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uer and Simpson （ballot…box stuffing and personal violence at the polls not barred）； in another victory； by； however； a greatly reduced majority。 The Citizens' Municipal Reform Association； in spite of a resounding defeat at the polls； which could not have happened except by fraud； continued to fire courageously away at those whom it considered to be the chief malefactors。
Aileen Butler； during all this time； was following the trend of Cowperwood's outward vicissitudes as heralded by the newspapers and the local gossip with as much interest and bias and enthusiasm for him as her powerful physical and affectional nature would permit。 She was no great reasoner where affection entered in； but shrewd enough without it； and； although she saw him often and he told her muchas much as his natural caution would permitshe yet gathered from the newspapers and private conversation； at her own family's table and elsewhere； that； as bad as they said he was； he was not as bad as he might be。 One item only； clipped from the Philadelphia Public Ledger soon after Cowperwood had been publicly accused of embezzlement； comforted and consoled her。 She cut it out and carried it in her bosom； for； somehow； it seemed to show that her adored Frank was far more sinned against than sinning。 It was a part of one of those very numerous pronunciamientos or reports issued by the Citizens' Municipal Reform Association； and it ran：
〃The aspects of the case are graver than have yet been allowed to reach the public。 Five hundred thousand dollars of the deficiency arises not from city bonds sold and not accounted for； but from loans made by the treasurer to his broker。 The committee is also informed； on what it believes to be good authority； that the loans sold by the broker were accounted for in the monthly settlements at the lowest prices current during the month； and that the difference between this rate and that actually realized was divided between the treasurer and the broker； thus making it to the interest of both parties to 'bear' the market at some time during the month； so as to obtain a low quotation for settlement。 Nevertheless； the committee can only regard the prosecution instituted against the broker； Mr。 Cowperwood； as an effort to divert public attention from more guilty parties while those concerned may be able to 'fix' matters to suit themselves。〃
〃There；〃 thought Aileen； when she read it； 〃there you have it。〃 These politiciansher father among them as she gathered after his conversation with herwere trying to put the blame of their own evil deeds on her Frank。 He was not nearly as bad as he was painted。 The report said so。 She gloated over the words 〃an effort to divert public attention from more guilty parties。〃 That was just what her Frank had been telling her in those happy； private hours when they had been together recently in one place and another； particularly the new rendezvous in South Sixth Street which he had established； since the old one had to be abandoned。 He had stroked her rich hair； caressed her body； and told her it was all a prearranged political scheme to cast the blame as much as possible on him and make it as light as possible for Stener and the party generally。 He would come out of it all right； he said； but he cautioned her not to talk。 He did not deny his long and profitable relations with Stener。 He told her exactly how it was。 She understood； or thought she did。 Anyhow； her Frank was telling her； and that was enough。
As for the two Cowperwood households； so recently and pretentiously joined in success； now so gloomily tied in failure； the life was going out of them。 Frank Algernon was that life。 He was the courage and force of his father： the spirit and opportunity of his brothers； the hope of his children； the estate of his wife； the dignity and significance of the Cowperwood name。 All that meant opportunity； force； emolument； dignity； and happiness to those connected with him； he was。 And his marvelous sun was waning apparently to a black eclipse。
Since the fatal morning； for instance； when Lillian Cowperwood had received that utterly destructive note； like a cannonball ripping through her domestic affairs； she had been walking like one in a trance。 Each day now for weeks she had been going about her duties placidly enough to all outward seeming； but inwardly she was running with a troubled tide of thought。 She was so utterly unhappy。 Her fortieth year had come for her at a time when life ought naturally to stand fixed and firm on a solid base； and here she was about to be torn bodily from the domestic soil in which she was growing and blooming； and thrown out indifferently to wither in the blistering noonday sun of circumstance。
As for Cowperwood； Senior； his situation at his bank and elsewhere was rapidly nearing a climax。 As has been said； he had had tremendous faith in his son； but he could not help seeing that an error had been committed； as he thought； and that Frank was suffering greatly for it now。 He considered； of course； that Frank had been entitled to try to save himself as he had； but he so regretted that his son should have put his foot into the trap of any situation which could stir up discussion of the sort that was now being aroused。 Frank was wonderfully brilliant。 He need never have taken up with the city treasurer or the politicians to have succeeded marvelously。 Local street…railways and speculative politicians were his undoing。 The old man walked the floor all of the days； realizing that his sun was setting； that with Frank's failure he failed； and that this disgracethese public charges meant his own undoing。 His hair had grown very gray in but a few weeks； his step slow； his face pallid； his eyes sunken。 His rather showy side…whiskers seemed now like flags or ornaments of a better day that was gone。 His only consolation through it all was that Frank had actually got out of his relationship with the Third National Bank without owing it a single dollar。 Still as he knew the directors of that institution could not possibly tolerate the presence of a man whose son had helped loot the city treasury； and whose name was now in the public prints in this connection。 Besides； Cowperwood； Sr。； was too old。 He ought to retire。
The crisis for him therefore came on the day when Frank was arrested on the embezzlement charge。 The old man； through Frank； who had it from Steger； knew it was coming； still had the courage to go to the bank but it was like struggling under the weight of a heavy stone to do it。 But before going； and after a sleepless night； he wrote his resignation to Frewen Kasson； the chairman of the board of directors； in order that he should be prepared to hand it to him； at once。 Kasson； a stocky； well…built； magnetic man of fifty； breathed an inward sigh of relief at the sight of it。
〃I know it's hard； Mr。 Cowperwood；〃 he said； sympathetically。 〃Weand I can speak for the other members of the boardwe feel keenly the unfortunate nature of your position。 We know exactly how it is that your son has become involved in this matter。 He is not the only banker who has been involved in the city's affairs。 By no means。 It is an old system。 We appreciate； all of us； keenly； the services you have rendered this institution during the past thirty…five years。 If there were any possible way in which we could help to tide you over the difficulties at this time； we would be glad to do so； but as a banker yourself you must realize just how impossible that would be。 Everything is in a turmoil。 If things were settledif we knew how soon this would blow over〃 He paused； for he felt that he could not go on and say that he or the bank was sorry to be forced to lose Mr。 Cowperwood in this way at present。 Mr。 Cowperwood himself would have to speak。
During all this Cowperwood； Sr。； had been doing his best to pull himself together in order to be able to speak at all。 He had gotten out a large white linen handkerchief and blown his nose； and had straightened himself in his chair； and laid his hands rather peacefully on his desk。 Still he was intensely wrought up。
〃I can't stand this！〃 he suddenly exclaimed。 〃I wish you would leave me alone now。〃
Kasson； very carefully dressed and manicured； arose and walked out of the room for a few moments。 He appreciated keenly the intensity of the strain he had just witnessed。 The moment the door was closed Cowperwood put his head in his hands and shook convulsively。 〃I never thought I'd come to this；〃 he muttered。 〃I never thought it。〃 Then he wiped away his salty hot tears； and went to the window to look out and to think of what else to do from now on。
Chapter XXXV
As time went on Butler grew more and more puzzled and restive as to his duty in regard to his daughter。 He was sure by her furtive manner and her apparent desire to avoid him； that she was still in touch with Cowperwood in some way； and that this would bring about a social disaster of some kind。 He thought once of going to Mrs。 Cowperwood and having her bring pressure to bear on her husband； but afterwards he decided that that would not do。 He was not really positive as yet that Aileen was secretly me