to Edwin Kaffrath or
Anton Videra for the balance."

"But, Frank, I haven't any five hundred thousand to spare. You say
American Match is going to bust."

"I know you haven't, but draw the check on the Chicago Trust, and
Addison will honor it. Send the stock to me and forget all about it.
I will do the rest. But under no circumstances mention my name, and
don't appear too eager. Not more than one-twenty at the outside, do
you hear? and less if you can get it. You recognize my voice, do you?"

"Perfectly."

"Drive over afterward if you have time and let me know what happens."

"Very good," commented Mr. Bailey, in a businesslike way.

Cowperwood next called for Mr. Kaffrath. Conversing to similar effect
with that individual and with Videra, before three-quarters of an hour
Cowperwood had arranged completely for Mr. Stackpole's tour. He was to
have his total loan at one-twenty or less. Checks were to be
forthcoming at once. Different banks were to be drawn on--banks other
than the Chicago Trust Company. Cowperwood would see, in some
roundabout way, that these checks were promptly honored, whether the
cash was there or not. In each case the hypothecated stocks were to be
sent to him. Then, having seen to the perfecting of this little
programme, and that the banks to be drawn upon in this connection
understood perfectly that the checks in question were guaranteed by him
or others, he sat down to await the arrival of his henchmen and the
turning of the stock into his private safe.

Chapter XLVIII

Panic

On August 4, 1896, the city of Chicago, and for that matter the entire
financial world, was startled and amazed by the collapse of American
Match, one of the strongest of market securities, and the coincident
failure of Messrs. Hull and Stackpole, its ostensible promoters, for
twenty millions. As early as eleven o'clock of the preceding day the
banking and brokerage world of Chicago, trading in this stock, was
fully aware that something untoward was on foot in connection with it.
Owing to the high price at which the stock was "protected," and the
need of money to liquidate, blocks of this stock from all parts of the
country were being rushed to the market with the hope of realizing
before the ultimate break. About the stock-exchange, which frowned
like a gray fortress at the foot of La Salle Street, all was
excitement--as though a giant anthill had been ruthlessly disturbed.
Clerks and mess