He hurried down the street to various bankers and brokers suggesting that they do this—close 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 refuse—to 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 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.