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He；　too；　was　thinking　how　useless　it　was　for　any　one　to　approach　a　group　of　politicians　with　a　proposition　like　this；　particularly　in　a　crisis　such　as　bid　fair　to　occur。　　He　reflected　that　if　he　and　Butler　and　Mollenhauer　could　get　together　and　promise　Cowperwood　protection　in　return　for　the　surrender　of　his　street…railway　holdings　it　would　be　a　very　different　matter。　　It　would　be　very　easy　in　this　case　to　carry　the　city　treasury　loan　along　in　silence　and　even　issue　more　money　to　support　it；　but　it　was　not　sure；　in　the　first　place；　that　Cowperwood　could　be　made　to　surrender　his　stocks；　and　in　the　second　place　that　either　Butler　or　Mollenhauer　would　enter　into　any　such　deal　with　him；　Simpson。　　Butler　had　evidently　come　here　to　say　a　good　word　for　Cowperwood。　　Mollenhauer　and　himself　were　silent　rivals。　　Although　they　worked　together　politically　it　was　toward　essentially　different　financial　ends。　　They　were　allied　in　no　one　particular　financial　proposition；　any　more　than　Mollenhauer　and　Butler　were。　　And　besides；　in　all　probability　Cowperwood　was　no　fool。　　He　was　not　equally　guilty　with　Stener；　the　latter　had　loaned　him　money。　　The　Senator　reflected　on　whether　he　should　broach　some　such　subtle　solution　of　the　situation　as　had　occurred　to　him　to　his　colleagues；　but　he　decided　not。　　Really　Mollenhauer　was　too　treacherous　a　man　to　work　with　on　a　thing　of　this　kind。　It　was　a　splendid　chance　but　dangerous。　　He　had　better　go　it　alone。　For　the　present　they　should　demand　of　Stener　that　he　get　Cowperwood　to　return　the　five　hundred　thousand　dollars　if　he　could。　　If　not；　Stener　could　be　sacrificed　for　the　benefit　of　the　party；　if　need　be。　Cowperwood's　stocks；　with　this　tip　as　to　his　condition；　would；　Simpson　reflected；　offer　a　good　opportunity　for　a　little　stock…exchange　work　on　the　part　of　his　own　brokers。　　They　could　spread　rumors　as　to　Cowperwood's　condition　and　then　offer　to　take　his　shares　off　his　handsfor　a　song；　of　course。　　It　was　an　evil　moment　that　led　Cowperwood　to　Butler。

〃Well；　now；〃　said　the　Senator；　after　a　prolonged　silence；　〃I　might　sympathize　with　Mr。　Cowperwood　in　his　situation；　and　I　certainly　don't　blame　him　for　buying　up　street…railways　if　he　can；　but　I　really　don't　see　what　can　be　done　for　him　very　well　in　this　crisis。　I　don't　know　about　you；　gentlemen；　but　I　am　rather　certain　that　I　am　not　in　a　position　to　pick　other　people's　chestnuts　out　of　the　fire　if　I　wanted　to；　just　now。　　It　all　depends　on　whether　we　feel　that　the　danger　to　the　party　is　sufficient　to　warrant　our　going　down　into　our　pockets　and　assisting　him。〃

At　the　mention　of　real　money　to　be　loaned　Mollenhauer　pulled　a　long　face。　　〃I　can't　see　that　I　will　be　able　to　do　very　much　for　Mr。　Cowperwood；〃　he　sighed。

〃Begad；〃　said　Buler；　with　a　keen　sense　of　humor；　〃it　looks　to　me　as　if　I'd　better　be　gettin'　in　my　one　hundred　thousand　dollars。　That's　the　first　business　of　the　early　mornin'。〃　　Neither　Simpson　nor　Mollenhauer　condescended　on　this　occasion　to　smile　even　the　wan　smile　they　had　smiled　before。　　They　merely　looked　wise　and　solemn。

〃But　this　matter　of　the　city　treasury；　now；〃　said　Senator　Simpson；　after　the　atmosphere　had　been　allowed　to　settle　a　little；　〃is　something　to　which　we　shall　have　to　devote　a　little　thought。　　If　Mr。　Cowperwood　should　fail；　and　the　treasury　lose　that　much　money；　it　would　embarrass　us　no　little。　　What　lines　are　they；〃　he　added；　as　an　afterthought；　〃that　this　man　has　been　particularly　interested　in？〃

〃I　really　don't　know；〃　replied　Butler；　who　did　not　care　to　say　what　Owen　had　told　him　on　the　drive　over。

〃I　don't　see；〃　said　Mollenhauer；　〃unless　we　can　make　Stener　get　the　money　back　before　this　man　Cowperwood　fails；　how　we　can　save　ourselves　from　considerable　annoyance　later；　but　if　we　did　anything　which　would　look　as　though　we　were　going　to　compel　restitution；　he　would　probably　shut　up　shop　anyhow。　　So　there's　no　remedy　in　that　direction。　　And　it　wouldn't　be　very　kind　to　our　friend　Edward　here　to　do　it　until　we　hear　how　he　comes　out　on　his　affair。〃　　He　was　referring　to　Butler's　loan。

〃Certainly　not；〃　said　Senator　Simpson；　with　true　political　sagacity　and　feeling。

〃I'll　have　that　one　hundred　thousand　dollars　in　the　mornin'；〃　said　Butler；　〃and　never　fear。〃

〃I　think；〃　said　Simpson；　〃if　anything　comes　of　this　matter　that　we　will　have　to　do　our　best　to　hush　it　up　until　after　the　election。　The　newspapers　can　just　as　well　keep　silent　on　that　score　as　not。　There's　one　thing　I　would　suggest〃and　he　was　now　thinking　of　the　street…railway　properties　which　Cowperwood　had　so　judiciously　collected〃and　that　is　that　the　city　treasurer　be　cautioned　against　advancing　any　more　money　in　a　situation　of　this　kind。　　He　might　readily　be　compromised　into　advancing　much　more。　　I　suppose　a　word　from　you；　Henry；　would　prevent　that。〃

〃Yes；　I　can　do　that；〃　said　Mollenhauer；　solemnly。

〃My　judgement　would　be；〃　said　Butler；　in　a　rather　obscure　manner；　thinking　of　Cowperwood's　mistake　in　appealing　to　these　noble　protectors　of　the　public；　〃that　it's　best　to　let　sleepin'　dogs　run　be　thimselves。〃

Thus　ended　Frank　Cowperwood's　dreams　of　what　Butler　and　his　political　associates　might　do　for　him　in　his　hour　of　distress。

The　energies　of　Cowperwood　after　leaving　Butler　were　devoted　to　the　task　of　seeing　others　who　might　be　of　some　assistance　to　him。　He　had　left　word　with　Mrs。　Stener　that　if　any　message　came　from　her　husband　he　was　to　be　notified　at　once。　　He　hunted　up　Walter　Leigh；　of　Drexel　&　Co。；　Avery　Stone　of　Jay　Cooke　&　Co。；　and　President　Davison　of　the　Girard　National　Bank。　　He　wanted　to　see　what　they　thought　of　the　situation　and　to　negotiate　a　loan　with　President　Davison　covering　all　his　real　and　personal　property。

〃I　can't　tell　you；　Frank；〃　Walter　Leigh　insisted；　〃I　don't　know　how　things　will　be　running　by　to…morrow　noon。　　I'm　glad　to　know　how　you　stand。　　I'm　glad　you're　doing　what　you're　doinggetting　all　your　affairs　in　shape。　　It　will　help　a　lot。　　I'll　favor　you　all　I　possibly　can。　　But　if　the　chief　decides　on　a　certain　group　of　loans　to　be　called；　they'll　have　to　be　called；　that's　all。　I'll　do　my　best　to　make　things　look　better。　　If　the　whole　of　Chicago　is　wiped　out；　the　insurance　companiessome　of　them；　anyhoware　sure　to　go；　and　then　look　out。　　I　suppose　you'll　call　in　all　your　loans？〃

〃Not　any　more　than　I　have　to。〃

〃Well；　that's　just　the　way　it　is　hereor　will　be。〃

The　two　men　shook　hands。　　They　liked　each　other。　　Leigh　was　of　the　city's　fashionable　coterie；　a　society　man　to　the　manner　born；　but　with　a　wealth　of　common　sense　and　a　great　deal　of　worldly　experience。

〃I'll　tell　you；　Frank；〃　he　observed　at　parting；　〃I've　always　thought　you　were　carrying　too　much　street…railway。　　It's　great　stuff　if　you　can　get　away　with　it；　but　it's　just　in　a　pinch　like　this　that　you're　apt　to　get　hurt。　　You've　been　making　money　pretty　fast　out　of　that　and　city　loans。〃

He　looked　directly　into　his　long…time　friend's　eyes；　and　they　smiled。

It　was　the　same　with　Avery　Stone；　President　Davison；　and　others。　They　had　all　already　heard　rumors　of　disaster　when　he　arrived。　They　were　not　sure　what　the　morrow　would　bring　forth。　　It　looked　very　unpromising。

Cowperwood　decided　to　stop　and　see　Butler　again　for　he　felt　certain　his　interview　with　Mollenhauer　and　Simpson　was　now　over。　　Butler；　who　had　been　meditating　what　he　should　say　to　Cowperwood；　was　not　unfriendly　in　his　manner。　　〃So　you're　back；〃　he　said；　when　Cowperwood　appeared。

〃Yes；　Mr。　Butler。〃

〃Well；　I'm　not　sure　that　I've　been　able　to　do　anything　for　you。　I'm　afraid　not；〃　Butler　said；　cautiously。　　〃It's　a　hard　job　you　set　me。　　Mollenhauer　seems　to　think　that　he'll　support　the　market；　on　his　own　account。　　I　think　he　will。　　Simpson　has　interests　which　he　has　to　protect。　　I'm　going　to　buy　for　myself；　of　course。〃

He　paused　to　reflect。

〃I　couldn't　get　them　to　call　a　conference　with　any　of　the　big　moneyed　men　as　yet；〃　he　added；　warily。　　〃They'd　rather　wait　and　see　what　happens　in　the　mornin'。　　Still；　I　wouldn't　be　down…hearted　if　I　were　you。　　If　things　turn　out　very　bad　they　may　change　their　minds。　　I　had　to　tell　them　about　Stener。　　It's　pretty　bad；　but　they're　hopin'　you'll　come　through　and　straighten　that　out。　　I　hope　so。　　About　my　own　loanwell；　I'll　see　how　things　are　in　the　mornin'。　　If　I　raisonably　can　I'll　lave　it　with　you。　　You'd　better　see　me　again　about　it。　　I　wouldn't　try　to　get　any　more　money　out　of　Stener　if　I　were　you。　　It's　pretty　bad　as　it　is。〃

Cowperwood　saw　at　once　that　he　was　to　get　no　aid　from　the　politicians。　The　one　thing　that　disturbed　him　was　this　reference　to　Stener。　Had　they　already　communicated　with　himwarned　him？　If　so；　his　own　coming　to　Butler　had　been　a　bad　move；　and　yet　from　the　point　of　view　of　his　possible　failure　on　the　morrow　it　had　been　advisable。　At　least　now　the　politicians　knew　where　he　stood。　　If　he　got　in　a　very　tight　corner　he　would　come　to　Butler　againthe　politicians　could　assist　him　or　not；　as　they　chose。　　If　they　did　not　help　him　and　he　failed；　and　the　election　were　lost；　it　was　their　own　fault。　Anyhow；　if　he　could　see　Stener　first　the　latter　would　not　be　such　a　fool　as　to　stand　in　his　own　light　in　a　crisis　like　this。

〃Things　look　rather　dark　to…night；　Mr。　Butler；〃　he　said；　smartly；　〃but　I　still　think　I'll　come　through。　　I　hope　so；　an