een appealed to by stockholders
of the old companies to come in and help adjust this matter?"

"Exactly," said Schryhart.

"And you think you can get them to combine? On what basis?"

"Oh, I should say it would be a simple matter to give each of them two
or three shares of a new company for one in each of the old. We could
then elect one set of officers, have one set of offices, stop all these
suits, and leave everybody happy."

He said this in an easy, patronizing way, as though Cowperwood had not
really thought it all out years before. It amazed the latter no little
to see his own scheme patronizingly brought back to him, and that, too,
by a very powerful man locally--one who thus far had chosen to overlook
him utterly.

"On what basis," asked Cowperwood, cautiously, "would you expect these
new companies to come in?"

"On the same basis as the others, if they are not too heavily
capitalized. I haven't thought out all the details. Two or three for
one, according to investment. Of course, the prejudices of these old
companies have to be considered."

Cowperwood meditated. Should or should he not entertain this offer?
Here was a chance to realize quickly by selling out to the old
companies. Only Schryhart, not himself, would be taking the big end in
this manipulative deal. Whereas if he waited--even if Schryhart
managed to combine the three old companies into one--he might be able
to force better terms. He was not sure. Finally he asked, "How much
stock of the new company would be left in your hands--or in the hands
of the organizing group--after each of the old and new companies had
been provided for on this basis?"

"Oh, possibly thirty-five or forty per cent. of the whole," replied
Schryhart, ingratiatingly. "The laborer is worthy of his hire."

"Quite so," replied Cowperwood, smiling, "but, seeing that I am the man
who has been cutting the pole to knock this persimmon it seems to me
that a pretty good share of that should come to me; don't you think so?"

"Just what do you mean?"

"Just what I have said. I personally have organized the new companies
which have made this proposed combination possible. The plan you
propose is nothing more than what I have been proposing for some time.
The officers and directors of the old companies are angry at me merely
because I am supposed to have invaded the fields that belong to them.
Now, if on account of that they are willing to operate through you
rath