Chapter XXXIX
In the meanwhile the day of Cowperwood’s trial was drawing near. He was
Under the impression that an attempt was going to be made to convict him
Whether the facts warranted it or not. He did not see any way out of
His dilemma, however, unless it was to abandon everything and leave
Philadelphia for good, which was impossible. The only way to guard his
Future and retain his financial friends was to stand trial as quickly as
Possible, and trust them to assist him to his feet in the future in
Case he failed. He discussed the possibilities of an unfair trial with
Steger, who did not seem to think that there was so much to that. In the
First place, a jury could not easily be suborned by any one. In the next
Place, most judges were honest, in spite of their political cleavage,
And would go no further than party bias would lead them in their rulings
And opinions, which was, in the main, not so far. The particular judge
Who was to sit in this case, one Wilbur Payderson, of the Court of
Quarter Sessions, was a strict party nominee, and as such beholden to
Mollenhauer, Simpson, and Butler; but, in so far as Steger had ever
Heard, he was an honest man.
“What I can’t understand,” said Steger, “is why these fellows should be
So anxious to punish you, unless it is for the effect on the State at
Large. The election’s over. I understand there’s a movement on now to
Get Stener out in case he is convicted, which he will be. They have to
Try him. He won’t go up for more than a year, or two or three, and if
He does he’ll be pardoned out in half the time or less. It would be the
Same in your case, if you were convicted. They couldn’t keep you in and
Let him out. But it will never get that far – take my word for it. We’ll
Win before a jury, or we’ll
reverse the judgment of conviction before
The State Supreme Court, certain. Those five judges up there are not
Going to sustain any such poppycock idea as this.”
Steger actually believed what he said, and Cowperwood was pleased. Thus
Far the young lawyer had done excellently well in all of his cases.
Still, he did not like the idea of being hunted down by Butler. It was a
Serious matter, and one of which Steger was totally unaware. Cowperwood
Could never quite forget that in listening to his lawyer’s optimistic
Assurances.
The actual beginning of the trial found almost all of the inhabitants
Of this city of six hundred thousand “keyed up.” None of the women of
Cowperwood’s family were coming into court. He had insisted that there
Should be no family demonstration for the newspapers to comment upon.
His father was coming, for he might be needed as a witness. Aileen
Had written him the afternoon before saying she had returned from West
Chester and wishing him luck. She was so anxious to know what was
To become of him that she could not stay away any longer and had
Returned – not to go to the courtroom, for he did not want her to do
That, but to be as near as possible when his fate was decided, adversely
Or otherwise. She wanted to run and congratulate him if he won, or to
Console with him if he lost. She felt that her return would be likely to
Precipitate a collision with her father, but she could not help that.
The position of Mrs. Cowperwood was most anomalous. She had to go
Through the formality of seeming affectionate and tender, even when she
Knew that Frank did not want her to be. He felt instinctively now that
She knew of Aileen. He was merely awaiting the proper hour in which to
Spread the whole matter before her.
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