- •In torpedo fashion; but his movements were apparently never He returned that night, and lo! the expected had happened.
- •It. He’s already offered me sixty-two for it. I can get it for
- •Ing when he came in.
- •It for the first year, but if you mind your p’s and q’s, they’ll cious and conservative investments and because of his cau-probably give you something as a gift at the end of that time.
- •It was fine to be getting on this way in the world and having such a good time.
- •In any woman. He was practical, methodic, orderly. His shoe At first, when Frank called, she did not have much to say.
- •I’m marrying you. We have independent means.”
- •In the whole thing. Butler could be made official garbage-And since then times had been exceedingly good with Ed-collector. The council could vote an annual appropriation ward Butler.
- •Vast advantage to him, and to devote all his attention to that.
- •Vague gray-blue; his hair a dusty light-brown and thin. His Cowperwood and thought how fortunate she was.
- •Impression, of course, that it was scattered freely in various
- •It was called—which interested him greatly. He rode on it occasionally when he was delayed or did not wish to trouble 109
- •It was Butler’s habit when he became involved in these
- •Intention all along of the two men to use these houses jointly.
- •In as tactful a manner as possible, that the dance afterward
- •Vain. My mother and father tell me I’m too vain as it is.” There was much jesting, some slappings of shoulders, some
- •Into her eyes, then left. Aileen’s bosom heaved. It was hard
- •I’m wild about you.”
- •It’s your business now, first, last, and all the time. You can’t not young, not vivid, not as unschooled in the commonplaces get your mind off of that.”
- •Its place. His large feet were incased in good, square-toed, well—
- •Ings for business purposes and residences in which Chicago
- •Voice. To his father he said a little later, “It’s panic, unless the majority of the banks and brokerage firms stand together.” commercial section since
- •In a position to help him were now as bad off as himself.
- •Voices could be heard faintly in the distance, far off to-
- •It was not time for love, and he felt it.
- •Ing about this, and it was puzzling him greatly.
- •Voted to the talents of Mollenhauer’s three ambitious daughters, a library and private office for himself, a boudoir and 174
- •If he were saved would he give the money back to Stener? If
- •Ing hourly worse since its inception the day before.
- •If we did anything which would look as though we were
- •Ing except loans, loans, loans, and the need of protecting
- •It.” He returned to his drawing-room and scanned both ac-He had never seen a map of Chicago before in just this clear, counts most carefully.
- •Ined. He hurried down the street to various bankers and bro-
- •It was in the face of this very altered situation that
- •Ing his father’s gloom. He was satisfied that there was scarcely When did you say he notified you not to buy city loan?” a coal of hope to be raked out of these ashes of despair, but
- •Indicated would trouble him or interrupt his great career.
- •Illegally, and he is very much wrought up about it. The mayor Stener will tell you that, if you ask him.” and the other city officials know of it now, and they may
- •It was decided to appoint a subcommittee “to investigate”
- •Impression that Cowperwood had desperately misused the City Treasurer.
- •It. We wouldn’t dare. We have men and women who have
- •Vest off, was listening to Aileen’s account of her troubles.
- •Vously.
- •Ing wits told her what to do.
- •Validity. It is more than likely that we owe this spectacle called He came out of the church after a time and returned home.
- •Ibly sad, despairing look.
- •It next. Ye’re young yet. Yer life is before you. I tremble for but Aileen did not see it at all.
- •I have yer best interests at heart. I love ye; but ye must. I’m
- •If you’ll let me. Will you speak to your mother, or shall I?”
- •Ings and communications for the time being, and even go Never! What could he mean by suggesting such a thing?
- •Ity known as hard common sense.
- •It appear that Stener was lying out of the whole cloth about 320
- •I can safely leave you.”
- •Investment into an accidental but none the less criminal mire of failure and exposure and public calumny and what not.
- •Very guarded references to his client, describes him as a nice,
- •Itable these few short years have been to him. Was George w. Stener worth any such sum up to the time he was re-He pointed to Cowperwood.
- •Incident like that? You know there wasn’t. He had never be-
- •Ishing the situation for the sheer sense of superiority it gave
- •If it wasn’t for the girl’s mother and her sister and her broth-
- •View of life, Mr. Butler, and I have another.”
- •I’m thinkin’. Why should ye want to be takin’ her away from
- •Ing was that the financier and the former city treasurer would
- •Ized that it would not be wise politically to stand out against what was wanted. Still, when he and Marvin learned that
- •It looks as if I have to go to jail or leave the country, and I’ve
- •It had been a terrific blow to her. Now to have this thing Steger is coming here in a little while to let me know. I had a suddenly broken to her in this offhand way, even though she 389
- •Ing judges in his favor, and that of the three agreed judges
- •It was that of the two housebreakers whom Cowperwood 405
- •Ing of extenuation in your case.” Judge Payderson paused
- •Into a street-car which ran to within a few blocks of the prison.
- •It, and something to read too. If you’re in business yet, I
- •If he did not get out before then she would be nearing twenty-The next day, however, she wrote him just the same, de-nine and he would be nearing forty. Would he want her then?
- •Insulting to her father, ignoring him on every occasion, refusing as often as possible to eat at the same table, and when 456
- •Vanderbilt, Jay Gould, Daniel Drew, James Fish, and others and the Erie Canal, at a greatly reduced cost. It was a vision in the East, and Fair, Crocker, w. R. Hearst, and Collis p.
- •Vigor of body, was a solemn, conservative speculator as to
- •In the great wheat crops of the West, a quiet divorce was It was with this thought that he went to visit Aileen, and granted Mrs. Frank a. Cowperwood in Philadelphia, because to plan for the future.
- •Ics of that?
It was decided to appoint a subcommittee “to investigate”
“It strikes me, gentlemen,” he announced, “that this is an (to quote the statement eventually given to the public) “the occasion when this organization can render a signal service peculiar rumors now affecting one of the most important to the city and the people of Philadelphia, and prove the and distinguished offices of our municipal government,” and significance and the merit of the title originally selected for to report at the next meeting, which was set for the follow-it, by making such a thoroughgoing investigation as will bring ing evening at nine o’clock. The meeting adjourned, and the to light all the facts in this case, and then by standing vigor-following night at nine reassembled, four individuals of very ously behind them insist that such nefarious practices as we shrewd financial judgment having meantime been about the are informed were indulged in in this case shall cease. I know task assigned them. They drew up a very elaborate statement, it may prove to be a difficult task. The Republican party and not wholly in accordance with the facts, but as nearly so as its local and State interests are certain to be against us. Its could be ascertained in so short a space of time.
leaders are unquestionably most anxious to avoid comment
“It appears [read the report, after a preamble which ex-and to have their ticket go through undisturbed, and they plained why the committee had been appointed] that it has will not contemplate with any equanimity our opening ac-been the custom of city treasurers for years, when loans have tivity in this matter; but if we persevere, great good will surely been authorized by councils, to place them in the hands of 252
Dreiser
some favorite broker for sale, the broker accounting to the the lender seeing that the order for the hypothecated securi-treasurer for the moneys received by such sales at short perities was duly made to him on the books of the treasurer.
ods, generally the first of each month. In the present case Such methods appear to have been occurring for a long time, Frank A. Cowperwood has been acting as such broker for and it being incredible that the city treasurer could be un-the city treasurer. But even this vicious and unbusiness-like aware of the nature of the business, there is indication of a system appears not to have been adhered to in the case of complicity between him and Mr. Cowperwood to benefit Mr. Cowperwood. The accident of the Chicago fire, the con-by the use of the city credit, in violation of the law.
sequent depression of stock values, and the subsequent fail-
“Furthermore, at the very time these hypothecations were ure of Mr. Frank A. Cowperwood have so involved matters being made, and the city paying interest upon such loans, temporarily that the committee has not been able to ascer-the money representing them was in the hands of the tain with accuracy that regular accounts have been rendered; treasurer’s broker and bearing no interest to the city. The but from the manner in which Mr. Cowperwood has had payment of municipal warrants was postponed, and they were possession of bonds (city loan) for hypothecation, etc., it being purchased at a discount in large amounts by Mr.
would appear that he has been held to no responsibility in Cowperwood with the very money that should have been in these matters, and that there have always been under his con-the city treasury. The bona fide holders of the orders for cer-trol several hundred thousand dollars of cash or securities tificates of loans are now unable to obtain them, and thus belonging to the city, which he has manipulated for various the city’s credit is injured to a greater extent than the present purposes; but the details of the results of these transactions defalcation, which amounts to over five hundred thousand are not easily available.
dollars. An accountant is now at work on the treasurer’s books,
“Some of the operations consisted of hypothecation of large and a few days should make clear the whole modus oper-amounts of these loans before the certificates were issued, andi. It is hoped that the publicity thus obtained will break 253
The Financier
up such vicious practices.”
city would be smirched. It was the old story.
There was appended to this report a quotation from the At once the question was raised as to who was really guilty, law governing the abuse of a public trust; and the committee the city treasurer or the broker, or both. How much money went on to say that, unless some taxpayer chose to initiate had actually been lost? Where had it gone? Who was Frank proceedings for the prosecution of those concerned, the com-Algernon Cowperwood, anyway? Why was he not arrested?
mittee itself would be called upon to do so, although such How did he come to be identified so closely with the finan-action hardly came within the object for which it was formed.
cial administration of the city? And though the day of what This report was immediately given to the papers. Though later was termed “yellow journalism” had not arrived, and some sort of a public announcement had been anticipated the local papers were not given to such vital personal com-by Cowperwood and the politicians, this was, nevertheless, ment as followed later, it was not possible, even bound as a severe blow. Stener was beside himself with fear. He broke they were, hand and foot, by the local political and social into a cold sweat when he saw the announcement which was magnates, to avoid comment of some sort. Editorials had to conservatively headed, “Meeting of the Municipal Reform be written. Some solemn, conservative references to the shame Association.” All of the papers were so closely identified with and disgrace which one single individual could bring to a the political and financial powers of the city that they did great city and a noble political party had to be ventured upon.
not dare to come out openly and say what they thought. The That desperate scheme to cast the blame on Cowperwood chief facts had already been in the hands of the various edi-temporarily, which had been concocted by Mollenhauer, tors and publishers for a week and more, but word had gone Butler, and Simpson, to get the odium of the crime outside around from Mollenhauer, Simpson, and Butler to use the the party lines for the time being, was now lugged forth and soft pedal for the present. It was not good for Philadelphia, put in operation. It was interesting and strange to note how for local commerce, etc., to make a row. The fair name of the quickly the newspapers, and even the Citizens’ Municipal 254
Dreiser
Reform Association, adopted the argument that Cowperwood OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
was largely, if not solely, to blame. Stener had loaned him OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
the money, it is true—had put bond issues in his hands for sale, it is true, but somehow every one seemed to gain the GEORGE W. STENER, ESQ., October 18, 1871.