“You may be right,” said Senator Simpson, cautiously.  “You might have those letters prepared, Henry; and if we have to bring any action at all against anybody before election, it would, perhaps, be advisable to bring it against Cowperwood.  Include Stener if you have to but not unless you have to.  I leave it to you two, as I am compelled to start for Pittsburg next Friday; but I know you will not overlook any point.”

The Senator arose.  His time was always valuable.  Butler was highly gratified by what he had accomplished.  He had succeeded in putting the triumvirate on record against Cowperwood as the first victim, in case of any public disturbance or demonstration against the party.  All that was now necessary was for that disturbance to manifest itself; and, from what he could see of local conditions, it was not far off.  There was now the matter of Cowperwood’s disgruntled creditors to look into; and if by buying in these he should succeed in preventing the financier from resuming business, he would have him in a very precarious condition indeed.  It was a sad day for Cowperwood, Butler thought—­the day he had first tried to lead Aileen astray—­and the time was not far off when he could prove it to him.

Chapter XXXIII

In the meantime Cowperwood, from what he could see and hear, was becoming more and more certain that the politicians would try to make a scapegoat of him, and that shortly.  For one thing, Stires had called only a few days after he closed his doors and imparted a significant bit of information.  Albert was still connected with the city treasury, as was Stener, and engaged with Sengstack and another personal appointee of Mollenhauer’s in going over the treasurer’s books and explaining their financial significance.  Stires had come to Cowperwood primarily to get additional advice in regard to the sixty-thousand-dollar check and his personal connection with it.  Stener, it seemed, was now threatening to have his chief clerk prosecuted, saying that he was responsible for the loss of the money and that his bondsmen could be held responsible.  Cowperwood had merely laughed and assured Stires that there was nothing to this.

“Albert,” he had said, smilingly, “I tell you positively, there’s nothing in it.  You’re not responsible for delivering that check to me.  I’ll tell you what you do, now.  Go and consult my lawyer—­Steger.  It won’t cost you a cent, and he’ll tell you exactly what to do.  Now go on back and don’t worry any more about it.  I am sorry this move of mine has caused you so much trouble, but it’s a hundred to one you couldn’t have kept your place with a new city treasurer, anyhow, and if I see any place where you can possibly fit in later, I’ll let you know.”