As a matter of fact, what Cowperwood had keenly suspected was literally true.  Stener had been reached.  The moment Butler and Simpson had left him the night before, Mollenhauer had sent for his very able secretary, Abner Sengstack, and despatched him to learn the truth about Stener’s whereabouts.  Sengstack had then sent a long wire to Strobik, who was with Stener, urging him to caution the latter against Cowperwood.  The state of the treasury was known.  Stener and Strobik were to be met by Sengstack at Wilmington (this to forefend against the possibility of Cowperwood’s reaching Stener first)—­and the whole state of affairs made perfectly plain.  No more money was to be used under penalty of prosecution.  If Stener wanted to see any one he must see Mollenhauer.  Sengstack, having received a telegram from Strobik informing him of their proposed arrival at noon the next day, had proceeded to Wilmington to meet them.  The result was that Stener did not come direct into the business heart of the city, but instead got off at West Philadelphia, proposing to go first to his house to change his clothes and then to see Mollenhauer before meeting Cowperwood.  He was very badly frightened and wanted time to think.

“I can’t do it, Frank,” he pleaded, piteously.  “I’m in pretty bad in this matter.  Mollenhauer’s secretary met the train out at Wilmington just now to warn me against this situation, and Strobik is against it.  They know how much money I’ve got outstanding.  You or somebody has told them.  I can’t go against Mollenhauer.  I owe everything I’ve got to him, in a way.  He got me this place.”

“Listen, George.  Whatever you do at this time, don’t let this political loyalty stuff cloud your judgment.  You’re in a very serious position and so am I. If you don’t act for yourself with me now no one is going to act for you—­now or later—­no one.  And later will be too late.  I proved that last night when I went to Butler to get help for the two of us.  They all know about this business of our street-railway holdings and they want to shake us out and that’s the big and little of it—­nothing more and nothing less.  It’s a case of dog eat dog in this game and this particular situation and it’s up to us to save ourselves against everybody or go down together, and that’s just what I’m here to tell you.  Mollenhauer doesn’t care any more for you to-day than he does for that lamp-post.  It isn’t that money you’ve paid out to me that’s worrying him, but who’s getting something for it and what.  Well they know that you and I are getting street-railways, don’t you see, and they don’t want us to have them.  Once they get those out of our hands they won’t waste another day on you or me.  Can’t you see that?  Once we’ve lost all we’ve invested, you’re down and so am I—­and no one is going to turn a hand for you or me politically or in any other way.  I want you to understand that, George, because it’s true.  And before you say you won’t or you will do anything because Mollenhauer says so, you want to think over what I have to tell you.”