fire. What a curious thing that was!
If any one thing more than another made him doubt the existence of a
kindly, overruling Providence, it was the unheralded storms out of clear
skies--financial, social, anything you choose--that so often brought
ruin and disaster to so many.

"Get Up, Stener," he said, calmly, after a few moments. "You mustn't
give way to your feelings like this. You must not cry. These troubles
are never unraveled by tears. You must do a little thinking for
yourself. Perhaps your situation isn't so bad."

As he was saying this Stener was putting himself back in his chair,
getting out his handkerchief, and sobbing hopelessly in it.

"I'll do what I can, Stener. I won't promise anything. I can't tell you
what the result will be. There are many peculiar political forces in
this city. I may not be able to save you, but I am perfectly willing to
try. You must put yourself absolutely under my direction. You must not
say or do anything without first consulting with me. I will send my
secretary to you from time to time. He will tell you what to do. You
must not come to me unless I send for you. Do you understand that
thoroughly?"

"Yes, Mr. Mollenhauer."

"Well, now, dry your eyes. I don't want you to go out of this office
crying. Go back to your office, and I will send Sengstack to see you.
He will tell you what to do. Follow him exactly. And whenever I send for
you come at once."

He got up, large, self-confident, reserved. Stener, buoyed up by the
subtle reassurance of his remarks, recovered to a degree his equanimity.
Mr. Mollenhauer, the great, powerful Mr. Mollenhauer was going to help
him out of his scrape. He might not have to go to jail after all.
He left after a few moments, his face a little red from weeping, but
otherwise free of telltale marks, and returned to his office.

Three-quarters of an hour later, Sengstack called on him for the second
time that day--Abner Sengstack, small, dark-faced, club-footed, a great
sole of leather three inches thick under his short, withered right leg,
his slightly Slavic, highly intelligent countenance burning with a pair
of keen, piercing, inscrutable black eyes. Sengstack was a fit secretary
for Mollenhauer. You could see at one glance that he would make Stener
do exactly what Mollenhauer suggested. His business was to induce Stener
to part with his street-railway holdings at once through Tighe & Co.,
Butler's brokers, to the political sub-agent who wo