d weakness were its two constituents. Strength would
win--weakness lose. He must rely on swiftness of thought, accuracy,
his judgment, and on nothing else. He was really a brilliant picture of
courage and energy--moving about briskly in a jaunty, dapper way, his
mustaches curled, his clothes pressed, his nails manicured, his face
clean-shaven and tinted with health.

In the meantime, Cowperwood had gone personally to Skelton C. Wheat and
tried to explain his side of the situation, alleging that he had done no
differently from many others before him, but Wheat was dubious. He
did not see how it was that the sixty thousand dollars' worth of
certificates were not in the sinking-fund. Cowperwood's explanation
of custom did not avail. Nevertheless, Mr. Wheat saw that others in
politics had been profiting quite as much as Cowperwood in other ways
and he advised Cowperwood to turn state's evidence. This, however, he
promptly refused to do--he was no "squealer," and indicated as much to
Mr. Wheat, who only smiled wryly.

Butler, Sr., was delighted (concerned though he was about party success
at the polls), for now he had this villain in the toils and he would
have a fine time getting out of this. The incoming district attorney to
succeed David Pettie if the Republican party won would be, as was
now planned, an appointee of Butler's--a young Irishman who had done
considerable legal work for him--one Dennis Shannon. The other two party
leaders had already promised Butler that. Shannon was a smart,
athletic, good-looking fellow, all of five feet ten inches in height,
sandy-haired, pink-cheeked, blue-eyed, considerable of an orator and a
fine legal fighter. He was very proud to be in the old man's favor--to
be promised a place on the ticket by him--and would, he said, if
elected, do his bidding to the best of his knowledge and ability.

There was only one fly in the ointment, so far as some of the
politicians were concerned, and that was that if Cowperwood were
convicted, Stener must needs be also. There was no escape in so far as
any one could see for the city treasurer. If Cowperwood was guilty of
securing by trickery sixty thousand dollars' worth of the city money,
Stener was guilty of securing five hundred thousand dollars. The
prison term for this was five years. He might plead not guilty, and by
submitting as evidence that what he did was due to custom save himself
from the odious necessity of pleading guilty; but he would