t do anything else."

"I'm not so sure of that," replied Kelly, who was wise enough to
realize the value of a bogey like Dorn--its usefulness for purposes of
"throwing a scare into the silk-stocking crowd." "Dorn's getting mighty
strong with the people."

"Stuff and nonsense!" retorted Hastings. "They'll listen to any slick
tongued rascal that roasts those that are more prosperous than they
are. But when it comes to doing anything, they know better. They envy
and hate those that give them jobs, but they need the jobs."

"There's a good deal of truth in that, Mr. Hastings," said Kelly, who
was nothing if not judicial. "But Dorn's mighty plausible. I hear
sensible men saying there's something more'n hot air in his facts and
figgures." Kelly paused, and made the pause significant.

"About that last block of traction stock, Mr. Hastings. I thought you
were going to let me in on the ground floor. But I ain't heard
nothing."

"You ARE in," said Hastings, who knew when to yield. "Hasn't Barker
been to see you? I'll attend to it, myself."

"Thank you, Mr. Hastings," said Kelly--dry and brief as always when
receipting with a polite phrase for pay for services rendered. "I've
been a good friend to your people."

"Yes, you have, Dick," said the old man heartily. "And I want you to
jump in and take charge."

Hastings more than suspected that Kelly, to bring him to terms and to
force him to employ directly the high-priced Kelly or
Republico-Democratic machine as well as the State Republico-Democratic
machine, which was cheaper, had got together the inside information and
had ordered one of his henchmen to convey it to Dorn. But of what use
to quarrel with Kelly? Of course, he could depose him; but that would
simply mean putting another boss in his place--perhaps one more
expensive and less efficient. The time had been when he--and the
plutocracy generally--were compelled to come to the political bosses
almost hat in hand. That time was past, never to return. But still a
competent political agent was even harder to find than a competent
business manager--and was far more necessary; for, while a big business
might stagger along under poor financial or organizing management
within, it could not live at all without political favors, immunities,
and licenses. A band of pickpockets might as well try to work a town
without having first "squared" the police. Not that Mr. Hastings and
his friends THEMSELVES compa