Miss Kirkman opened her book again for a few minutes, and then the convention adjourned.
"I wish you'd find out, Miss Kirkman," said Hamilton a couple of days later, "just what firm that young Elkins works for."
"I have already done that. I thought you'd want to know," and she handed him a card.
"Ah, yes," he said. "I have some business relations with that firm. I know them very well. Miss Anderson," he called to his stenographer, "will you kindly take a letter for me. By the way, Miss Kirkman, I have placed Mr. Aldrich. He will have his appointment in a few days."
"Oh, thank you, Mr. Hamilton; is there anything more I can do for you?"
"Nothing. Good-morning."
"Good-morning."
A week later in his Ohio home William Elkins was surprised to be notified by his employers that they were cutting down forces, and would need his services no longer. He wrote at once to his friend Gray to know if there was any chance for him in Washington, and received the answer that Gray could hardly hold his own, as great pressure was being put upon him to force him to resign.
"I think," wrote Gray, "that the same hand is at the bottom of all our misfortunes. This is Hamilton's method."