Full Text Archive

Full Text Archive
https://www.fulltextarchive.com
during this short, direct conversation. "I can't! They've got me in a corner! They're after me!
They all know what we've been doing. Oh, say, Frank"--he threw up his arms wildly--"you've got
to get me out of this. You've got to let me have that five hundred thousand back and get me out
of this. If you don't, and you should fail, they'll send me to the penitentiary. I've got a wife and
four children, Frank. I can't go on in this. It's too big for me. I never should have gone in on it in
the first place. I never would have if you hadn't persuaded me, in a way. I never thought when I
began that I would ever get in as bad as all this. I can't go on, Frank. I can't! I'm willing you
should have all my stock. Only give me back that five hundred thousand, and we'll call it even."
His voice rose nervously as he talked, and he wiped his wet forehead with his hand and stared
at Cowperwood pleadingly, foolishly.
Cowperwood stared at him in return for a few moments with a cold, fishy eye. He knew a great
deal about human nature, and he was ready for and expectant of any queer shift in an
individual's attitude, particularly in time of panic; but this shift of Stener's was quite too much.
"Whom else have you been talking to, George, since I saw you? Whom have you seen? What
did Sengstack have to say?"
"He says just what Mollenhauer does, that I mustn't loan any more money under any
circumstances, and he says I ought to get that five hundred thousand back as quickly as
possible."
"And you think Mollenhauer wants to help you, do you?" inquired Cowperwood, finding it hard to
efface the contempt which kept forcing itself into his voice.
"I think he does, yes. I don't know who else will, Frank, if he don't. He's one of the big political
forces in this town."
"Listen to me," began Cowperwood, eyeing him fixedly. Then he paused. "What did he say you
should do about your holdings?"
"Sell them through Tighe & Company and put the money back in the treasury, if you won't take
them."
"Sell them to whom?" asked Cowperwood, thinking of Stener's last words.
"To any one on 'change who'll take them, I suppose. I don't know."
"I thought so," said Cowperwood, comprehendingly. "I might have known as much. They're
working you, George. They're simply trying to get your stocks away from you. Mollenhauer is
leading you on. He knows I can't do what you want--give you back the five hundred thousand
dollars. He wants you to throw your stocks on the market so that he can pick them up. Depend
on it, that's all arranged for already. When you do, he's got me in his clutches, or he thinks he
has--he and Butler and Simpson. They want to get together on this local street-railway situation,
and I know it, I feel it. I've felt it coming all along. Mollenhauer hasn't any more intention of
helping you than he has of flying. Once you've sold your stocks he's through with you--mark my
word. Do you think he'll turn a hand to keep you out of the penitentiary once you're out of this
street-railway situation? He will not. And if you think so, you're a bigger fool than I take you to
be, George. Don't go crazy. Don't lose your head. Be sensible. Look the situation in the face.
Let me explain it to you. If you don't help me now--if you don't let me have three hundred
143 / 312

---