aid 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 rec