The development of Cowperwood as Cowperwood & Co.

following his arresting bond venture, finally brought him into relationship with one man who was to play an important part in his life, morally, financially, and in other ways.

This was George W.Stener, the new city treasurer-elect, who, to begin with, was a puppet in the hands of other men, but who, also in spite of this fact, became a personage of considerable importance, for the simple reason that he was weak.

Stener had been engaged in the real estate and insurance business in a small way before he was made city treasurer.

He was one of those men, of whom there are so many thousands in every large community, with no breadth of vision, no real subtlety, no craft, no great skill in anything.