"O, hold yourself close, now," said he. "No harm meant. Senator Van Deusen was as fine a man as Roma ever produced. And if I didn't vote for you—it wasn't because I wouldn't do anything for his daughter. But now,—well, let's make it a mutual thing. You protect me and my interests and I'll stick by you, and where I go, there go several hundred other good voters."
"The scoundrel!" said Gertrude to her inmost soul. But she did not change countenance.
"Well, I will look into the matter," she replied. "If your contract is all right—and you say it is—the city will certainly stand by you. Of course I could not promise anything more definite than that now. But I will look into the matter and advise Mr. Armstrong."
"O, don't take your time to look up a contract a year old," said McAlister. "It won't be worth your while. Take my word,—the word of one who worked night and day for your father,—and just call Armstrong off. He'll find enough in the bridge department to keep him busy, if he must stir things up anywhere."
"I will speak to Mr. Armstrong," said Gertrude, rising and pushing the electric button as a signal for the others to return. There was nothing for McAlister to do but depart, wondering just how much he had gained by the interview.
"If she goes to looking into old contracts—" he muttered as he went down the stairs—and then whistled sharply.
When he was well out of sight, Gertrude sent for Bailey Armstrong.
"What are you doing to one McAlister?" she asked. "A street contractor, I believe he is."
"Nothing, as yet. Why?" asked the city attorney.
"Well, he's just left me," replied the mayor. "Says you are going to 'rip his contract up the back,'—to quote him literally."