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itentiary。 I can't understand it； George。 You're out of your mind。 You're going to rue this the longest day that you live。〃
He waited a few moments to see if this； by any twist of chance； would have any effect； then； noting that Stener still remained a wilted； helpless mass of nothing； he shook his head gloomily and walked out。
It was the first time in his life that Cowperwood had ever shown the least sign of weakening or despair。 He had felt all along as though there were nothing to the Greek theory of being pursued by the furies。 Now； however； there seemed an untoward fate which was pursuing him。 It looked that way。 Still； fate or no fate； he did not propose to be daunted。 Even in this very beginning of a tendency to feel despondent he threw back his head； expanded his chest； and walked as briskly as ever。
In the large room outside Stener's private office he encountered Albert Stires； Stener's chief clerk and secretary。 He and Albert had exchanged many friendly greetings in times past； and all the little minor transactions in regard to city loan had been discussed between them； for Albert knew more of the intricacies of finance and financial bookkeeping than Stener would ever know。
At the sight of Stires the thought in regard to the sixty thousand dollars' worth of city loan certificates； previously referred to； flashed suddenly through his mind。 He had not deposited them in the sinking…fund； and did not intend to for the presentcould not； unless considerable free money were to reach him shortlyfor he had used them to satisfy other pressing demands； and had no free money to buy them backor； in other words； release them。 And he did not want to just at this moment。 Under the law governing transactions of this kind with the city treasurer； he was supposed to deposit them at once to the credit of the city； and not to draw his pay therefor from the city treasurer until he had。 To be very exact； the city treasurer； under the law； was not supposed to pay him for any transaction of this kind until he or his agents presented a voucher from the bank or other organization carrying the sinking…fund for the city showing that the certificates so purchased had actually been deposited there。 As a matter of fact； under the custom which had grown up between him and Stener； the law had long been ignored in this respect。 He could buy certificates of city loan for the sinking…fund up to any reasonable amount； hypothecate them where he pleased； and draw his pay from the city without presenting a voucher。 At the end of the month sufficient certificates of city loan could usually be gathered from one source and another to make up the deficiency； or the deficiency could actually be ignored； as had been done on more than one occasion； for long periods of time； while he used money secured by hypothecating the shares for speculative purposes。 This was actually illegal； but neither Cowperwood nor Stener saw it in that light or cared。
The trouble with this particular transaction was the note that he had received from Stener ordering him to stop both buying and selling； which put his relations with the city treasury on a very formal basis。 He had bought these certificates before receiving this note； but had not deposited them。 He was going now to collect his check； but perhaps the old； easy system of balancing matters at the end of the month might not be said to obtain any longer。 Stires might ask him to present a voucher of deposit。 If so； he could not now get this check for sixty thousand dollars； for he did not have the certificates to deposit。 If not； he might get the money； but； also； it might constitute the basis of some subsequent legal action。 If he did not eventually deposit the certificates before failure； some charge such as that of larceny might be brought against him。 Still； he said to himself； he might not really fail even yet。 If any of his banking associates should； for any reason； modify their decision in regard to calling his loans； he would not。 Would Stener make a row about this if he so secured this check？ Would the city officials pay any attention to him if he did？ Could you get any district attorney to take cognizance of such a transaction； if Stener did complain？ No； not in all likelihood； and； anyhow； nothing would come of it。 No jury would punish him in the face of the understanding existing between him and Stener as agent or broker and principal。 And； once he had the money； it was a hundred to one Stener would think no more about it。 It would go in among the various unsatisfied liabilities； and nothing more would be thought about it。 Like lightning the entire situation hashed through his mind。 He would risk it。 He stopped before the chief clerk's desk。
〃Albert；〃 he said； in a low voice； 〃I bought sixty thousand dollars' worth of city loan for the sinking…fund this morning。 Will you give my boy a check for it in the morning； or； better yet； will you give it to me now？ I got your note about no more purchases。 I'm going back to the office。 You can just credit the sinking…fund with eight hundred certificates at from seventy…five to eighty。 I'll send you the itemized list later。〃
〃Certainly； Mr。 Cowperwood； certainly；〃 replied Albert； with alacrity。 〃Stocks are getting an awful knock； aren't they？ I hope you're not very much troubled by it？〃
〃Not very； Albert；〃 replied Cowperwood； smiling； the while the chief clerk was making out his check。 He was wondering if by any chance Stener would appear and attempt to interfere with this。 It was a legal transaction。 He had a right to the check provided he deposited the certificates； as was his custom； with the trustee of the fund。 He waited tensely while Albert wrote； and finally； with the check actually in his hand； breathed a sigh of relief。 Here； at least； was sixty thousand dollars； and to…night's work would enable him to cash the seventy…five thousand that had been promised him。 To…morrow； once more he must see Leigh； Kitchen； Jay Cooke & Co。； Edward Clark & Co。all the long list of people to whom he owed loans and find out what could be done。 If he could only get time！ If he could get just a week！
Chapter XXIX
But time was not a thing to be had in this emergency。 With the seventy…five thousand dollars his friends had extended to him； and sixty thousand dollars secured from Stires； Cowperwood met the Girard call and placed the balance； thirty…five thousand dollars； in a private safe in his own home。 He then made a final appeal to the bankers and financiers； but they refused to help him。 He did not； however； commiserate himself in this hour。 He looked out of his office window into the little court； and sighed。 What more could he do？ He sent a note to his father； asking him to call for lunch。 He sent a note to his lawyer； Harper Steger； a man of his own age whom he liked very much； and asked him to call also。 He evolved in his own mind various plans of delay； addresses to creditors and the like； but alas！ he was going to fail。 And the worst of it was that this matter of the city treasurer's loans was bound to become a public； and more than a public； a political； scandal。 And the charge of conniving； if not illegally； at least morally； at the misuse of the city's money was the one thing that would hurt him most。
How industriously his rivals would advertise this fact！ He might get on his feet again if he failed； but it would be uphill work。 And his father！ His father would be pulled down with him。 It was probable that he would be forced out of the presidency of his bank。 With these thoughts Cowperwood sat there waiting。 As he did so Aileen Butler was announced by his office…boy； and at the same time Albert Stires。
〃Show in Miss Butler；〃 he said； getting up。 〃Tell Mr。 Stires to wait。〃 Aileen came briskly； vigorously in； her beautiful body clothed as decoratively as ever。 The street suit that she wore was of a light golden…brown broadcloth； faceted with small； dark…red buttons。 Her head was decorated with a brownish…red shake of a type she had learned was becoming to her； brimless and with a trailing plume； and her throat was graced by a three…strand necklace of gold beads。 Her hands were smoothly gloved as usual； and her little feet daintily shod。 There was a look of girlish distress in her eyes； which； however； she was trying hard to conceal。
〃Honey；〃 she exclaimed； on seeing him； her arms extended〃what is the trouble？ I wanted so much to ask you the other night。 You're not going to fail； are you？ I heard father and Owen talking about you last night。〃
〃What did they say？〃 he inquired； putting his arm around her and looking quietly into her nervous eyes。
〃Oh； you know； I think papa is very angry with you。 He suspects。 Some one sent him an anonymous letter。 He tried to get it out of me last night； but he didn't succeed。 I denied everything。 I was in here twice this morning to see you； but you were out。 I was so afraid that he might see you first； and that you might say something。〃
〃Me； Aileen？〃
〃Well； no； not exactly。 I didn't think that。 I don't know what I thought。 Oh； honey； I've been so worried。 You know； I didn't sleep at all。 I thought I was stronger than that； but I was