"Then," I said, "why not educate the young politicians? Get to know Rafferty—he's young and simple and honest now. Help him to advance honestly and keep him that way."
He shook his head doubtfully but he agreed to have a talk with Dan. In the meanwhile I had a talk with Dan myself. I told him what my scheme was.
"Dan," I said, "you must decide right at the beginning of your career whether you're going to be just a tool of Sweeney's or whether you're going to stand on your own feet."
"Phot's the mather with Sweeney, now?" he asked.
"In some ways he's all right," I said. "And in other ways he isn't. But anyhow he's your boss and you have to do what he tells you to do just as though he was your landlord back in Ireland and you nothing but a tenant."
"Eh?" he said looking up quick.
I thought I'd strike a sore spot there and I made the most of it. I talked along like this for a half hour and I saw his lips come together.
"He'd knife me," he said finally. "He's sore now 'cause I'm afther wantin' to run for the council this year."
I had heard the rumor.
"Then," I said, "why don't you pull free and make a little machine of your own. Some of the boys will stand by you, won't they?"