's part, Mr. Arneel, as
chairman, might call for a formal expression of opinion from the
different gentlemen present which will be on record as the sense of
this meeting."

At this point Mr. Kingsland, a tall, whiskered gentleman, arose to
inquire exactly how it came that Cowperwood had secured these stocks,
and whether those present were absolutely sure that the stock has been
coming from him or from his friends. "I would not like to think we
were doing any man an injustice," he concluded.

In reply to this Mr. Schryhart called in Mr. Stackpole to corroborate
him. Some of the stocks had been positively identified. Stackpole
related the full story, which somehow seemed to electrify the company,
so intense was the feeling against Cowperwood.

"It is amazing that men should be permitted to do things like this and
still hold up their heads in the business world," said one, Mr. Vasto,
president of the Third National, to his neighbor.

"I should think there would be no difficulty in securing united action
in a case of this kind," said Mr. Lawrence, president of the Prairie
National, who was very much beholden to Hand for past and present
favors.

"Here is a case," put in Schryhart, who was merely waiting for an
opportunity to explain further, "in which an unexpected political
situation develops an unexpected crisis, and this man uses it for his
personal aggrandizement and to the detriment of every other person.
The welfare of the city is nothing to him. The stability of the very
banks he borrows from is nothing. He is a pariah, and if this
opportunity to show him what we think of him and his methods is not
used we will be doing less than our duty to the city and to one
another."

"Gentlemen," said Mr. Arneel, finally, after Cowperwood's different
loans had been carefully tabulated, "don't you think it would be wise
to send for Mr. Cowperwood and state to him directly the decision we
have reached and the reasons for it? I presume all of us would agree
that he should be notified."

"I think he should be notified," said Mr. Merrill, who saw behind this
smooth talk the iron club that was being brandished.

Both Hand and Schryhart looked at each other and Arneel while they
politely waited for some one else to make a suggestion. When no one
ventured, Hand, who was hoping this would prove a ripping blow to
Cowperwood, remarked, viciously:

"He might as well be told--if we can reach him. It's sufficient
notice, i