"Just a little more information, boys, something to show meetings between Gibson and Cummings or communications between them and we'll be ready to open fire," said the publisher.
A week later Gibson summoned Brennan and John to his office.
"How are you, boys?" he asked smiling. "I called you up here because I have something to give you."
He handed them a slip of paper. It was a check—his personal check—for $1,000. The space where the name of the recipient should appear was blank.
"This means——" began Brennan.
"It means that I'm a candidate for mayor," said Gibson. "Remember, I promised you I'd donate $1,000 to charity the minute I became a candidate for any public office. What shall it be?"
"The Children's hospital," said Brennan.
Gibson seated himself at his desk and wrote in the name, blotted it carefully and tossed it toward them on the table.
* * * * *
The formal announcement of Gibson's candidacy, which he gave to Brennan and John immediately after turning over to them the check for $1,000, made out to the Children's hospital, followed the lines foretold by Brennan when he predicted the commissioner's entry in the mayoralty race.