sure that I want to undertake it at once; but
you keep quiet and we'll see." He turned toward his desk, and Stener got
up.

"I'll make any sized deposit with you that you wish, the moment you
think you're ready to act, Frank," exclaimed Stener, and with the
thought that Cowperwood was not nearly as anxious to do this as he
should be, since he could always rely on him (Stener) when there was
anything really profitable in the offing. Why should not the able and
wonderful Cowperwood be allowed to make the two of them rich? "Just
notify Stires, and he'll send you a check. Strobik thought we ought to
act pretty soon."

"I'll tend to it, George," replied Cowperwood, confidently. "It will
come out all right. Leave it to me."

Stener kicked his stout legs to straighten his trousers, and extended
his hand. He strolled out in the street thinking of this new scheme.
Certainly, if he could get in with Cowperwood right he would be a rich
man, for Cowperwood was so successful and so cautious. His new house,
this beautiful banking office, his growing fame, and his subtle
connections with Butler and others put Stener in considerable awe of
him. Another line! They would control it and the North Pennsylvania!
Why, if this went on, he might become a magnate--he really might--he,
George W. Stener, once a cheap real-estate and insurance agent. He
strolled up the street thinking, but with no more idea of the importance
of his civic duties and the nature of the social ethics against which he
was offending than if they had never existed.

Chapter XXII

The services which Cowperwood performed during the ensuing year and a
half for Stener, Strobik, Butler, State Treasurer Van Nostrand, State
Senator Relihan, representative of "the interests," so-called, at
Harrisburg, and various banks which were friendly to these gentlemen,
were numerous and confidential. For Stener, Strobik, Wycroft, Harmon and
himself he executed the North Pennsylvania deal, by which he became
a holder of a fifth of the controlling stock. Together he and Stener
joined to purchase the Seventeenth and Nineteenth Street line and in the
concurrent gambling in stocks.

By the summer of 1871, when Cowperwood was nearly thirty-four years of
age, he had a banking business estimated at nearly two million dollars,
personal holdings aggregating nearly half a million, and prospects which
other things being equal looked to wealth which might rival that of
any American. T