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he　time；　judgment；　and　skill　of　an　optical　expert　is　required。　　To…day；　unfortunately；　that　is　not　cheap。　　The　laborer　is　worthy　of　his　hire；　however；　I　suppose〃he　waved　a　soft；　full；　white　hand〃and　forty　thousand　is　little　enough。　　It　would　be　a　great　honor　if　the　University　could　have　the　largest；　most　serviceable；　and　most　perfect　lens　in　the　world。　　It　would　reflect　great　credit；　I　take　it；　on　the　men　who　would　make　this　possible。〃

Cowperwood　liked　the　man's　artistically　educational　air；　obviously　here　was　a　personage　of　ability；　brains；　emotion；　and　scientific　enthusiasm。　　It　was　splendid　to　him　to　see　any　strong　man　in　earnest；　for　himself　or　others。

〃And　forty　thousand　will　do　this？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes；　sir。　　Forty　thousand　will　guarantee　us　the　lens；　anyhow。〃

〃And　how　about　land；　buildings；　a　telescope　frame？　Have　you　all　those　things　prepared　for　it？〃

〃Not　as　yet；　but；　since　it　takes　four　years　at　least　to　grind　the　lens；　there　will　be　time　enough；　when　the　lens　is　nearing　completion；　to　look　after　the　accessories。　　We　have　picked　our　site；　however　Lake　Genevaand　we　would　not　refuse　either　land　or　accessories　if　we　knew　where　to　get　them。〃

Again　the　even；　shining　teeth；　the　keen　eyes　boring　through　the　glasses。

Cowperwood　saw　a　great　opportunity。　　He　asked　what　would　be　the　cost　of　the　entire　project。　　Dr。　Hooper　presumed　that　three　hundred　thousand　would　do　it　all　handsomelylens；　telescope；　land；　machinery；　buildinga　great　monument。

〃And　how　much　have　you　guaranteed　on　the　cost　of　your　lens？〃　〃Sixteen　thousand　dollars；　so　far。〃

〃To　be　paid　when？〃

〃In　instalmentsten　thousand　a　year　for　four　years。　　Just　enough　to　keep　the　lens…maker　busy　for　the　present。〃

Cowperwood　reflected。　　Ten　thousand　a　year　for　four　years　would　be　a　mere　salary　item；　and　at　the　end　of　that　time　he　felt　sure　that　he　could　supply　the　remainder　of　the　money　quite　easily。　　He　would　be　so　much　richer；　his　plans　would　be　so　much　more　mature。　　On　such　a　repute　（the　ability　to　give　a　three…hundred…thousand…dollar　telescope　out　of　hand　to　be　known　as　the　Cowperwood　telescope）　he　could　undoubtedly　raise　money　in　London；　New　York；　and　elsewhere　for　his　Chicago　enterprise。　　The　whole　world　would　know　him　in　a　day。　　He　paused；　his　enigmatic　eyes　revealing　nothing　of　the　splendid　vision　that　danced　before　them。　　At　last！　At　last！

〃How　would　it　do；　Mr。　Hooper；〃　he　said；　sweetly；　〃if；　instead　of　ten　men　giving　you　four　thousand　each；　as　you　plan；　one　man　were　to　give　you　forty　thousand　in　annual　instalments　of　ten　thousand　each？　Could　that　be　arranged　as　well？〃

〃My　dear　Mr。　Cowperwood；〃　exclaimed　the　doctor；　glowing；　his　eyes　alight；　〃do　I　understand　that　you　personally　might　wish　to　give　the　money　for　this　lens？〃

〃I　might；　yes。　　But　I　should　have　to　exact　one　pledge；　Mr。　Hooper；　if　I　did　any　such　thing。〃

〃And　what　would　that　be？〃

〃The　privilege　of　giving　the　land　and　the　buildingthe　whole　telescope；　in　fact。　　I　presume　no　word　of　this　will　be　given　out　unless　the　matter　is　favorably　acted　upon？〃　he　added；　cautiously　and　diplomatically。

The　new　president　of　the　university　arose　and　eyed　him　with　a　peculiarly　approbative　and　grateful　gaze。　　He　was　a　busy；　overworked　man。　　His　task　was　large。　　Any　burden　taken　from　his　shoulders　in　this　fashion　was　a　great　relief。

〃My　answer　to　that；　Mr。　Cowperwood；　if　I　had　the　authority；　would　be　to　agree　now　in　the　name　of　the　University；　and　thank　you。　　For　form's　sake；　I　must　submit　the　matter　to　the　trustees　of　the　University；　but　I　have　no　doubt　as　to　the　outcome。　　I　anticipate　nothing　but　grateful　approbation。　　Let　me　thank　you　again。〃

They　shook　hands　warmly；　and　the　solid　collegian　bustled　forth。　　Cowperwood　sank　quietly　in　his　chair。　　He　pressed　his　fingers　together；　and　for　a　moment　or　two　permitted　himself　to　dream。　　Then　he　called　a　stenographer　and　began　a　bit　of　dictation。　　He　did　not　care　to　think　even　to　himself　how　universally　advantageous　all　this　might　yet　prove　to　be。

The　result　was　that　in　the　course　of　a　few　weeks　the　proffer　was　formally　accepted　by　the　trustees　of　the　University；　and　a　report　of　the　matter；　with　Cowperwood's　formal　consent；　was　given　out　for　publication。　　The　fortuitous　combination　of　circumstances　already　described　gave　the　matter　a　unique　news　value。　　Giant　reflectors　and　refractors　had　been　given　and　were　in　use　in　other　parts　of　the　world；　but　none　so　large　or　so　important　as　this。　　The　gift　was　sufficient　to　set　Cowperwood　forth　in　the　light　of　a　public　benefactor　and　patron　of　science。　　Not　only　in　Chicago；　but　in　London；　Paris；　and　New　York；　wherever；　indeed；　in　the　great　capitals　scientific　and　intellectual　men　were　gathered；　this　significant　gift　of　an　apparently　fabulously　rich　American　became　the　subject　of　excited　discussion。　　Banking　men；　among　others；　took　sharp　note　of　the　donor；　and　when　Cowperwood's　emissaries　came　around　later　with　a　suggestion　that　the　fifty…year　franchises　about　to　be　voted　him　for　elevated　roads　should　be　made　a　basis　of　bond　and　mortgage　loans；　they　were　courteously　received。　　A　man　who　could　give　three…hundred…thousand…dollar　telescopes　in　the　hour　of　his　greatest　difficulties　must　be　in　a　rather　satisfactory　financial　condition。　He　must　have　great　wealth　in　reserve。　　After　some　preliminaries；　during　which　Cowperwood　paid　a　flying　visit　to　Threadneedle　Street　in　London；　and　to　Wall　Street　in　New　York；　an　arrangement　was　made　with　an　English…American　banking　company　by　which　the　majority　of　the　bonds　for　his　proposed　roads　were　taken　over　by　them　for　sale　in　Europe　and　elsewhere；　and　he　was　given　ample　means　wherewith　to　proceed。　　Instantly　the　stocks　of　his　surface　lines　bounded　in　price；　and　those　who　had　been　scheming　to　bring　about　Cowperwood's　downfall　gnashed　impotent　teeth。　　Even　Haeckelheimer　&　Co。　were　interested。

Anson　Merrill；　who　had　only　a　few　weeks　before　given　a　large　field　for　athletic　purposes　to　the　University；　pulled　a　wry　face　over　this　sudden　eclipse　of　his　glory。　　Hosmer　Hand；　who　had　given　a　chemical　laboratory；　and　Schryhart；　who　had　presented　a　dormitory；　were　depressed　to　think　that　a　benefaction　less　costly　than　theirs　should　create；　because　of　the　distinction　of　the　idea；　so　much　more　notable　comment。　　It　was　merely　another　example　of　the　brilliant　fortune　which　seemed　to　pursue　the　man；　the　star　that　set　all　their　plans　at　defiance。




Chapter　XLIV



A　Franchise　Obtained

The　money　requisite　for　the　construction　of　elevated　roads　having　been　thus　pyrotechnically　obtained；　the　acquisition　of　franchises　remained　no　easy　matter。　　It　involved；　among　other　problems；　the　taming　of　Chaffee　Thayer　Sluss；　who；　quite　unconscious　of　the　evidence　stored　up　against　him；　had　begun　to　fulminate　the　moment　it　was　suggested　in　various　secret　political　quarters　that　a　new　ordinance　was　about　to　be　introduced；　and　that　Cowperwood　was　to　be　the　beneficiary。　　〃Don't　you　let　them　do　that；　Mr。　Sluss；〃　observed　Mr。　Hand；　who　for　purposes　of　conference　had　courteously　but　firmly　bidden　his　hireling；　the　mayor；　to　lunch。　　〃Don't　you　let　them　pass　that　if　you　can　help　it。〃　（As　chairman　or　president　of　the　city　council　Mr。　Sluss　held　considerable　manipulative　power　over　the　machinery　of　procedure。）　〃Raise　such　a　row　that　they　won't　try　to　pass　it　over　your　head。　　Your　political　future　really　depends　on　ityour　standing　with　the　people　of　Chicago。　　The　newspapers　and　the　respectable　financial　and　social　elements　will　fully　support　you　in　this。　　Otherwise　they　will　wholly　desert　you。　　Things　have　come　to　a　handsome　pass　when　men　sworn　and　elected　to　perform　given　services　turn　on　their　backers　and　betray　them　in　this　way！〃

Mr。　Hand　was　very　wroth。

Mr。　Sluss；　immaculate　in　black　broadcloth　and　white　linen；　was　very　sure　that　he　would　fulfil　to　the　letter　all　of　Mr。　Hand's　suggestions。　　The　proposed　ordinance　should　be　denounced　by　him；　its　legislative　progress　heartily　opposed　in　council。

〃They　shall　get　no　quarter　from　me！〃　he　declared；　emphatically。　　〃I　know　what　the　scheme　is。　　They　know　that　I　know　it。〃

He　looked　at　Mr。　Hand　quite　as　one　advocate　of　righteousness　should　look　at　another；　and　the　rich　promoter　went　away　satisfied　that　the　reins　of　government　were　in　safe　hands。　　Immediately　afterward　Mr。　Sluss　gave　out　an　interview　in　which　he　served　warning　on　all　aldermen　and　councilmen　that　no　such　ordinance　as　the　one　in　question　would　ever　be　signed　by　him　as　mayor。

At　half　past　ten　on　the　same　morning　on　which　the　interview　appeared　the　hour　at　which　Mr。　Sluss　usually　reached　his　officehis　private　telephone　bell　rang；　and　an　assistant　inquired　if　he　would　be　willing　to　speak　with　Mr。　Frank　A。　Cowperwood。　　Mr。　Sluss；　somehow　anticipating　fresh　laurels　of　victory；　gratified　by　the　front…page　display　given　his　announcement　in　the　morning　papers；　and　swelling　internally　with　civic　pride；　announced；　solemnly：　〃Yes；　connect　me。〃

〃Mr。　Sluss；〃　began　Cowperwood；　at　the　other　end；　〃this　is　Frank　A。　Cowperwood。〃

〃Yes。　　What　can　I　do　for　you；　Mr。　Cowperwood？〃

〃I　see　by　the　morning　papers　that　you　state　that　you　will　have　nothing　to　do　with　any　proposed　ordinance　which　looks　to　giving　me　a　franchise　for　any　elevated　road　on　the　North　or　West　Side？〃

〃That　is　quite　true；〃　replied　Mr。　Sluss；　loftily。　　〃I　will　not。〃

〃Don't　you　think　it　is　rather　premature；　Mr。　Sluss；　to　denounce　something　which　has　only　a　rumored　existence？〃　（Cowperwood；　smiling　sweetly　to　himself；　was　quite　like　a　cat　playing　with　an　unsuspicious　mouse。）　〃I　should　like　very　much　to　talk　this　whole　matter　over　with　you　personally　before　you　take　an　irrevocable　attitude。　　It　is　just　possible　that　after　you　have　heard　my　side　you　may　not　be　so　completely　opposed　to　me。　　From　time　to　time　I　have　sent　to　you　several　of　my　personal　friends；　but　apparently　you　do　not　care　to　receive　them。〃

〃Quite　true；〃　replied　Mr。　Sluss；　loftily；　〃but　you　must　remember　that　I　am　a　very　busy　man；　Mr。　Cowperwood；　and；　besides；　I　do　not　see　how　I　can　serve　any　of　your　purposes。　　You　are　working　for　a　set　of　conditions　to　which　I　am　morally　and　temperamentally　opposed。　I　am　working　for　another。　　I　do　not　see　that　we　have　any　common　ground　on　which　to　meet。　　In　fact；　I　do　not　see　how　I　can　be　of　any　service　to　you　whatsoever。〃

〃J