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；　and　then　to　see　later　if　some　of　the　other　stockholders　won't　want　to　sell　out。　　Green　and　Coates；　now；　looks　like　a　good　proposition　to　me。　　If　I　had　three　or　four　hundred　thousand　dollars　that　I　thought　I　could　put　into　that　by　degrees　I　would　follow　it　up。　　It　only　takes　about　thirty　per　cent。　of　the　stock　of　any　railroad　to　control　it。　　Most　of　the　shares　are　scattered　around　so　far　and　wide　that　they　never　vote；　and　I　think　two　or　three　hundred　thousand　dollars　would　control　that　road。〃　He　mentioned　one　other　line　that　might　be　secured　in　the　same　way　in　the　course　of　time。

Stener　meditated。　　〃That's　a　good　deal　of　money；〃　he　said；　thoughtfully。　　〃I'll　talk　to　you　about　that　some　more　later。〃　And　he　was　off　to　see　Strobik　none　the　less。

Cowperwood　knew　that　Stener　did　not　have　any　two　or　three　hundred　thousand　dollars　to　invest　in　anything。　　There　was　only　one　way　that　he　could　get　itand　that　was　to　borrow　it　out　of　the　city　treasury　and　forego　the　interest。　　But　he　would　not　do　that　on　his　own　initiative。　　Some　one　else　must　be　behind　him　and　who　else　other　than　Mollenhauer；　or　Simpson；　or　possibly　even　Butler；　though　he　doubted　that；　unless　the　triumvirate　were　secretly　working　together。　　But　what　of　it？　The　larger　politicians　were　always　using　the　treasury；　and　he　was　thinking　now；　only；　of　his　own　attitude　in　regard　to　the　use　of　this　money。　　No　harm　could　come　to　him；　if　Stener's　ventures　were　successful；　and　there　was　no　reason　why　they　should　not　be。　　Even　if　they　were　not　he　would　be　merely　acting　as　an　agent。　　In　addition；　he　saw　how　in　the　manipulation　of　this　money　for　Stener　he　could　probably　eventually　control　certain　lines　for　himself。

There　was　one　line　being　laid　out　to　within　a　few　blocks　of　his　new　homethe　Seventeenth　and　Nineteenth　Street　line　it　was　called　which　interested　him　greatly。　　He　rode　on　it　occasionally　when　he　was　delayed　or　did　not　wish　to　trouble　about　a　vehicle。　　It　ran　through　two　thriving　streets　of　red…brick　houses；　and　was　destined　to　have　a　great　future　once　the　city　grew　large　enough。　　As　yet　it　was　really　not　long　enough。　　If　he　could　get　that；　for　instance；　and　combine　it　with　Butler's　lines；　once　they　were　securedor　Mollenhauer's；　or　Simpson's；　the　legislature　could　be　induced　to　give　them　additional　franchises。　　He　even　dreamed　of　a　combination　between　Butler；　Mollenhauer；　Simpson；　and　himself。　　Between　them；　politically；　they　could　get　anything。　　But　Butler　was　not　a　philanthropist。　　He　would　have　to　be　approached　with　a　very　sizable　bird　in　hand。　　The　combination　must　be　obviously　advisable。　Besides；　he　was　dealing　for　Butler　in　street…railway　stocks；　and　if　this　particular　line　were　such　a　good　thing　Butler　might　wonder　why　it　had　not　been　brought　to　him　in　the　first　place。　　It　would　be　better；　Frank　thought；　to　wait　until　he　actually　had　it　as　his　own；　in　which　case　it　would　be　a　different　matter。　　Then　he　could　talk　as　a　capitalist。　　He　began　to　dream　of　a　city…wide　street…railway　system　controlled　by　a　few　men；　or　preferably　himself　alone。





Chapter　XVII




The　days　that　had　been　passing　brought　Frank　Cowperwood　and　Aileen　Butler　somewhat　closer　together　in　spirit。　　Because　of　the　pressure　of　his　growing　affairs　he　had　not　paid　so　much　attention　to　her　as　he　might　have；　but　he　had　seen　her　often　this　past　year。　　She　was　now　nineteen　and　had　grown　into　some　subtle　thoughts　of　her　own。　　For　one　thing；　she　was　beginning　to　see　the　difference　between　good　taste　and　bad　taste　in　houses　and　furnishings。

〃Papa；　why　do　we　stay　in　this　old　barn？〃　she　asked　her　father　one　evening　at　dinner；　when　the　usual　family　group　was　seated　at　the　table。

〃What's　the　matter　with　this　house；　I'd　like　to　know？〃　demanded　Butler；　who　was　drawn　up　close　to　the　table；　his　napkin　tucked　comfortably　under　his　chin；　for　he　insisted　on　this　when　company　was　not　present。　　〃I　don't　see　anything　the　matter　with　this　house。　Your　mother　and　I　manage　to　live　in　it　well　enough。〃

〃Oh；　it's　terrible；　papa。　　You　know　it；〃　supplemented　Norah；　who　was　seventeen　and　quite　as　bright　as　her　sister；　though　a　little　less　experienced。　　〃Everybody　says　so。　　Look　at　all　the　nice　houses　that　are　being　built　everywhere　about　here。〃

〃Everybody！　Everybody！　Who　is　'everybody；'　I'd　like　to　know？〃　demanded　Butler；　with　the　faintest　touch　of　choler　and　much　humor。　〃I'm　somebody；　and　I　like　it。　　Those　that　don't　like　it　don't　have　to　live　in　it。　　Who　are　they？　What's　the　matter　with　it；　I'd　like　to　know？〃

The　question　in　just　this　form　had　been　up　a　number　of　times　before；　and　had　been　handled　in　just　this　manner；　or　passed　over　entirely　with　a　healthy　Irish　grin。　　To…night；　however；　it　was　destined　for　a　little　more　extended　thought。

〃You　know　it's　bad；　papa；〃　corrected　Aileen；　firmly。　　〃Now　what's　the　use　getting　mad　about　it？　It's　old　and　cheap　and　dingy。　　The　furniture　is　all　worn　out。　　That　old　piano　in　there　ought　to　be　given　away。　　I　won't　play　on　it　any　more。　　The　Cowperwoods〃

〃Old　is　it！〃　exclaimed　Butler；　his　accent　sharpening　somewhat　with　his　self…induced　rage。　　He　almost　pronounced　it　〃owled。〃　　〃Dingy；　hi！　Where　do　you　get　that？　At　your　convent；　I　suppose。　　And　where　is　it　worn？　Show　me　where　it's　worn。〃

He　was　coming　to　her　reference　to　Cowperwood；　but　he　hadn't　reached　that　when　Mrs。　Butler　interfered。　　She　was　a　stout；　broad…faced　woman；　smiling…mouthed　most　of　the　time；　with　blurry；　gray　Irish　eyes；　and　a　touch　of　red　in　her　hair；　now　modified　by　grayness。　Her　cheek；　below　the　mouth；　on　the　left　side；　was　sharply　accented　by　a　large　wen。

〃Children！　children！〃　（Mr。　Butler；　for　all　his　commercial　and　political　responsibility；　was　as　much　a　child　to　her　as　any。）　〃Youse　mustn't　quarrel　now。　　Come　now。　　Give　your　father　the　tomatoes。〃

There　was　an　Irish　maid　serving　at　table；　but　plates　were　passed　from　one　to　the　other　just　the　same。　　A　heavily　ornamented　chandelier；　holding　sixteen　imitation　candles　in　white　porcelain；　hung　low　over　the　table　and　was　brightly　lighted；　another　offense　to　Aileen。

〃Mama；　how　often　have　I　told　you　not　to　say　'youse'？〃　pleaded　Norah；　very　much　disheartened　by　her　mother's　grammatical　errors。　〃You　know　you　said　you　wouldn't。〃

〃And　who's　to　tell　your　mother　what　she　should　say？〃　called　Butler；　more　incensed　than　ever　at　this　sudden　and　unwarranted　rebellion　and　assault。　　〃Your　mother　talked　before　ever　you　was　born；　I'd　have　you　know。　　If　it　weren't　for　her　workin'　and　slavin'　you　wouldn't　have　any　fine　manners　to　be　paradin'　before　her。　　I'd　have　you　know　that。　　She's　a　better　woman　nor　any　you'll　be　runnin'　with　this　day；　you　little　baggage；　you！〃

〃Mama；　do　you　hear　what　he's　calling　me？〃　complained　Norah；　hugging　close　to　her　mother's　arm　and　pretending　fear　and　dissatisfaction。

〃Eddie！　Eddie！〃　cautioned　Mrs。　Butler；　pleading　with　her　husband。　〃You　know　he　don't　mean　that；　Norah；　dear。　　Don't　you　know　he　don't？〃

She　was　stroking　her　baby's　head。　　The　reference　to　her　grammar　had　not　touched　her　at　all。

Butler　was　sorry　that　he　had　called　his　youngest　a　baggage；　but　these　childrenGod　bless　his　soulwere　a　great　annoyance。　　Why；　in　the　name　of　all　the　saints；　wasn't　this　house　good　enough　for　them？

〃Why　don't　you　people　quit　fussing　at　the　table？〃　observed　Callum；　a　likely　youth；　with　black　hair　laid　smoothly　over　his　forehead　in　a　long；　distinguished　layer　reaching　from　his　left　to　close　to　his　right　ear；　and　his　upper　lip　carrying　a　short；　crisp　mustache。　　His　nose　was　short　and　retrousse；　and　his　ears　were　rather　prominent；　but　he　was　bright　and　attractive。　　He　and　Owen　both　realized　that　the　house　was　old　and　poorly　arranged；　but　their　father　and　mother　liked　it；　and　business　sense　and　family　peace　dictated　silence　on　this　score。

〃Well；　I　think　it's　mean　to　have　to　live　in　this　old　place　when　people　not　one…fourth　as　good　as　we　are　are　living　in　better　ones。　The　Cowperwoodswhy；　even　the　Cowperwoods〃

〃Yes；　the　Cowperwoods！　What　about　the　Cowperwoods？〃　demanded　Butler；　turning　squarely　to　Aileenshe　was　sitting　beside　him…his　big；　red　face　glowing。

〃Why；　even　they　have　a　better　house　than　we　have；　and　he's　merely　an　agent　of　yours。〃

〃The　Cowperwoods！　The　Cowperwoods！　I'll　not　have　any　talk　about　the　Cowperwoods。　　I'm　not　takin'　my　rules　from　the　Cowperwoods。　　Suppose　they　have　a　fine　house；　what　of　it？　My　house　is　my　house。　　I　want　to　live　here。　　I've　lived　here　too　long　to　be　pickin'　up　and　movin'　away。　　If　you　don't　like　it　you　know　what　else　you　can　do。　　Move　if　you　want　to。　　I'll　not　move。〃

It　was　Butler's　habit　when　he　became　involved　in　these　family　quarrels；　which　were　as　shallow　as　puddles；　to　wave　his　hands　rather　antagonistically　under　his　wife's　or　his　children's　noses。

〃Oh；　well；　I　will　get　out　one　of　these　days；〃　Aileen　replied。　〃Thank　heaven　I　won't　have　to　live　here　forever。〃

There　flashed　across　her　mind　the　beautiful　reception…room；　library；　parlor；　and　boudoirs　of　the　Cowperwoods；　which　were　now　being　arranged　and　about　which　Anna　Cowperwood　talked　to　her　so　much　their　dainty；　lovely　triangular　grand　piano　in　gold　and　painted　pink　and　blue。　　Why　couldn't　they　have　things　like　that？　Her　father　was　unquestionably　a　dozen　times　as　wealthy。　　But　no；　her　father；　whom　she　loved　dearly；　was　of　the