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n leadin' Stener on against his will。 I've been lookin' into the matter on me own account； and as far as I can make out this man Stener isn't as much to blame as I thought。 From all I can learn； Cowperwood's been threatenin' Stener with one thing and another if he didn't give him more money； and only the other day he got a big sum on false pretinses； which might make him equally guilty with Stener。 There's sixty…thousand dollars of city loan certificates that has been paid for that aren't in the sinking…fund。 And since the reputation of the party's in danger this fall； I don't see that we need to have any particular consideration for him。〃 He paused； strong in the conviction that he had sent a most dangerous arrow flying in the direction of Cowperwood； as indeed he had。 Yet at this moment； both the Senator and Mollenhauer were not a little surprised； seeing at their last meeting he had appeared rather friendly to the young banker； and this recent discovery seemed scarcely any occasion for a vicious attitude on his part。 Mollenhauer in particular was surprised； for he had been looking on Butler's friendship for Cowperwood as a possible stumbling block。
〃Um…m； you don't tell me；〃 observed Senator Simpson； thoughtfully； stroking his mouth with his pale hand。
〃Yes； I can confirm that；〃 said Mollenhauer； quietly； seeing his own little private plan of browbeating Cowperwood out of his street…railway shares going glimmering。 〃I had a talk with Stener the other day about this very matter； and he told me that Cowperwood had been trying to force him to give him three hundred thousand dollars more； and that when he refused Cowperwood managed to get sixty thousand dollars further without his knowledge or consent。〃
〃How could he do that？〃 asked Senator Simpson； incredulously。 Mollenhauer explained the transaction。
Oh；〃 said the Senator； when Mollenhauer had finished； 〃that indicates a rather sharp person； doesn't it？ And the certificates are not in the sinking…fund； eh？〃
〃They're not；〃 chimed in Butler； with considerable enthusiasm。
〃Well； I must say；〃 said Simpson； rather relieved in his manner； 〃this looks like a rather good thing than not to me。 A scapegoat possibly。 We need something like this。 I see no reason under the circumstances for trying to protect Mr。 Cowperwood。 We might as well try to make a point of that； if we have to。 The newspapers might just as well talk loud about that as anything else。 They are bound to talk； and if we give them the right angle； I think that the election might well come and go before the matter could be reasonably cleared up； even though Mr。 Wheat does interfere。 I will be glad to undertake to see what can be done with the papers。〃
〃Well； that bein' the case；〃 said Butler； 〃I don't see that there's so much more we can do now； but I do think it will be a mistake if Cowperwood isn't punished with the other one。 He's equally 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 thoughtthe day he had first tried to lead Aileen astrayand 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 theythe politiciansher father； Mollenhauer； and Simpson； were going to 〃get him yet〃 （meaning Cowperwood）； for some criminal financial manipulation of somethingshe could not explain whata check or something。 Aileen was frantic with worry。 Could they mean the penitentiary； she asked in her letter？ Her dear lover！ Her beloved Frank！ Could anything like this really happen to him？
His brow clouded； and he set his teeth with rage when he read her letter。 He would have to do something about thissee Mollenhauer or Simpson； or both； and make some offer to the city。 He could not promise them money for the presentonly notesbut they might take them。 Surely they could not be intending to make a scapegoat of him over such a trivial and uncertain matter as this check transaction！ When there was the five hundred thousand advanced by Stener； to say nothing of all the past shady transactions of former city treasurers！ How rotten！ How political； but how real and dangerous。
But Simpson was out of the city for a period of ten days； and Mollenhauer； having in mind the suggestion made by Butler in regard to utilizing Cowperwood's misdeed for the benefit of the party； had already moved as they had planned。 The letters were ready and waiting。 Indeed； since the conference； the smaller politicians； taking their cue from the overlords； had been industriously spreading the story of the sixty…thousand…dollar check； and insisting that the burden of guilt for the treasury defalcation； if any； lay on the banker。 The moment Mollenhauer laid eyes on Cowperwood he realized； however； that he had a powerful personality to deal with。 Cowperwood gave no evidence of fright。 He merely stated； in his bland way； that he had been in the habit of borrowing money from the city treasury at a low rate of interest； and that this panic had involved him so that he could not possibly return it at present。
〃I have heard rumors； Mr。 Mollenhauer；〃 he said； 〃to the effect that some charge is to be brought against me as a partner with Mr。 Stener in this matter； but I am hoping that the city will not do that； and I thought I might enlist your influence to prevent it。 My affairs are not in a bad way at all； if I had a little time to arrange matters。 I am making all of my creditors an offer of fifty cents on the dollar now； and giving notes at one； two； and three years； but in this matter of the city treasury loans； if I could come to terms； I would be glad to make it a hundred centsonly I would want a little mor