st if possible. But
Stener was so frightened that at the moment it looked as though there
was little to be done with him. His face was a grayish-blue: his eyelids
and eye rings puffy and his hands and lips moist. God, what a hole he
was in now!

"Say that's all right, Frank," he exclaimed desperately. "I know what
you say is true. But look at me and my position, if I do give you this
money. What can't they do to me, and won't. If you only look at it from
my point of view. If only you hadn't gone to Butler before you saw me."

"As though I could see you, George, when you were off duck shooting and
when I was wiring everywhere I knew to try to get in touch with you. How
could I? The situation had to be met. Besides, I thought Butler was more
friendly to me than he proved. But there's no use being angry with me
now, George, for going to Butler as I did, and anyhow you can't afford
to be now. We're in this thing together. It's a case of sink or swim
for just us two--not any one else--just us--don't you get that? Butler
couldn't or wouldn't do what I wanted him to do--get Mollenhauer and
Simpson to support the market. Instead of that they are hammering it.
They have a game of their own. It's to shake us out--can't you see that?
Take everything that you and I have gathered. It is up to you and me,
George, to save ourselves, and that's what I'm here for now. If you
don't let me have three hundred and fifty thousand dollars--three
hundred thousand, anyhow--you and I are ruined. It will be worse for
you, George, than for me, for I'm not involved in this thing in any
way--not legally, anyhow. But that's not what I'm thinking of. What I
want to do is to save us both--put us on easy street for the rest of our
lives, whatever they say or do, and it's in your power, with my help, to
do that for both of us. Can't you see that? I want to save my business
so then I can help you to save your name and money." He paused, hoping
this had convinced Stener, but the latter was still shaking.

"But what can I do, Frank?" he pleaded, weakly. "I can't go against
Mollenhauer. They can prosecute me if I do that. They can do it, anyhow.
I can't do that. I'm not strong enough. If they didn't know, if you
hadn't told them, it might be different, but this way--" He shook his
head sadly, his gray eyes filled with a pale distress.

"George," replied Cowperwood, who realized now that only the sternest
arguments would have any effect here, "don't talk a