"Now we can talk business," said the man, drawing his chair up closer. "See here, my name is McAlister. I've the contract for laying out the avenue from Hayden Park to the Boulevard."
"And you are doing the work?" asked Gertrude.
"Yes, I'm doing the work all right," returned McAlister. "But this smart Alec you have in the law department may make trouble—and expense for the city," he added.
"Just how, Mr. McAlister?" asked Gertrude so smoothly as to cause the big contractor to take fresh courage.
"Well, you know when a lawyer is put into a public position—city solicitor or district attorney, or whatever—the first thing he does is to look for something that he can rip up the back."
"And what is the matter with your contract?" Her tones were dulcet now.
"Nothing at all. My contract is all right," replied the man. "But Armstrong is putting up a bluff and threatens to have it overhauled."
"But why?" persisted the mayor.
"Now look here, your Honor," urged the man confidentially. "Your father was a politician. He knew all the tricks of the trade. He made his pile all right, one way or another."
"Mr. McAlister!" Gertrude's voice had a new note.