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h…hewn countenance a sense of the great worth and dignity of the man came over him。
〃A real man； that；〃 he thought； 〃a wonderful temperament。〃 His every gesture came upon him with great force。 He watched him enter his carriage； thinking 〃So that is the railsplitter； the country lawyer。 Well； fate has picked a great man for this crisis。〃
For days the face of Lincoln haunted him； and very often during the war his mind reverted to that singular figure。 It seemed to him unquestionable that fortuitously he had been permitted to look upon one of the world's really great men。 War and statesmanship were not for him； but he knew how important those things wereat times。
Chapter XI
It was while the war was on； and after it was perfectly plain that it was not to be of a few days' duration； that Cowperwood's first great financial opportunity came to him。 There was a strong demand for money at the time on the part of the nation； the State； and the city。 In July； 1861； Congress had authorized a loan of fifty million dollars； to be secured by twenty…year bonds with interest not to exceed seven per cent。； and the State authorized a loan of three millions on much the same security； the first being handled by financiers of Boston； New York； and Philadelphia； the second by Philadelphia financiers alone。 Cowperwood had no hand in this。 He was not big enough。 He read in the papers of gatherings of men whom he knew personally or by reputation； 〃to consider the best way to aid the nation or the State〃； but he was not included。 And yet his soul yearned to be of them。 He noticed how often a rich man's word sufficedno money； no certificates； no collateral； no anythingjust his word。 If Drexel & Co。； or Jay Cooke & Co。； or Gould & Fiske were rumored to be behind anything； how secure it was！ Jay Cooke； a young man in Philadelphia； had made a great strike taking this State loan in company with Drexel & Co。； and selling it at par。 The general opinion was that it ought to be and could only be sold at ninety。 Cooke did not believe this。 He believed that State pride and State patriotism would warrant offering the loan to small banks and private citizens； and that they would subscribe it fully and more。 Events justified Cooke magnificently； and his public reputation was assured。 Cowperwood wished he could make some such strike； but he was too practical to worry over anything save the facts and conditions that were before him。
His chance came about six months later； when it was found that the State would have to have much more money。 Its quota of troops would have to be equipped and paid。 There were measures of defense to be taken； the treasury to be replenished。 A call for a loan of twenty…three million dollars was finally authorized by the legislature and issued。 There was great talk in the street as to who was to handle itDrexel & Co。 and Jay Cooke & Co。； of course。
Cowperwood pondered over this。 If he could handle a fraction of this great loan nowhe could not possibly handle the whole of it； for he had not the necessary connectionshe could add considerably to his reputation as a broker while making a tidy sum。 How much could he handle？ That was the question。 Who would take portions of it？ His father's bank？ Probably。 Waterman & Co。？ A little。 Judge Kitchen？ A small fraction。 The Mills…David Company？ Yes。 He thought of different individuals and concerns who； for one reason and anotherpersonal friendship； good…nature； gratitude for past favors； and so onwould take a percentage of the seven…percent。 bonds through him。 He totaled up his possibilities； and discovered that in all likelihood； with a little preliminary missionary work； he could dispose of one million dollars if personal influence； through local political figures； could bring this much of the loan his way。
One man in particular had grown strong in his estimation as having some subtle political connection not visible on the surface； and this was Edward Malia Butler。 Butler was a contractor； undertaking the construction of sewers； water…mains； foundations for buildings； street…paving； and the like。 In the early days； long before Cowperwood had known him； he had been a garbage…contractor on his own account。 The city at that time had no extended street…cleaning service； particularly in its outlying sections and some of the older； poorer regions。 Edward Butler； then a poor young Irishman； had begun by collecting and hauling away the garbage free of charge； and feeding it to his pigs and cattle。 Later he discovered that some people were willing to pay a small charge for this service。 Then a local political character； a councilman friend of histhey were both Catholicssaw a new point in the whole thing。 Butler could be made official garbage…collector。 The council could vote an annual appropriation for this service。 Butler could employ more wagons than he did nowdozens of them； scores。 Not only that； but no other garbage…collector would be allowed。 There were others； but the official contract awarded him would also； officially； be the end of the life of any and every disturbing rival。 A certain amount of the profitable proceeds would have to be set aside to assuage the feelings of those who were not contractors。 Funds would have to be loaned at election time to certain individuals and organizationsbut no matter。 The amount would be small。 So Butler and Patrick Gavin Comiskey； the councilman （the latter silently） entered into business relations。 Butler gave up driving a wagon himself。 He hired a young man； a smart Irish boy of his neighborhood； Jimmy Sheehan； to be his assistant； superintendent； stableman； bookkeeper； and what not。 Since he soon began to make between four and five thousand a year； where before he made two thousand； he moved into a brick house in an outlying section of the south side； and sent his children to school。 Mrs。 Butler gave up making soap and feeding pigs。 And since then times had been exceedingly good with Edward Butler。
He could neither read nor write at first； but now he knew how； of course。 He had learned from association with Mr。 Comiskey that there were other forms of contractingsewers； water…mains； gas…mains； street…paving； and the like。 Who better than Edward Butler to do it？ He knew the councilmen； many of them。 Het met them in the back rooms of saloons； on Sundays and Saturdays at political picnics； at election councils and conferences； for as a beneficiary of the city's largess he was expected to contribute not only money； but advice。 Curiously he had developed a strange political wisdom。 He knew a successful man or a coming man when he saw one。 So many of his bookkeepers； superintendents； time…keepers had graduated into councilmen and state legislators。 His nomineessuggested to political conferenceswere so often known to make good。 First he came to have influence in his councilman's ward； then in his legislative district； then in the city councils of his partyWhig； of courseand then he was supposed to have an organization。
Mysterious forces worked for him in council。 He was awarded significant contracts； and he always bid。 The garbage business was now a thing of the past。 His eldest boy； Owen； was a member of the State legislature and a partner in his business affairs。 His second son； Callum； was a clerk in the city water department and an assistant to his father also。 Aileen； his eldest daughter； fifteen years of age； was still in St。 Agatha's； a convent school in Germantown。 Norah； his second daughter and youngest child； thirteen years old； was in attendance at a local private school conducted by a Catholic sisterhood。 The Butler family had moved away from South Philadelphia into Girard Avenue； near the twelve hundreds； where a new and rather interesting social life was beginning。 They were not of it； but Edward Butler； contractor； now fifty…five years of age； worth； say； five hundred thousand dollars； had many political and financial friends。 No longer a 〃rough neck；〃 but a solid； reddish…faced man； slightly tanned； with broad shoulders and a solid chest； gray eyes； gray hair； a typically Irish face made wise and calm and undecipherable by much experience。 His big hands and feet indicated a day when he had not worn the best English cloth suits and tanned leather； but his presence was not in any way offensiverather the other way about。 Though still possessed of a brogue； he was soft…spoken； winning； and persuasive。
He had been one of the first to become interested in the development of the street…car system and had come to the conclusion； as had Cowperwood and many others； that it was going to be a great thing。 The money returns on the stocks or shares he had been induced to buy had been ample evidence of that； He had dealt through one broker and another； having failed to get in on the original corporate organizations。 He wanted to pick up such stock as he could in one organization and another； for he believed they all had a future； and most of all he wanted to get control of a line or two。 In connection with this idea he was looking for some reliable young man； honest and capable； who would work under his direction and do what he said。 Then he learned of Cowperwood； and one d