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Philadelphia in 1871? "

" In so far as I know, it is. "

" Well, was he in the penitentiary down there? "

" I think so--yes. I believe it was for nothing really criminal,

though. There appears to have been some political-financial

mix-up, from all I can learn. "

" And is he only forty, as the papers say? "

" About that, I should judge. Why? "

" Oh, this scheme of his looks rather pretentious to me--holding

up the old gas companies here. Do you suppose he'll manage to do

it? "

" I don't know that. All I know is what I have read in the papers, "

replied Addison, cautiously. As a matter of fact, he did not care

to talk about this business at all. Cowperwood was busy at this

very time, through an agent, attempting to effect a compromise and

union of all interests concerned. It was not going very well.

" Humph! " commented Schryhart. He was wondering why men like

himself, Merrill, Arneel, and others had not worked into this field

long ago or bought out the old companies. He went away interested,

and a day or two later--even the next morning--had formulated a

scheme. Not unlike Cowperwood, he was a shrewd, hard, cold man.

He believed in Chicago implicitly and in all that related to its

future. This gas situation, now that Cowperwood had seen the

point, was very clear to him. Even yet it might not be impossible

for a third party to step in and by intricate manipulation secure

the much coveted rewards. Perhaps Cowperwood himself could be

taken over--who could tell?

Mr. Schryhart, being a very dominating type of person, did not

believe in minor partnerships or investments. If he went into a

thing of this kind it was his preference to rule. He decided to

invite Cowperwood to visit the Schryhart office and talk matters

over. Accordingly, he had his secretary pen a note, which in

rather lofty phrases invited Cowperwood to call " on a matter of

importance. "

Now just at this time, it so chanced, Cowperwood was feeling rather

secure as to his place in the Chicago financial world, although

he was still smarting from the bitterness of the aspersions recently

cast upon him from various quarters. Under such circumstances it

was his temperament to evince a rugged contempt for humanity, rich

and poor alike. He was well aware that Schryhart, although

introduced, had never previously troubled to notice him.

" Mr. Cowperwood begs me to say, " wrote Miss Antoinette Nowak, at

his dictation, " that he finds himself very much pressed for time

at present, but he would be glad to see Mr. Schryhart at his office

at any time. "

This irritated the dominating, self-sufficient Schryhart a little,

but nevertheless he was satisfied that a conference could do no

harm in this instance--was advisable, in fact. So one Wednesday

afternoon he journeyed to the office of Cowperwood, and was most

hospitably received.

" How do you do, Mr. Schryhart, " observed Cowperwood, cordially,

extending his hand. " I'm glad to see you again. I believe we met

once before several years ago. "

" I think so myself, " replied Mr. Schryhart, who was broad-shouldered,

square-headed, black-eyed, and with a short black mustache gracing

a firm upper lip. He had hard, dark, piercing eyes. " I see by

the papers, if they can be trusted, " he said, coming direct to the

point, " that you are interesting yourself in local gas. Is that

true? "

" I'm afraid the papers cannot be generally relied on, " replied

Cowperwood, quite blandly. " Would you mind telling me what makes

you interested to know whether I am or not? "

" Well, to tell the truth, " replied Schryhart, staring at the

financier, " I am interested in this local gas situation myself.

It offers a rather profitable field for investment, and several

members of the old companies have come to me recently to ask me

to help them combine. " (This was not true at all. ) " I have been

wondering what chance you thought you had of winning along the

lines you are now taking. "

Cowperwood smiled. " I hardly care to discuss that, " he said,

" unless I know much more of your motives and connections than I

do at present. Do I understand that you have really been appealed

to by stockholders of the old companies to come in and help adjust

this matter? "

" Exactly, " said Schryhart.

" And you think you can get them to combine? On what basis? "

" Oh, I should say it would be a simple matter to give each of them

two or three shares of a new company for one in each of the old.

We could then elect one set of officers. have one set of offices,

stop all these suits, and leave everybody happy. "

He said this in an easy, patronizing way, as though Cowperwood had

not really thought it all out years before. It amazed the latter

no little to see his own scheme patronizingly brought back to him,

and that, too, by a very powerful man locally--one who thus far

had chosen to overlook him utterly.

" On what basis, " asked Cowperwood, cautiously, " would you expect

these new companies to come in? "

" On the same basis as the others, if they are not too heavily

capitalized. I haven't thought out all the details. Two or three

for one, according to investment. Of course, the prejudices of

these old companies have to be considered. "

Cowperwood meditated. Should or should he not entertain this

offer? Here was a chance to realize quickly by selling out to the

old companies. Only Schryhart, not himself, would be taking the

big end in this manipulative deal. Whereas if he waited--even if

Schryhart managed to combine the three old companies into one--he

might be able to force better terms. He was not sure. Finally

he asked, " How much stock of the new company would be left in your

hands--or in the hands of the organizing group--after each of the

old and new companies had been provided for on this basis? "

" Oh, possibly thirty-five or forty per cent. of the whole, " replied

Schryhart, ingratiatingly. " The laborer is worthy of his hire. "

" Quite so, " replied Cowperwood, smiling, " but, seeing that I am

the man who has been cutting the pole to knock this persimmon it

seems to me that a pretty good share of that should come to me;

don't you think so? "

" Just what do you mean? "

" Just what I have said. I personally have organized the new

companies which have made this proposed combination possible. The

plan you propose is nothing more than what I have been proposing

for some time. The officers and directors of the old companies

are angry at me merely because I am supposed to have invaded the

fields that belong to them. Now, if on account of that they are

willing to operate through you rather than through me, it seems

to me that I should have a much larger share in the surplus. My

personal interest in these new companies is not very large. I am

really more of a fiscal agent than anything else. " (This was not

true, but Cowperwood preferred to have his guest think so. )

Schryhart smiled. " But, my dear sir, " he explained, " you forget

that I will be supplying nearly all the capital to do this. "

" You forget, " retorted Cowperwood, " that I am not a novice. I will

guarantee to supply all the capital myself, and give you a good

bonus for your services, if you want that. The plants and franchises

of the old and new companies are worth something. You must remember

that Chicago is growing. "

" I know that, " replied Schryhart, evasively, " but I also know that

you have a long, expensive fight ahead of you. As things are now

you cannot, of yourself, expect to bring these old companies to

terms. They won't work with you, as I understand it. It will

require an outsider like myself--some one of influence, or perhaps,

I had better say, of old standing in Chicago, some one who knows

these people--to bring about this combination. Have you any one,

do you think, who can do it better than I? "

" It is not at all impossible that I will find some one, " replied

Cowperwood, quite easily.

" I hardly think so; certainly not as things are now. The old

companies are not disposed to work through you, and they are through

me. Don't you think you had better accept my terms and allow me

to go ahead and close this matter up? "

" Not at all on that basis, " replied Cowperwood, quite simply. " We

have invaded the enemies' country too far and done too much. Three

for one or four for one--whatever terms are given the stockholders

of the old companies--is the best I will do about the new shares,

and I must have one-half of whatever is left for myself. At that

I will have to divide with others. " (This was not true either. )

" No, " replied Schryhart, evasively and opposingly, shaking his

square head. " It can't be done. The risks are too great. I might

allow you one-fourth, possibly--I can't tell yet. "

" One-half or nothing, " said Cowperwood, definitely.

Schryhart got up. " That's the best you will do, is it? " he

inquired.

" The very best. "

" I'm afraid then, " he said, " we can't come to terms. I'm sorry.

You may find this a rather long and expensive fight. "

" I have fully anticipated that, " replied the financier.

Chapter XII

A New Retainer

Cowperwood, who had rebuffed Schryhart so courteously but firmly,

was to learn that he who takes the sword may well perish by the

sword. His own watchful attorney, on guard at the state capitol,

where certificates of incorporation were issued in the city and

village councils, in the courts and so forth, was not long in

learning that a counter-movement of significance was under way.

Old General Van Sickle was the first to report that something was

in the wind in connection with the North Side company. He came

in late one afternoon, his dusty greatcoat thrown loosely about

his shoulders, his small, soft hat low over his shaggy eyes, and

in response to Cowperwood's " Evening, General, what can I do for

you? " seated himself portentously.

" I think you'll have to prepare for real rough weather in the

future, Captain, " he remarked, addressing the financier with a

courtesy title that he had fallen in the habit of using.

" What's the trouble now? " asked Cowperwood.

" No real trouble as yet, but there may be. Some one--I don't

know who--is getting these three old companies together in one.

There's a certificate of incorporation been applied for at Springfield

for the United Gas and Fuel Company of Chicago, and there are some

directors' meetings now going on at the Douglas Trust Company. I

got this from Duniway, who seems to have friends somewhere that

know. "

Cowperwood put the ends of his fingers together in his customary

way and began to tap them lightly and rhythmically.

" Let me see--the Douglas Trust Company. Mr. Simms is president

of that. He isn't shrewd enough to organize a thing of that kind.

Who are the incorporators? "

The General produced a list of four names, none of them officers

or directors of the old companies.

" Dummies, every one, " said Cowperwood, succinctly. " I think I

know, " he said, after a few moments' reflection, " who is behind

it, General; but don't let that worry you. They can't harm us if

they do unite. They're bound to sell out to us or buy us out

eventually. "

Still it irritated him to think that Schryhart had succeeded in

persuading the old companies to combine on any basis; he had meant

to have Addison go shortly, posing as an outside party, and propose

this very thing. Schryhart, he was sure, had acted swiftly following

their interview. He hurried to Addison's office in the Lake

National.

" Have you heard the news? " exclaimed that individual, the moment

Cowperwood appeared. " They're planning to combine. It's Schryhart.

I was afraid of that. Simms of the Douglas Trust is going to act

as the fiscal agent. I had the information not ten minutes

ago. "

" So did I, " replied Cowperwood, calmly. " We should have acted a

little sooner. Still, it isn't our fault exactly. Do you know

the terms of agreement? "

" They're going to pool their stock on a basis of three to one,

with about thirty per cent. of the holding company left for

Schryhart to sell or keep, as he wants to. He guarantees the

interest. We did that for him--drove the game right into his bag. "

" Nevertheless, " replied Cowperwood, " he still has us to deal with.

I propose now that we go into the city council and ask for a

blanket franchise. It can be had. If we should get it, it will

bring them to their knees. We will really be in a better position

than they are with these smaller companies as feeders. We can

unite with ourselves. "

" That will take considerable money, won't it? "

" Not so much. We may never need to lay a pipe or build a plant.

They will offer to sell out, buy, or combine before that. We can

fix the terms. Leave it to me. You don't happen to know by

any chance this Mr. McKenty, who has so much say in local affairs

here--John J. McKenty? "

Cowperwood was referring to a man who was at once gambler, rumored

owner or controller of a series of houses of prostitution, rumored

maker of mayors and aldermen, rumored financial backer of many

saloons and contracting companies--in short, the patron saint of

the political and social underworld of Chicago, and who was naturally

to be reckoned with in matters which related to the city and state

legislative programme.

" I don't, " said Addison; " but I can get you a letter. Why? "

" Don't trouble to ask me that now. Get me as strong an introduction

as you can. "

" I'll have one for you to-day some time, " replied Addison,

efficiently. " I'll send it over to you. "

Cowperwood went out while Addison speculated as to this newest

move. Trust Cowperwood to dig a pit into which the enemy might

fall. He marveled sometimes at the man's resourcefulness. He

never quarreled with the directness and incisiveness of Cowperwood's

action.

The man, McKenty, whom Cowperwood had in mind in this rather

disturbing hour, was as interesting and forceful an individual as

one would care to meet anywhere, a typical figure of Chicago and

the West at the time. He was a pleasant, smiling, bland, affable

person, not unlike Cowperwood in magnetism and subtlety, but

different by a degree of animal coarseness (not visible on the

surface) which Cowperwood would scarcely have understood, and in

a kind of temperamental pull drawing to him that vast pathetic

life of the underworld in which his soul found its solution. There

is a kind of nature, not artistic, not spiritual, in no way

emotional, nor yet unduly philosophical, that is nevertheless a

sphered content of life; not crystalline, perhaps, and yet not

utterly dark--an agate temperament, cloudy and strange. As a

three-year-old child McKenty had been brought from Ireland by his

emigrant parents during a period of famine. He had been raised

on the far South Side in a shanty which stood near a maze of

railroad-tracks, and as a naked baby he had crawled on its earthen

floor. His father had been promoted to a section boss after working

for years as a day-laborer on the adjoining railroad, and John,

junior, one of eight other children, had been sent out early to

do many things--to be an errand-boy in a store, a messenger-boy

for a telegraph company, an emergency sweep about a saloon, and

finally a bartender. This last was his true beginning, for he

was discovered by a keen-minded politician and encouraged to run

for the state legislature and to study law. Even as a stripling

what things had he not learned--robbery, ballot-box stuffing, the

sale of votes, the appointive power of leaders, graft, nepotism,

vice exploitation--all the things that go to make up (or did) the

American world of politics and financial and social strife. There

is a strong assumption in the upper walks of life that there is

nothing to be learned at the bottom. If you could have looked

into the capacious but balanced temperament of John J. McKenty you

would have seen a strange wisdom there and stranger memories--whole

worlds of brutalities, tendernesses, errors, immoralities suffered,

endured, even rejoiced in--the hardy, eager life of the animal

that has nothing but its perceptions, instincts, appetites to guide

it. Yet the man had the air and the poise of a gentleman.

To-day, at forty-eight, McKenty was an exceedingly important

personage. His roomy house on the West Side, at Harrison Street

and Ashland Avenue, was visited at sundry times by financiers,

business men, office-holders, priests, saloon-keepers--in short,

the whole range and gamut of active, subtle, political life. From

McKenty they could obtain that counsel, wisdom, surety, solution

which all of them on occasion were anxious to have, and which in

one deft way and another--often by no more than gratitude and an

acknowledgment of his leadership--they were willing to pay for.

To police captains and officers whose places he occasionally saved,

when they should justly have been discharged; to mothers whose

erring boys or girls he took out of prison and sent home again;

to keepers of bawdy houses whom he protected from a too harsh

invasion of the grafting propensities of the local police; to

politicians and saloon-keepers who were in danger of being destroyed

by public upheavals of one kind and another, he seemed, in hours

of stress, when his smooth, genial, almost artistic face beamed on

them, like a heaven-sent son of light, a kind of Western god,

all-powerful, all-merciful, perfect. On the other hand, there

were ingrates, uncompromising or pharasaical religionists and

reformers, plotting, scheming rivals, who found him deadly to

contend with. There were many henchmen--runners from an almost

imperial throne--to do his bidding. He was simple in dress and

taste, married and (apparently) very happy, a professing though

virtually non-practising Catholic, a suave, genial Buddha-like

man, powerful and enigmatic.

When Cowperwood and McKenty first met, it was on a spring evening

at the latter's home. The windows of the large house were pleasantly

open, though screened, and the curtains were blowing faintly in a

light air. Along with a sense of the new green life everywhere

came a breath of stock-yards.

On the presentation of Addison's letter and of another, secured

through Van Sickle from a well-known political judge, Cowperwood

had been invited to call. On his arrival he was offered a drink,

a cigar, introduced to Mrs. McKenty--who, lacking an organized

social life of any kind, was always pleased to meet these celebrities

of the upper world, if only for a moment--and shown eventually

into the library. Mrs. McKenty, as he might have observed if he

had had the eye for it, was plump and fifty, a sort of superannuated

Aileen, but still showing traces of a former hardy beauty, and

concealing pretty well the evidences that she had once been a

prostitute. It so happened that on this particular evening McKenty

was in a most genial frame of mind. There were no immediate

political troubles bothering him just now. It was early in May.

Outside the trees were budding, the sparrows and robins were voicing

their several moods. A delicious haze was in the air, and some

early mosquitoes were reconnoitering the screens which protected

the windows and doors. Cowperwood, in spite of his various troubles,

was in a complacent state of mind himself. He liked life--even

its very difficult complications--perhaps its complications best

of all. Nature was beautiful, tender at times, but difficulties,

plans, plots, schemes to unravel and make smooth--these things

were what made existence worth while.

" Well now, Mr. Cowperwood, " McKenty began, when they finally entered

the cool, pleasant library, " what can I do for you? "

" Well, Mr. McKenty, " said Cowperwood, choosing his words and

bringing the finest resources of his temperament into play, " it

isn't so much, and yet it is. I want a franchise from the Chicago

city council, and I want you to help me get it if you will. I

know you may say to me why not go to the councilmen direct. I

would do that, except that there are certain other elements

--individuals--who might come to you. It won't offend you, I know,

when I say that I have always understood that you are a sort of

clearing-house for political troubles in Chicago. "

Mr. McKenty smiled. " That's flattering, " he replied, dryly.

" Now, I am rather new myself to Chicago, " went on Cowperwood,

softly. " I have been here only a year or two. I come from

Philadelphia. I have been interested as a fiscal agent and an

investor in several gas companies that have been organized in Lake

View, Hyde Park, and elsewhere outside the city limits, as you may

possibly have seen by the papers lately. I am not their owner,

in the sense that I have provided all or even a good part of the

money invested in them. I am not even their manager, except in a

very general way. I might better be called their promoter and

guardian; but I am that for other people and myself. "

Mr. McKenty nodded.

" Now, Mr. McKenty, it was not very long after I started out to get

franchises to do business in Lake View and Hyde Park before I found

myself confronted by the interests which control the three old

city gas companies. They were very much opposed to our entering

the field in Cook County anywhere, as you may imagine, although

we were not really crowding in on their field. Since then they

have fought me with lawsuits, injunctions, and charges of bribery

and conspiracy. "

" I know, " put in Mr. McKenty. " I have heard something of it. "

" Quite so, " replied Cowperwood. " Because of their opposition I

made them an offer to combine these three companies and the three

new ones into one, take out a new charter, and give the city a

uniform gas service. They would not do that--largely because I

was an outsider, I think. Since then another person, Mr.

Schryhart" --McKenty nodded--" who has never had anything to do with

the gas business here, has stepped in and offered to combine them.

His plan is to do exactly what I wanted to do; only his further

proposition is, once he has the three old companies united, to

invade this new gas field of ours and hold us up, or force us to

sell by obtaining rival franchises in these outlying places. There

is talk of combining these suburbs with Chicago, as you know, which

would allow these three down-town franchises to become mutually

operative with our own. This makes it essential for us to do one

of several things, as you may see--either to sell out on the best

terms we can now, or to continue the fight at a rather heavy expense

without making any attempt to strike back, or to get into the city

council and ask for a franchise to do business in the down-town

section--a general blanket franchise to sell gas in Chicago alongside

of the old companies--with the sole intention of protecting ourselves,

as one of my officers is fond of saying, " added Cowperwood, humorously.

McKenty smiled again. " I see, " he said. " Isn't that a rather

large order, though, Mr. Cowperwood, seeking a new franchise? Do

you suppose the general public would agree that the city needs an

extra gas company? It's true the old companies haven't been any

too generous. My own gas isn't of the best. " He smiled vaguely,

prepared to listen further.

" Now, Mr. McKenty, I know that you are a practical man, " went on

Cowperwood, ignoring this interruption, " and so am I. I am not

coming to you with any vague story concerning my troubles and

expecting you to be interested as a matter of sympathy. I realize

that to go into the city council of Chicago with a legitimate

proposition is one thing. To get it passed and approved by the

city authorities is another. I need advice and assistance, and I

am not begging it. If I could get a general franchise, such as I

have described, it would be worth a very great deal of money to

me. It would help me to close up and realize on these new companies

which are entirely sound and needed. It would help me to prevent

the old companies from eating me up. As a matter of fact, I must

have such a franchise to protect my interests and give me a running

fighting chance. Now, I know that none of us are in politics or

finance for our health. If I could get such a franchise it would

be worth from one-fourth to one-half of all I personally would

make out of it, providing my plan of combining these new companies

with the old ones should go through--say, from three to four hundred

thousand dollars. " (Here again Cowperwood was not quite frank, but

safe. ) " It is needless to say to you that I can command ample

capital. This franchise would do that. Briefly, I want to know

if you won't give me your political support in this matter and join

in with me on the basis that I propose? I will make it perfectly

clear to you beforehand who my associates are. I will put all the

data and details on the table before you so that you can see for

yourself how things are. If you should find at any time that I

have misrepresented anything you are at full liberty, of course,

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