uld eventually
transfer them to Mollenhauer. What little Stener received for them
might well go into the treasury. Tighe & Co. would manage the "'change"
subtleties of this without giving any one else a chance to bid, while at
the same time making it appear an open-market transaction. At the same
time Sengstack went carefully into the state of the treasurer's office
for his master's benefit--finding out what it was that Strobik, Wycroft,
and Harmon had been doing with their loans. Via another source they were
ordered to disgorge at once or face prosecution. They were a part of
Mollenhauer's political machine. Then, having cautioned Stener not to
set over the remainder of his property to any one, and not to listen
to any one, most of all to the Machiavellian counsel of Cowperwood,
Sengstack left.

Needless to say, Mollenhauer was greatly gratified by this turn of
affairs. Cowperwood was now most likely in a position where he would
have to come and see him, or if not, a good share of the properties he
controlled were already in Mollenhauer's possession. If by some hook or
crook he could secure the remainder, Simpson and Butler might well talk
to him about this street-railway business. His holdings were now as
large as any, if not quite the largest.

Chapter XXVIII

It was in the face of this very altered situation that Cowperwood
arrived at Stener's office late this Monday afternoon.

Stener was quite alone, worried and distraught. He was anxious to see
Cowperwood, and at the same time afraid.

"George," began Cowperwood, briskly, on seeing him, "I haven't much time
to spare now, but I've come, finally, to tell you that you'll have to
let me have three hundred thousand more if you don't want me to fail.
Things are looking very bad today. They've caught me in a corner on
my loans; but this storm isn't going to last. You can see by the very
character of it that it can't."

He was looking at Stener's face, and seeing fear and a pained and
yet very definite necessity for opposition written there. "Chicago is
burning, but it will be built up again. Business will be all the better
for it later on. Now, I want you to be reasonable and help me. Don't get
frightened."

Stener stirred uneasily. "Don't let these politicians scare you to
death. It will all blow over in a few days, and then we'll be better off
than ever. Did you see Mollenhauer?"

"Yes."

"Well, what did he have to say?"

"He said just what I t