the financier-第42部分

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　returned　to　his　drawing…room　and　scanned　both　accounts　most　carefully。

Then；　though　it　was　still　early；　he　and　his　father　drove　to　his　office。　　There　were　already　messages　awaiting　him；　a　dozen　or　more；　to　cancel　or　sell。　　While　he　was　standing　there　a　messenger…boy　brought　him　three　more。　　One　was　from　Stener　and　said　that　he　would　be　back　by　twelve　o'clock；　the　very　earliest　he　could　make　it。　Cowperwood　was　relieved　and　yet　distressed。　　He　would　need　large　sums　of　money　to　meet　various　loans　before　three。　　Every　hour　was　precious。　　He　must　arrange　to　meet　Stener　at　the　station　and　talk　to　him　before　any　one　else　should　see　him。　　Clearly　this　was　going　to　be　a　hard；　dreary；　strenuous　day。

Third　Street；　by　the　time　he　reached　there；　was　stirring　with　other　bankers　and　brokers　called　forth　by　the　exigencies　of　the　occasion。　There　was　a　suspicious　hurrying　of　feetthat　intensity　which　makes　all　the　difference　in　the　world　between　a　hundred　people　placid　and　a　hundred　people　disturbed。　　At　the　exchange；　the　atmosphere　was　feverish。　　At　the　sound　of　the　gong；　the　staccato　uproar　began。　Its　metallic　vibrations　were　still　in　the　air　when　the　two　hundred　men　who　composed　this　local　organization　at　its　utmost　stress　of　calculation；　threw　themselves　upon　each　other　in　a　gibbering　struggle　to　dispose　of　or　seize　bargains　of　the　hour。　　The　interests　were　so　varied　that　it　was　impossible　to　say　at　which　pole　it　was　best　to　sell　or　buy。

Targool　and　Rivers　had　been　delegated　to　stay　at　the　center　of　things；　Joseph　and　Edward　to　hover　around　on　the　outside　and　to　pick　up　such　opportunities　of　selling　as　might　offer　a　reasonable　return　on　the　stock。　　The　〃bears〃　were　determined　to　jam　things　down；　and　it　all　depended　on　how　well　the　agents　of　Mollenhauer；　Simpson；　Butler；　and　others　supported　things　in　the　street…railway　world　whether　those　stocks　retained　any　strength　or　not。　　The　last　thing　Butler　had　said　the　night　before　was　that　they　would　do　the　best　they　could。　　They　would　buy　up　to　a　certain　point。　　Whether　they　would　support　the　market　indefinitely　he　would　not　say。　　He　could　not　vouch　for　Mollenhauer　and　Simpson。　　Nor　did　he　know　the　condition　of　their　affairs。

While　the　excitement　was　at　its　highest　Cowperwood　came　in。　　As　he　stood　in　the　door　looking　to　catch　the　eye　of　Rivers；　the　'change　gong　sounded；　and　trading　stopped。　　All　the　brokers　and　traders　faced　about　to　the　little　balcony；　where　the　secretary　of　the　'change　made　his　announcements；　and　there　he　stood；　the　door　open　behind　him；　a　small；　dark；　clerkly　man　of　thirty…eight　or　forty；　whose　spare　figure　and　pale　face　bespoke　the　methodic　mind　that　knows　no　venturous　thought。　　In　his　right　hand　he　held　a　slip　of　white　paper。

〃The　American　Fire　Insurance　Company　of　Boston　announces　its　inability　to　meet　its　obligations。〃　　The　gong　sounded　again。

Immediately　the　storm　broke　anew；　more　voluble　than　before；　because；　if　after　one　hour　of　investigation　on　this　Monday　morning　one　insurance　company　had　gone　down；　what　would　four　or　five　hours　or　a　day　or　two　bring　forth？　It　meant　that　men　who　had　been　burned　out　in　Chicago　would　not　be　able　to　resume　business。　　It　meant　that　all　loans　connected　with　this　concern　had　been；　or　would　be　called　now。　　And　the　cries　of　frightened　〃bulls〃　offering　thousand　and　five　thousand　lot　holdings　in　Northern　Pacific；　Illinois　Central；　Reading；　Lake　Shore；　Wabash；　in　all　the　local　streetcar　lines；　and　in　Cowperwood's　city　loans　at　constantly　falling　prices　was　sufficient　to　take　the　heart　out　of　all　concerned。　　He　hurried　to　Arthur　Rivers's　side　in　the　lull；　but　there　was　little　he　could　say。

〃It　looks　as　though　the　Mollenhauer　and　Simpson　crowds　aren't　doing　much　for　the　market；〃　he　observed；　gravely。

〃They've　had　advices　from　New　York；〃　explained　Rivers　solemnly。　〃It　can't　be　supported　very　well。　　There　are　three　insurance　companies　over　there　on　the　verge　of　quitting；　I　understand。　　I　expect　to　see　them　posted　any　minute。〃

They　stepped　apart　from　the　pandemonium；　to　discuss　ways　and　means。　Under　his　agreement　with　Stener；　Cowperwood　could　buy　up　to　one　hundred　thousand　dollars　of　city　loan；　above　the　customary　wash　sales；　or　market　manipulation；　by　which　they　were　making　money。　This　was　in　case　the　market　had　to　be　genuinely　supported。　　He　decided　to　buy　sixty　thousand　dollars　worth　now；　and　use　this　to　sustain　his　loans　elsewhere。　　Stener　would　pay　him　for　this　instantly；　giving　him　more　ready　cash。　　It　might　help　him　in　one　way　and　another；　and；　anyhow；　it　might　tend　to　strengthen　the　other　securities　long　enough　at　least　to　allow　him　to　realize　a　little　something　now　at　better　than　ruinous　rates。　　If　only　he　had　the　means　〃to　go　short〃　on　this　market！　If　only　doing　so　did　not　really　mean　ruin　to　his　present　position。　　It　was　characteristic　of　the　man　that　even　in　this　crisis　he　should　be　seeing　how　the　very　thing　that　of　necessity；　because　of　his　present　obligations；　might　ruin　him；　might　also；　under　slightly　different　conditions；　yield　him　a　great　harvest。　　He　could　not　take　advantage　of　it；　however。　　He　could　not　be　on　both　sides　of　this　market。　　It　was　either　〃bear〃　or　〃bull；〃　and　of　necessity　he　was　〃bull。〃　　It　was　strange　but　true。　　His　subtlety　could　not　avail　him　here。　　He　was　about　to　turn　and　hurry　to　see　a　certain　banker　who　might　loan　him　something　on　his　house；　when　the　gong　struck　again。　　Once　more　trading　ceased。　　Arthur　Rivers；　from　his　position　at　the　State　securities　post；　where　city　loan　was　sold；　and　where　he　had　started　to　buy　for　Cowperwood；　looked　significantly　at　him。　Newton　Targool　hurried　to　Cowperwood's　side。

〃You're　up　against　it；〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃I　wouldn't　try　to　sell　against　this　market。　　It's　no　use。　　They're　cutting　the　ground　from　under　you。　　The　bottom's　out。　　Things　are　bound　to　turn　in　a　few　days。　　Can't　you　hold　out？　Here's　more　trouble。〃

He　raised　his　eyes　to　the　announcer's　balcony。

〃The　Eastern　and　Western　Fire　Insurance　Company　of　New　York　announces　that　it　cannot　meet　its　obligations。〃

A　low　sound　something　like　〃Haw！〃　broke　forth。　　The　announcer's　gavel　struck　for　order。

〃The　Erie　Fire　Insurance　Company　of　Rochester　announces　that　it　cannot　meet　its　obligations。〃

Again　that　〃H…a…a…a…w！〃

Once　more　the　gavel。

〃The　American　Trust　Company　of　New　York　has　suspended　payment。〃

〃H…a…a…a…w！〃

The　storm　was　on。

What　do　you　think？〃　asked　Targool。　　〃You　can't　brave　this　storm。　Can't　you　quit　selling　and　hold　out　for　a　few　days？　Why　not　sell　short？〃

〃They　ought　to　close　this　thing　up；〃　Cowperwood　said；　shortly。　〃It　would　be　a　splendid　way　out。　　Then　nothing　could　be　done。〃

He　hurried　to　consult　with　those　who；　finding　themselves　in　a　similar　predicament　with　himself；　might　use　their　influence　to　bring　it　about。　　It　was　a　sharp　trick　to　play　on　those　who；　now　finding　the　market　favorable　to　their　designs　in　its　falling　condition；　were　harvesting　a　fortune。　　But　what　was　that　to　him？　Business　was　business。　　There　was　no　use　selling　at　ruinous　figures；　and　he　gave　his　lieutenants　orders　to　stop。　　Unless　the　bankers　favored　him　heavily；　or　the　stock　exchange　was　closed；　or　Stener　could　be　induced　to　deposit　an　additional　three　hundred　thousand　with　him　at　once；　he　was　ruined。　　He　hurried　down　the　street　to　various　bankers　and　brokers　suggesting　that　they　do　thisclose　the　exchange。　　At　a　few　minutes　before　twelve　o'clock　he　drove　rapidly　to　the　station　to　meet　Stener；　but　to　his　great　disappointment　the　latter　did　not　arrive。　　It　looked　as　though　he　had　missed　his　train。　　Cowperwood　sensed　something；　some　trick；　and　decided　to　go　to　the　city　hall　and　also　to　Stener's　house。　　Perhaps　he　had　returned　and　was　trying　to　avoid　him。

Not　finding　him　at　his　office；　he　drove　direct　to　his　house。　　Here　he　was　not　surprised　to　meet　Stener　just　coming　out；　looking　very　pale　and　distraught。　　At　the　sight　of　Cowperwood　he　actually　blanched。

〃Why；　hello；　Frank；〃　he　exclaimed；　sheepishly；　〃where　do　you　come　from？〃

〃What's　up；　George？〃　asked　Cowperwood。　　〃I　thought　you　were　coming　into　Broad　Street。〃

〃So　I　was；〃　returned　Stener；　foolishly；　〃but　I　thought　I　would　get　off　at　West　Philadelphia　and　change　my　clothes。　　I've　a　lot　of　things　to　'tend　to　yet　this　afternoon。　　I　was　coming　in　to　see　you。〃　　After　Cowperwood's　urgent　telegram　this　was　silly；　but　the　young　banker　let　it　pass。

〃Jump　in；　George；〃　he　said。　　〃I　have　something　very　important　to　talk　to　you　about。　　I　told　you　in　my　telegram　about　the　likelihood　of　a　panic。　　It's　on。　　There　isn't　a　moment　to　lose。　　Stocks　are　'way　down；　and　most　of　my　loans　are　being　called。　　I　want　to　know　if　you　won't　let　me　have　three　hundred　and　fifty　thousand　dollars　for　a　few　days　at　four　or　five　per　cent。　　I'll　pay　it　all　back　to　you。　　I　need　it　very　badly。　　If　I　don't　get　it　I'm　likely　to　fail。　You　know　what　that　means；　George。　　It　will　tie　up　every　dollar　I　have。　　Those　street…car　holdings　of　yours　will　be　tied　up　with　me。　I　won't　be　able　to　let　you　realize　on　them；　and　that　will　put　those　loans　of　mine　from　the　treasury　in　bad　shape。　　You　won't　be　able　to　put　the　money　back；　and　you　know　what　that　means。　　We're　in　this　thing　together。　　I　want　to　see　you　through　safely；　but　I　can't　do　it　without　your　help。　　I　had　to　go　to　Butler　last　night　to　see　about　a　loan　of　his；　and　I'm　doing　my　best　to　get　money　from　other　sources。　　But　I　can't　see　my　way　through　on　this；　I'm　afraid；　unless　you're　willing　to　help　me。〃　　Cowperwood　paused。　　He　wanted　to　put　the　whole　case　clearly　and　succinctly　to　him　before　he　had　a　chance　to　refuseto　make　him　realize　it　as　his　own　predicament。

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　b