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sophisticated undoer of his daughter's virtue. He fairly glared at him as he thought of him and
her.
"I judged from the way things were going this morning that you might want it," Cowperwood
replied, quietly, without sign of tremor. "The bottom's out, I see."
"The bottom's out, and it'll not be put back soon, I'm thinkin'. I'll have to have what's belongin' to
me to-day. I haven't any time to spare."
"Very well," replied Cowperwood, who saw clearly how treacherous the situation was. The old
man was in a dour mood. His presence was an irritation to him, for some reason--a deadly
provocation. Cowperwood felt clearly that it must be Aileen, that he must know or suspect
something.
He must pretend business hurry and end this. "I'm sorry. I thought I might get an extension; but
that's all right. I can get the money, though. I'll send it right over."
He turned and walked quickly to the door.
Butler got up. He had thought to manage this differently.
He had thought to denounce or even assault this man. He was about to make some insinuating
remark which would compel an answer, some direct charge; but Cowperwood was out and
away as jaunty as ever.
The old man was flustered, enraged, disappointed. He opened the small office door which led
into the adjoining room, and called, "Owen!"
"Yes, father."
"Send over to Cowperwood's office and get that money."
"You decided to call it, eh?"
"I have."
Owen was puzzled by the old man's angry mood. He wondered what it all meant, but thought he
and Cowperwood might have had a few words. He went out to his desk to write a note and call
a clerk. Butler went to the window and stared out. He was angry, bitter, brutal in his vein.
"The dirty dog!" he suddenly exclaimed to himself, in a low voice. "I'll take every dollar he's got
before I'm through with him. I'll send him to jail, I will. I'll break him, I will. Wait!"
He clinched his big fists and his teeth.
"I'll fix him. I'll show him. The dog! The damned scoundrel!"
Never in his life before had he been so bitter, so cruel, so relentless in his mood.
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