ice had brought them both!

When Shannon was through bringing out this unsatisfactory data, Steger
took Stener in hand; but he could not make as much out of him as he
hoped. In so far as this particular situation was concerned, Stener
was telling the exact truth; and it is hard to weaken the effect of the
exact truth by any subtlety of interpretation, though it can, sometimes,
be done. With painstaking care Steger went over all the ground of
Stener's long relationship with Cowperwood, and tried to make it
appear that Cowperwood was invariably the disinterested agent--not the
ringleader in a subtle, really criminal adventure. It was hard to do,
but he made a fine impression. Still the jury listened with skeptical
minds. It might not be fair to punish Cowperwood for seizing with
avidity upon a splendid chance to get rich quick, they thought; but it
certainly was not worth while to throw a veil of innocence over such
palpable human cupidity. Finally, both lawyers were through with Stener
for the time being, anyhow, and then Albert Stires was called to the
stand.

He was the same thin, pleasant, alert, rather agreeable soul that he had
been in the heyday of his clerkly prosperity--a little paler now, but
not otherwise changed. His small property had been saved for him by
Cowperwood, who had advised Steger to inform the Municipal Reform
Association that Stires' bondsmen were attempting to sequestrate it for
their own benefit, when actually it should go to the city if there
were any real claim against him--which there was not. That watchful
organization had issued one of its numerous reports covering this
point, and Albert had had the pleasure of seeing Strobik and the others
withdraw in haste. Naturally he was grateful to Cowperwood, even though
once he had been compelled to cry in vain in his presence. He was
anxious now to do anything he could to help the banker, but his
naturally truthful disposition prevented him from telling anything
except the plain facts, which were partly beneficial and partly not.

Stires testified that he recalled Cowperwood's saying that he had
purchased the certificates, that he was entitled to the money, that
Stener was unduly frightened, and that no harm would come to him,
Albert. He identified certain memoranda in the city treasurer's books,
which were produced, as being accurate, and others in Cowperwood's
books, which were also produced, as being corroborative. His testimony
as to Stener'