Reform Association—but that we stand ready to step in and Third Street about Stener’s connection with this Cowperwood act in such a way as to make it look as though we had been failure is growing very strong, and that the newspapers are planning to do it all the time. The thing to do is to gain bound to take up the matter shortly, unless something is time; and so I would suggest that it be made as difficult as done about it. I am sure that the news will also reach Mr.

possible to get at the treasurer’s books. An investigation there, Wheat, of the Citizens’ Reform Association, very shortly. We if it begins at all—as I think is very likely—should be very ought to decide now, gentlemen, what we propose to do.

slow in producing the facts.”

One thing, I am sure, is to eliminate Stener from the ticket The Senator was not at all for mincing words with his im-as quietly as possible. This really looks to me as if it might portant confreres, when it came to vital issues. He preferred, become a very serious issue, and we ought to be doing what in his grandiloquent way, to call a spade a spade.

we can now to offset its effect later.”

“Now that sounds like very good sense to me,” said Butler, Mollenhauer pulled a long breath through his cigar, and sinking a little lower in his chair for comfort’s sake, and con-blew it out in a rolling steel-blue cloud. He studied the tap-cealing his true mood in regard to all this. “The boys could 243

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easily make that investigation last three weeks, I should think.

transactions public—until we have to, of course. We ought to They’re slow enough with everything else, if me memory be ready with these letters to show to the newspapers at once, doesn’t fail me.” At the same time he was cogitating as to in case this action is forced upon us.” how to inject the personality of Cowperwood and his speedy

“I could have those letters prepared, if you gentlemen have prosecution without appearing to be neglecting the general no objection,” put in Mollenhauer, quietly, but quickly.

welfare of the local party too much.

“Well, that strikes me as sinsible,” said Butler, easily. “It’s

“Yes, that isn’t a bad idea,” said Mollenhauer, solemnly, about the only thing we can do under the circumstances, blowing a ring of smoke, and thinking how to keep unless we could find some one else to blame it on, and I have Cowperwood’s especial offense from coming up at this con-a suggestion to make in that direction. Maybe we’re not as ference and until after he had seen him.

helpless as we might be, all things considered.”

“We ought to map out our program very carefully,” contin-There was a slight gleam of triumph in his eye as he said ued Senator Simpson, “so that if we are compelled to act we this, at the same time that there was a slight shadow of dis-can do so very quickly. I believe myself that this thing is cer-appointment in Mollenhauer’s. So Butler knew, and prob-tain to come to an issue within a week, if not sooner, and we ably Simpson, too.

have no time to lose. If my advice were followed now, I should

“Just what do you mean?” asked the Senator, looking at have the mayor write the treasurer a letter asking for informa-Butler interestedly. He knew nothing of the sixty-thousand-tion, and the treasurer write the mayor his answer, and also dollar check transaction. He had not followed the local trea-have the mayor, with the authority of the common council, sury dealings very closely, nor had he talked to either of his suspend the treasurer for the time being—I think we have the confreres since the original conference between them. “There authority to do that—or, at least, take over his principal duties haven’t been any outside parties mixed up with this, have but without for the time being, anyhow, making any of these there?” His own shrewd, political mind was working.

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“No-o. I wouldn’t call him an outside party, exactly, Sena-meeting he had appeared rather friendly to the young banker, tor,” went on Butler suavely. “It’s Cowperwood himself I’m and this recent discovery seemed scarcely any occasion for a thinkin’ of. There’s somethin’ that has come up since I saw vicious attitude on his part. Mollenhauer in particular was you gentlemen last that makes me think that perhaps that surprised, for he had been looking on Butler’s friendship for young man isn’t as innocent as he might be. It looks to me as Cowperwood as a possible stumbling block.

though he was the ringleader in this business, as though he

“Um-m, you don’t tell me,” observed Senator Simpson, had been leadin’ Stener on against his will. I’ve been lookin’

thoughtfully, stroking his mouth with his pale hand.

into the matter on me own account, and as far as I can make

“Yes, I can confirm that,” said Mollenhauer, quietly, see-out this man Stener isn’t as much to blame as I thought.

ing his own little private plan of browbeating Cowperwood From all I can learn, Cowperwood’s been threatenin’ Stener out of his street-railway shares going glimmering. “I had a with one thing and another if he didn’t give him more money, talk with Stener the other day about this very matter, and he and only the other day he got a big sum on false pretinses, told me that Cowperwood had been trying to force him to which might make him equally guilty with Stener. There’s give him three hundred thousand dollars more, and that when sixty-thousand dollars of city loan certificates that has been he refused Cowperwood managed to get sixty thousand dol-paid for that aren’t in the sinking-fund. And since the repu-lars further without his knowledge or consent.” tation of the party’s in danger this fall, I don’t see that we

“How could he do that?” asked Senator Simpson, incredu-need to have any particular consideration for him.” He lously. Mollenhauer explained the transaction.

paused, strong in the conviction that he had sent a most Oh,” said the Senator, when Mollenhauer had finished, dangerous arrow flying in the direction of Cowperwood, as

“that indicates a rather sharp person, doesn’t it? And the cer-indeed he had. Yet at this moment, both the Senator and tificates are not in the sinking-fund, eh?” Mollenhauer were not a little surprised, seeing at their last

“They’re not,” chimed in Butler, with considerable enthusiasm.

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“Well, I must say,” said Simpson, rather relieved in his and as Butler would ordinarily have seen it, was well within manner, “this looks like a rather good thing than not to me.

his human, if not his strictly legal rights. They did not blame A scapegoat possibly. We need something like this. I see no him half as much for trying to do what he had done as they reason under the circumstances for trying to protect Mr.

blamed Stener for letting him do it. But, since Butler felt as Cowperwood. We might as well try to make a point of that, he did, and there was an actual technical crime here, they if we have to. The newspapers might just as well talk loud were perfectly willing that the party should have the advan-about that as anything else. They are bound to talk; and if tage of it, even if Cowperwood went to the penitentiary.

we give them the right angle, I think that the election might

“You may be right,” said Senator Simpson, cautiously. “You well come and go before the matter could be reasonably might have those letters prepared, Henry; and if we have to cleared up, even though Mr. Wheat does interfere. I will be bring any action at all against anybody before election, it glad to undertake to see what can be done with the papers.” would, perhaps, be advisable to bring it against Cowperwood.

“Well, that bein’ the case,” said Butler, “I don’t see that Include Stener if you have to but not unless you have to. I there’s so much more we can do now; but I do think it will leave it to you two, as I am compelled to start for Pittsburg be a mistake if Cowperwood isn’t punished with the other next Friday; but I know you will not overlook any point.” one. He’s equally guilty with Stener, if not more so, and I for The Senator arose. His time was always valuable. Butler one want to see him get what he deserves. He belongs in the was highly gratified by what he had accomplished. He had penitentiary, and that’s where he’ll go if I have my say.” Both succeeded in putting the triumvirate on record against Mollenhauer and Simpson turned a reserved and inquiring Cowperwood as the first victim, in case of any public distur-eye on their usually genial associate. What could be the reabance or demonstration against the party. All that was now son for his sudden determination to have Cowperwood pun-necessary was for that disturbance to manifest itself; and, ished? Cowperwood, as Mollenhauer and Simpson saw it, from what he could see of local conditions, it was not far off.

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There was now the matter of Cowperwood’s disgruntled Chapter XXXIII

creditors to look into; and if by buying in these he should succeed in preventing the financier from resuming business, IN THE MEANTIME Cowperwood, from what he could see and he would have him in a very precarious condition indeed. It hear, was becoming more and more certain that the politi-was a sad day for Cowperwood, Butler thought—the day he cians would try to make a scapegoat of him, and that shortly.

had first tried to lead Aileen astray—and the time was not For one thing, Stires had called only a few days after he closed far off when he could prove it to him.

his doors and imparted a significant bit of information. Albert was still connected with the city treasury, as was Stener, and engaged with Sengstack and another personal appointee of Mollenhauer’s in going over the treasurer’s books and explaining their financial significance. Stires had come to Cowperwood primarily to get additional advice in regard to the sixty-thousand-dollar check and his personal connection with it. Stener, it seemed, was now threatening to have his chief clerk prosecuted, saying that he was responsible for the loss of the money and that his bondsmen could be held responsible. Cowperwood had merely laughed and assured Stires that there was nothing to this.

“Albert,” he had said, smilingly, “I tell you positively, there’s nothing in it. You’re not responsible for delivering that check to me. I’ll tell you what you do, now. Go and consult my 247

The Financier

lawyer—Steger. It won’t cost you a cent, and he’ll tell you ex-fer to the city. He could not promise them money for the actly what to do. Now go on back and don’t worry any more present—only notes—but they might take them. Surely about it. I am sorry this move of mine has caused you so much they could not be intending to make a scapegoat of him trouble, but it’s a hundred to one you couldn’t have kept your over such a trivial and uncertain matter as this check trans-place with a new city treasurer, anyhow, and if I see any place action! When there was the five hundred thousand advanced where you can possibly fit in later, I’ll let you know.” by Stener, to say nothing of all the past shady transactions Another thing that made Cowperwood pause and consider of former city treasurers! How rotten! How political, but at this time was a letter from Aileen, detailing a conversation how real and dangerous.

which had taken place at the Butler dinner table one evening But Simpson was out of the city for a period of ten days, when Butler, the elder, was not at home. She related how her and Mollenhauer, having in mind the suggestion made by brother Owen in effect had stated that they—the politi-Butler in regard to utilizing Cowperwood’s misdeed for the cians—her father, Mollenhauer, and Simpson, were going benefit of the party, had already moved as they had planned.

to “get him yet” (meaning Cowperwood), for some criminal The letters were ready and waiting. Indeed, since the confer-financial manipulation of something—she could not explain ence, the smaller politicians, taking their cue from the over-what—a check or something. Aileen was frantic with worry.

lords, had been industriously spreading the story of the sixty-Could they mean the penitentiary, she asked in her letter?

thousand-dollar check, and insisting that the burden of guilt Her dear lover! Her beloved Frank! Could anything like this for the treasury defalcation, if any, lay on the banker. The really happen to him?

moment Mollenhauer laid eyes on Cowperwood he realized, His brow clouded, and he set his teeth with rage when he however, that he had a powerful personality to deal with.

read her letter. He would have to do something about this—

Cowperwood gave no evidence of fright. He merely stated, see Mollenhauer or Simpson, or both, and make some of-in his bland way, that he had been in the habit of borrowing 248

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money from the city treasury at a low rate of interest, and feet. It would be better for the city, for then I could certainly that this panic had involved him so that he could not possi-pay it what I owe it.” He smiled his most winsome and enbly return it at present.

gaging smile. And Mollenhauer seeing him for the first time,

“I have heard rumors, Mr. Mollenhauer,” he said, “to the was not unimpressed. Indeed he looked at this young finan-effect that some charge is to be brought against me as a part-cial David with an interested eye. If he could have seen a ner with Mr. Stener in this matter; but I am hoping that the way to accept this proposition of Cowperwood’s, so that the city will not do that, and I thought I might enlist your influ-money offered would have been eventually payable to him, ence to prevent it. My affairs are not in a bad way at all, if I and if Cowperwood had had any reasonable prospect of get-had a little time to arrange matters. I am making all of my ting on his feet soon, he would have considered carefully creditors an offer of fifty cents on the dollar now, and giving what he had to say. For then Cowperwood could have as-notes at one, two, and three years; but in this matter of the signed his recovered property to him. As it was, there was city treasury loans, if I could come to terms, I would be glad small likelihood of this situation ever being straightened out.

to make it a hundred cents—only I would want a little more The Citizens’ Municipal Reform Association, from all he time. Stocks are bound to recover, as you know, and, barring could hear, was already on the move—investigating, or about my losses at this time, I will be all right. I realize that the to, and once they had set their hands to this, would unques-matter has gone pretty far already. The newspapers are likely tionably follow it closely to the end.

to start talking at any time, unless they are stopped by those

“The trouble with this situation, Mr. Cowperwood,” he who can control them.” (He looked at Mollenhauer in a com-said, affably, “is that it has gone so far that it is practically plimentary way.) “But if I could be kept out of the general out of my hands. I really have very little to do with it. I don’t proceedings as much as possible, my standing would not be suppose, though, really, it is this matter of the five-hundred-injured, and I would have a better chance of getting on my thousand-dollar loan that is worrying you so much, as it is 249

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this other matter of the sixty-thousand-dollar check you re-It was not possible for me to attend to everything in person.

ceived the other day. Mr. Stener insists that you secured that It has not been our custom to deposit them at once. Mr.