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He； too； was thinking how useless it was for any one to approach a group of politicians with a proposition like this； particularly in a crisis such as bid fair to occur。 He reflected that if he and Butler and Mollenhauer could get together and promise Cowperwood protection in return for the surrender of his street…railway holdings it would be a very different matter。 It would be very easy in this case to carry the city treasury loan along in silence and even issue more money to support it； but it was not sure； in the first place； that Cowperwood could be made to surrender his stocks； and in the second place that either Butler or Mollenhauer would enter into any such deal with him； Simpson。 Butler had evidently come here to say a good word for Cowperwood。 Mollenhauer and himself were silent rivals。 Although they worked together politically it was toward essentially different financial ends。 They were allied in no one particular financial proposition； any more than Mollenhauer and Butler were。 And besides； in all probability Cowperwood was no fool。 He was not equally guilty with Stener； the latter had loaned him money。 The Senator reflected on whether he should broach some such subtle solution of the situation as had occurred to him to his colleagues； but he decided not。 Really Mollenhauer was too treacherous a man to work with on a thing of this kind。 It was a splendid chance but dangerous。 He had better go it alone。 For the present they should demand of Stener that he get Cowperwood to return the five hundred thousand dollars if he could。 If not； Stener could be sacrificed for the benefit of the party； if need be。 Cowperwood's stocks； with this tip as to his condition； would； Simpson reflected； offer a good opportunity for a little stock…exchange work on the part of his own brokers。 They could spread rumors as to Cowperwood's condition and then offer to take his shares off his handsfor a song； of course。 It was an evil moment that led Cowperwood to Butler。
〃Well； now；〃 said the Senator； after a prolonged silence； 〃I might sympathize with Mr。 Cowperwood in his situation； and I certainly don't blame him for buying up street…railways if he can； but I really don't see what can be done for him very well in this crisis。 I don't know about you； gentlemen； but I am rather certain that I am not in a position to pick other people's chestnuts out of the fire if I wanted to； just now。 It all depends on whether we feel that the danger to the party is sufficient to warrant our going down into our pockets and assisting him。〃
At the mention of real money to be loaned Mollenhauer pulled a long face。 〃I can't see that I will be able to do very much for Mr。 Cowperwood；〃 he sighed。
〃Begad；〃 said Buler； with a keen sense of humor； 〃it looks to me as if I'd better be gettin' in my one hundred thousand dollars。 That's the first business of the early mornin'。〃 Neither Simpson nor Mollenhauer condescended on this occasion to smile even the wan smile they had smiled before。 They merely looked wise and solemn。
〃But this matter of the city treasury； now；〃 said Senator Simpson； after the atmosphere had been allowed to settle a little； 〃is something to which we shall have to devote a little thought。 If Mr。 Cowperwood should fail； and the treasury lose that much money； it would embarrass us no little。 What lines are they；〃 he added； as an afterthought； 〃that this man has been particularly interested in？〃
〃I really don't know；〃 replied Butler； who did not care to say what Owen had told him on the drive over。
〃I don't see；〃 said Mollenhauer； 〃unless we can make Stener get the money back before this man Cowperwood fails； how we can save ourselves from considerable annoyance later； but if we did anything which would look as though we were going to compel restitution； he would probably shut up shop anyhow。 So there's no remedy in that direction。 And it wouldn't be very kind to our friend Edward here to do it until we hear how he comes out on his affair。〃 He was referring to Butler's loan。
〃Certainly not；〃 said Senator Simpson； with true political sagacity and feeling。
〃I'll have that one hundred thousand dollars in the mornin'；〃 said Butler； 〃and never fear。〃
〃I think；〃 said Simpson； 〃if anything comes of this matter that we will have to do our best to hush it up until after the election。 The newspapers can just as well keep silent on that score as not。 There's one thing I would suggest〃and he was now thinking of the street…railway properties which Cowperwood had so judiciously collected〃and that is that the city treasurer be cautioned against advancing any more money in a situation of this kind。 He might readily be compromised into advancing much more。 I suppose a word from you； Henry； would prevent that。〃
〃Yes； I can do that；〃 said Mollenhauer； solemnly。
〃My judgement would be；〃 said Butler； in a rather obscure manner； thinking of Cowperwood's mistake in appealing to these noble protectors of the public； 〃that it's best to let sleepin' dogs run be thimselves。〃
Thus ended Frank Cowperwood's dreams of what Butler and his political associates might do for him in his hour of distress。
The energies of Cowperwood after leaving Butler were devoted to the task of seeing others who might be of some assistance to him。 He had left word with Mrs。 Stener that if any message came from her husband he was to be notified at once。 He hunted up Walter Leigh； of Drexel & Co。； Avery Stone of Jay Cooke & Co。； and President Davison of the Girard National Bank。 He wanted to see what they thought of the situation and to negotiate a loan with President Davison covering all his real and personal property。
〃I can't tell you； Frank；〃 Walter Leigh insisted； 〃I don't know how things will be running by to…morrow noon。 I'm glad to know how you stand。 I'm glad you're doing what you're doinggetting all your affairs in shape。 It will help a lot。 I'll favor you all I possibly can。 But if the chief decides on a certain group of loans to be called； they'll have to be called； that's all。 I'll do my best to make things look better。 If the whole of Chicago is wiped out； the insurance companiessome of them； anyhoware sure to go； and then look out。 I suppose you'll call in all your loans？〃
〃Not any more than I have to。〃
〃Well； that's just the way it is hereor will be。〃
The two men shook hands。 They liked each other。 Leigh was of the city's fashionable coterie； a society man to the manner born； but with a wealth of common sense and a great deal of worldly experience。
〃I'll tell you； Frank；〃 he observed at parting； 〃I've always thought you were carrying too much street…railway。 It's great stuff if you can get away with it； but it's just in a pinch like this that you're apt to get hurt。 You've been making money pretty fast out of that and city loans。〃
He looked directly into his long…time friend's eyes； and they smiled。
It was the same with Avery Stone； President Davison； and others。 They had all already heard rumors of disaster when he arrived。 They were not sure what the morrow would bring forth。 It looked very unpromising。
Cowperwood decided to stop and see Butler again for he felt certain his interview with Mollenhauer and Simpson was now over。 Butler； who had been meditating what he should say to Cowperwood； was not unfriendly in his manner。 〃So you're back；〃 he said； when Cowperwood appeared。
〃Yes； Mr。 Butler。〃
〃Well； I'm not sure that I've been able to do anything for you。 I'm afraid not；〃 Butler said； cautiously。 〃It's a hard job you set me。 Mollenhauer seems to think that he'll support the market； on his own account。 I think he will。 Simpson has interests which he has to protect。 I'm going to buy for myself； of course。〃
He paused to reflect。
〃I couldn't get them to call a conference with any of the big moneyed men as yet；〃 he added； warily。 〃They'd rather wait and see what happens in the mornin'。 Still； I wouldn't be down…hearted if I were you。 If things turn out very bad they may change their minds。 I had to tell them about Stener。 It's pretty bad； but they're hopin' you'll come through and straighten that out。 I hope so。 About my own loanwell； I'll see how things are in the mornin'。 If I raisonably can I'll lave it with you。 You'd better see me again about it。 I wouldn't try to get any more money out of Stener if I were you。 It's pretty bad as it is。〃
Cowperwood saw at once that he was to get no aid from the politicians。 The one thing that disturbed him was this reference to Stener。 Had they already communicated with himwarned him？ If so； his own coming to Butler had been a bad move； and yet from the point of view of his possible failure on the morrow it had been advisable。 At least now the politicians knew where he stood。 If he got in a very tight corner he would come to Butler againthe politicians could assist him or not； as they chose。 If they did not help him and he failed； and the election were lost； it was their own fault。 Anyhow； if he could see Stener first the latter would not be such a fool as to stand in his own light in a crisis like this。
〃Things look rather dark to…night； Mr。 Butler；〃 he said； smartly； 〃but I still think I'll come through。 I hope so； an