He need not be advertised as having
withdrawn. They would be content to have him achieve the glory of having
done what he started out to do. Just the same the example was bad.
Others might wish to imitate him. If it were known in the street
privately that he had been coerced, for a consideration, into giving up,
others would be deterred from imitating him in the future. Besides, if
he refused, they could cause him trouble. His loans might be called.
Various banks might not be so friendly in the future. His constituents
might be warned against him in one way or another.
Cowperwood saw the point. He acquiesced. It was something to have
brought so many high and mighties to their knees. So they knew of him!
They were quite well aware of him! Well and good. He would take the
award and twenty thousand or thereabouts and withdraw. The State
treasurer was delighted. It solved a ticklish proposition for him.
"I'm glad to have seen you," he said. "I'm glad we've met. I'll drop
in and talk with you some time when I'm down this way. We'll have lunch
together."
The State treasurer, for some odd reason, felt that Mr.
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