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guilty with Stener, if not more so, and I for one want to see him get what he deserves. He
belongs in the penitentiary, and that's where he'll go if I have my say." Both Mollenhauer and
Simpson turned a reserved and inquiring eye on their usually genial associate. What could be
the reason for his sudden determination to have Cowperwood punished? Cowperwood, as
Mollenhauer and Simpson saw it, and as Butler would ordinarily have seen it, was well within his
human, if not his strictly legal rights. They did not blame him half as much for trying to do what
he had done as they blamed Stener for letting him do it. But, since Butler felt as he did, and
there was an actual technical crime here, they were perfectly willing that the party should have
the advantage of it, even if Cowperwood went to the penitentiary.
"You may be right," said Senator Simpson, cautiously. "You might have those letters prepared,
Henry; and if we have to bring any action at all against anybody before election, it would,
perhaps, be advisable to bring it against Cowperwood. Include Stener if you have to but not
unless you have to. I leave it to you two, as I am compelled to start for Pittsburg next Friday; but
I know you will not overlook any point."
The Senator arose. His time was always valuable. Butler was highly gratified by what he had
accomplished. He had succeeded in putting the triumvirate on record against Cowperwood as
the first victim, in case of any public disturbance or demonstration against the party. All that was
now necessary was for that disturbance to manifest itself; and, from what he could see of local
conditions, it was not far off. There was now the matter of Cowperwood's disgruntled creditors
to look into; and if by buying in these he should succeed in preventing the financier from
resuming business, he would have him in a very precarious condition indeed. It was a sad day
for Cowperwood, Butler thought--the day he had first tried to lead Aileen astray--and the time
was not far off when he could prove it to him.
Chapter XXXIII
In the meantime Cowperwood, from what he could see and hear, was becoming more and more
certain that the politicians would try to make a scapegoat of him, and that shortly. For one thing,
Stires had called only a few days after he closed his doors and imparted a significant bit of
information. Albert was still connected with the city treasury, as was Stener, and engaged with
Sengstack and another personal appointee of Mollenhauer's in going over the treasurer's books
and explaining their financial significance. Stires had come to Cowperwood primarily to get
additional advice in regard to the sixty-thousand-dollar check and his personal connection with
it. Stener, it seemed, was now threatening to have his chief clerk prosecuted, saying that he
was responsible for the loss of the money and that his bondsmen could be held responsible.
Cowperwood had merely laughed and assured Stires that there was nothing to this.
"Albert," he had said, smilingly, "I tell you positively, there's nothing in it. You're not responsible
for delivering that check to me. I'll tell you what you do, now. Go and consult my lawyer--
Steger. It won't cost you a cent, and he'll tell you exactly what to do. Now go on back and don't
worry any more about it. I am sorry this move of mine has caused you so much trouble, but it's a
hundred to one you couldn't have kept your place with a new city treasurer, anyhow, and if I see
any place where you can possibly fit in later, I'll let you know."
Another thing that made Cowperwood pause and consider at this time was a letter from Aileen,
detailing a conversation which had taken place at the Butler dinner table one evening when
Butler, the elder, was not at home. She related how her brother Owen in effect had stated that
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