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luential in the success of Cowperwood's plans？ Truman Leslie MacDonald； as has been said； did not see life from his father's point of view at all。 He had in mind a sharp bargain； which he could drive with Cowperwood during the old gentleman's absence。 The General need never know。
〃I understand your point of view； Mr。 Cowperwood；〃 he commented； loftily； 〃but where does the city come in？ I see very clearly how important this is to the people of the North Side； and even to the merchants and real…estate owners in the down…town section； but that simply means that it is ten times as important to you。 Undoubtedly； it will help the city； but the city is growing； anyhow； and that will help you。 I've said all along that these public franchises were worth more than they used to be worth。 Nobody seems to see it very clearly as yet； but it's true just the same。 That tunnel is worth more now than the day it was built。 Even if the city can't use it； somebody can。
He was meaning to indicate a rival car line。
Cowperwood bristled internally。
〃That's all very well；〃 he said； preserving his surface composure； 〃but why make fish of one and flesh of another？ The South Side company has a loop for which it never paid a dollar。 So has the Chicago City Passenger Railway。 The North Side company is planning more extensive improvements than were ever undertaken by any single company before。 I hardly think it is fair to raise the question of compensation and a franchise tax at this time； and in connection with this one company only。〃
〃Umwell； that may be true of the other companies。 The South Side company had those streets long ago。 They merely connected them up。 But this tunnel； nowthat's a different matter； isn't it？ The city bought and paid for that； didn't it？〃
〃Quite trueto help out men who saw that they couldn't make another dollar out of it；〃 said Cowperwood； acidly。 〃But it's of no use to the city。 It will cave in pretty soon if it isn't repaired。 Why； the consent of property…owners alone； along the line of this loop； is going to aggregate a considerable sum。 It seems to me instead of hampering a great work of this kind the public ought to do everything in its power to assist it。 It means giving a new metropolitan flavor to this down…town section。 It is time Chicago was getting out of its swaddling clothes。〃
Mr。 MacDonald； the younger； shook his head。 He saw clearly enough the significance of the points made； but he was jealous of Cowperwood and of his success。 This loop franchise and tunnel gift meant millions for some one。 Why shouldn't there be something in it for him？ He called in Mr。 Du Bois and went over the proposition with him。 Quite without effort the latter sensed the drift of the situation。
〃It's an excellent proposition；〃 he said。 〃I don't see but that the city should have something； though。 Public sentiment is rather against gifts to corporations just at present。〃
Cowperwood caught the drift of what was in young MacDonald's mind。
〃Well； what would you suggest as a fair rate of compensation to the city？〃 he asked； cautiously； wondering whether this aggressive youth would go so far as to commit himself in any way。
〃Oh； well； as to that；〃 MacDonald replied； with a deprecatory wave of his hand； 〃I couldn't say。 It ought to bear a reasonable relationship to the value of the utility as it now stands。 I should want to think that over。 I shouldn't want to see the city demand anything unreasonable。 Certainly； though； there is a privilege here that is worth something。〃
Cowperwood flared inwardly。 His greatest weakness； if he had one； was that he could but ill brook opposition of any kind。 This young upstart； with his thin； cool face and sharp； hard eyes！ He would have liked to tell him and his paper to go to the devil。 He went away； hoping that he could influence the Inquirer in some other way upon the old General's return。
As he was sitting next morning in his office in North Clark Street he was aroused by the still novel…sounding bell of the telephone one of the earliest in useon the wall back of him。 After a parley with his secretary； he was informed that a gentleman connected with the Inquirer wished to speak with him。
〃This is the Inquirer；〃 said a voice which Cowperwood； his ear to the receiver； thought he recognized as that of young Truman MacDonald； the General's son。 〃You wanted to know；〃 continued the voice； 〃what would be considered adequate compensation so far as that tunnel matter is concerned。 Can you hear me？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Cowperwood。
〃Well； I should not care to influence your judgment one way or the other； but if my opinion were asked I should say about fifty thousand dollars' worth of North Chicago Street Railway stock would be satisfactory。〃
The voice was young； clear； steely。
〃To whom would you suggest that it might be paid？〃 Cowperwood asked； softly； quite genially。
〃That； also； I would suggest； might be left to your very sound judgment。〃
The voice ceased。 The receiver was hung up。
〃Well； I'll be damned！〃 Cowperwood said； looking at the floor reflectively。 A smile spread over his face。 〃I'm not going to be held up like that。 I don't need to be。 It isn't worth it。 Not at present； anyhow。〃 His teeth set。
He was underestimating Mr。 Truman Leslie MacDonald； principally because he did not like him。 He thought his father might return and oust him。 It was one of the most vital mistakes he ever made in his life。
Chapter XXIV
The Coming of Stephanie Platow
During this period of what might have been called financial and commercial progress； the affairs of Aileen and Cowperwood had been to a certain extent smoothed over。 Each summer now； partly to take Aileen's mind off herself and partly to satisfy his own desire to see the world and collect objects of art； in which he was becoming more and more interested； it was Cowperwood's custom to make with his wife a short trip abroad or to foreign American lands； visiting in these two years Russia； Scandinavia； Argentine； Chili； and Mexico。 Their plan was to leave in May or June with the outward rush of traffic； and return in September or early October。 His idea was to soothe Aileen as much as possible； to fill her mind with pleasing anticipations as to her eventual social triumph somewherein New York or London； if not Chicagoto make her feel that in spite of his physical desertion he was still spiritually loyal。
By now also Cowperwood was so shrewd that he had the ability to simulate an affection and practise a gallantry which he did not feel； or； rather； that was not backed by real passion。 He was the soul of attention； he would buy her flowers； jewels； knickknacks； and ornaments； he would see that her comfort was looked after to the last detail； and yet； at the very same moment； perhaps； he would be looking cautiously about to see what life might offer in the way of illicit entertainment。 Aileen knew this； although she could not prove it to be true。 At the same time she had an affection and an admiration for the man which gripped her in spite of herself。
You have； perhaps； pictured to yourself the mood of some general who has perhaps suffered a great defeat； the employee who after years of faithful service finds himself discharged。 What shall life say to the loving when their love is no longer of any value； when all that has been placed upon the altar of affection has been found to be a vain sacrifice？ Philosophy？ Give that to dolls to play with。 Religion？ Seek first the metaphysical…minded。 Aileen was no longer the lithe； forceful； dynamic girl of 1865； when Cowperwood first met her。 She was still beautiful； itis true； a fair； full…blown； matronly creature not more than thirty…five； looking perhaps thirty； feeling； alas； that she was a girl and still as attractive as ever。 It is a grim thing to a woman； however fortunately placed； to realize that age is creeping on； and that love； that singing will…o'…the…wisp； is fading into the ultimate dark。 Aileen； within the hour of her greatest triumph； had seen love die。 It was useless to tell herself； as she did sometimes； that it might come back； revive。 Her ultimately realistic temperament told her this could never be。 Though she had routed Rita Sohlberg； she was fully aware that Cowperwood's original constancy was gone。 She was no longer happy。 Love was dead。 That sweet illusion； with its pearly pink for heart and borders； that laughing cherub that lures with Cupid's mouth and misty eye； that young tendril of the vine of life that whispers of eternal spring…time； that calls and calls where aching； wearied feet by legion follow； was no longer in existence。
In vain the tears； the storms； the self…tortures； in vain the looks in the mirror； the studied examination of plump； sweet features still fresh and inviting。 One day； at the sight of tired circles under her eyes； she ripped from her neck a lovely ruche that she was adjusting and； throwing herself on her bed； cried as though her heart would break。 Why primp？ Why ornament？ Her Frank did not love her。 What to her now was a handsome residence in Michigan Avenue； the refinements of a French boudoir； or clothing that ran the gamut of the dressmaker's art； hat