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hundred thousand dollars missin' from the city treasury which can't be put back. Stener's out of
town and Cowperwood's come to me to see what can be done about it. As a matter of fact, he's
done a little business for me in times past, and he thought maybe I could help him now--that is,
that I might get you and the Senator to see the big bankers with me and help support the market
in the mornin'. If we don't he's goin' to fail, and he thought the scandal would hurt us in the
election. He doesn't appear to me to be workin' any game--just anxious to save himself and do
the square thing by me--by us, if he can." Butler paused.
Mollenhauer, sly and secretive himself, was apparently not at all moved by this unexpected
development. At the same time, never having thought of Stener as having any particular
executive or financial ability, he was a little stirred and curious. So his treasurer was using
money without his knowing it, and now stood in danger of being prosecuted! Cowperwood he
knew of only indirectly, as one who had been engaged to handle city loan. He had profited by
his manipulation of city loan. Evidently the banker had made a fool of Stener, and had used the
money for street-railway shares! He and Stener must have quite some private holdings then.
That did interest Mollenhauer greatly.
"Five hundred thousand dollars!" he repeated, when Butler had finished. "That is quite a little
money. If merely supporting the market would save Cowperwood we might do that, although if
it's a severe panic I do not see how anything we can do will be of very much assistance to him.
If he's in a very tight place and a severe slump is coming, it will take a great deal more than our
merely supporting the market to save him. I've been through that before. You don't know what
his liabilities are?"
"I do not," said Butler.
"He didn't ask for money, you say?"
"He wants me to l'ave a hundred thousand he has of mine until he sees whether he can get
through or not."
"Stener is really out of town, I suppose?" Mollenhauer was innately suspicious.
"So Cowperwood says. We can send and find out."
Mollenhauer was thinking of the various aspects of the case. Supporting the market would be all
very well if that would save Cowperwood, and the Republican party and his treasurer. At the
same time Stener could then be compelled to restore the five hundred thousand dollars to the
city treasury, and release his holdings to some one--preferably to him--Mollenhauer. But here
was Butler also to be considered in this matter. What might he not want? He consulted with
Butler and learned that Cowperwood had agreed to return the five hundred thousand in case he
could get it together. The various street-car holdings were not asked after. But what assurance
had any one that Cowperwood could be so saved? And could, or would get the money
together? And if he were saved would he give the money back to Stener? If he required actual
money, who would loan it to him in a time like this--in case a sharp panic was imminent? What
security could he give? On the other hand, under pressure from the right parties he might be
made to surrender all his street-railway holdings for a song--his and Stener's. If he
(Mollenhauer) could get them he would not particularly care whether the election was lost this
fall or not, although he felt satisfied, as had Owen, that it would not be lost. It could be bought,
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