ose too poor to belong to the more
exclusive organizations. As long as they are performing these
functions in an orderly way, why inquire as to the hour?"

"That seems reasonable," said Fatty. "And about how long ought a man
to have to slow up an' stop performin' functions, do you think?"

"Well," said Mr. Brassfield, "there isn't much doing in the way of
business, say from two to five A. M., is there?"

"No," said Mr. Pierson, "not much. But on special occasions----?"

"I shall do the right thing," said Brassfield.

"An' you wouldn't feel obliged," queried Pierson, "to start any
detectives out spyin' upon the uses we put our second stories to, or
the kind of tenants we have?"

"Not at all," said Brassfield. "I shan't disturb things. Alvord can
tell you that. What I want is the policy that is best for the property
owners; and things as they are are good enough for me. Is that
satisfactory?"

"Well, I should smile!" said Mr. Pierson. "And now, gentlemen, before
we go an' begin work for the caucuses to-morrow, in the interests of
our friend here, I propose a toast to Mr. Eugene Brassfield, who will
be the best mayor Bellevale ever had!"

"You've got to give me a bed to-night," said Brassfield, as the last of
the delegations Alvord had brought to the Turkish room retired in
apparent satisfaction. "I don't care to go to my rooms--there are too
many folks up there at the hotel who seem anxious to see me. And I
want to be where I can talk the situation over with you."

"Glad to have you," said Alvord. "Come on, and we'll turn in. As for
the situation, how can you improve it? If Conlon and Sheehan and
Zalinsky can't control these caucuses, I'm mistaken. Put them along
with the saloons and the others that depend on police permission for
existence, and you've got a dead open-and-shut."

As they walked along the street they noticed a motley crowd emerging
from a public house and moving in a body to another, seemingly under
the leadership of a little man with Jewish features. Alvord took
Brassfield's arm and hurried him on.

"You see what Edgington's up to?" asked Brassfield. "He's got Abe
Meyer out taking the crowd down the line in McCorkle's interest. I
wonder if they won't turn things over somewhat."

"Turn nothing!" said Alvord. "They'll make the noise to-night; we'll
have the votes to-morrow night. The boys'll rake in McCorkle's money
now, and in the morning the word will be passed that the be