usiness for me in times past, and he thought maybe I could help him
now--that is, that I might get you and the Senator to see the big
bankers with me and help support the market in the mornin'. If we don't
he's goin' to fail, and he thought the scandal would hurt us in the
election. He doesn't appear to me to be workin' any game--just anxious
to save himself and do the square thing by me--by us, if he can." Butler
paused.

Mollenhauer, sly and secretive himself, was apparently not at all moved
by this unexpected development. At the same time, never having thought
of Stener as having any particular executive or financial ability,
he was a little stirred and curious. So his treasurer was using money
without his knowing it, and now stood in danger of being prosecuted!
Cowperwood he knew of only indirectly, as one who had been engaged to
handle city loan. He had profited by his manipulation of city loan.
Evidently the banker had made a fool of Stener, and had used the money
for street-railway shares! He and Stener must have quite some private
holdings then. That did interest Mollenhauer greatly.

"Five hundred thousand dollars!" he repeated, when Butler had finished.
"That is quite a little money. If merely supporting the market would
save Cowperwood we might do that, although if it's a severe panic I do
not see how anything we can do will be of very much assistance to him.
If he's in a very tight place and a severe slump is coming, it will take
a great deal more than our merely supporting the market to save him.
I've been through that before. You don't know what his liabilities are?"

"I do not," said Butler.

"He didn't ask for money, you say?"

"He wants me to l'ave a hundred thousand he has of mine until he sees
whether he can get through or not."

"Stener is really out of town, I suppose?" Mollenhauer was innately
suspicious.

"So Cowperwood says. We can send and find out."

Mollenhauer was thinking of the various aspects of the case. Supporting
the market would be all very well if that would save Cowperwood, and the
Republican party and his treasurer. At the same time Stener could then
be compelled to restore the five hundred thousand dollars to the
city treasury, and release his holdings to some one--preferably to
him--Mollenhauer. But here was Butler also to be considered in this
matter. What might he not want? He consulted with Butler and learned
that Cowperwood had agreed to return the five hundred thousa