time only to exchange
greetings with him--to "keep in touch"--you passed through the City
Hall now and then at his hour. Some bosses soon grow too proud for the
vulgar democracy of such a public stand; but Kelly, partly through
shrewdness, partly through inclination, clung to the City Hall stand
and encouraged the humblest citizens to seek him there and tell him the
news or ask his aid or his advice.

It was at the City Hall that Davy Hull sought him, and found him.

Twice he walked briskly to the boss; the third time he went by slowly.
Kelly, who saw everything, had known from the first glance at Hull's
grave, anxious face, that the young leader of the "holy boys" was there
to see him. But he ignored Davy until Davy addressed him directly.

"Howdy, Mr. Hull!" said he, observing the young man with eyes that
twinkled cynically. "What's the good word?"

"I want to have a little talk with you," Davy blurted out. "Where could
I see you?"

"Here I am," said Kelly. "Talk away."

"Couldn't I see you at some--some place where we'd not be interrupted?
I saw Victor Dorn yesterday, and he said some things that I think you
ought to know about."

"I do know about 'em," replied Kelly.

"Are you sure? I mean his threats to--to----"

As Davy paused in an embarrassed search for a word that would not hurt
his own but recently soothed conscience, Kelly laughed. "To expose you
holy boys?" inquired he. "To upset the nice moral campaign you and Joe
House have laid out? Yes, I know all about Mr. Victor Dorn. But--Joe
House is the man you want to see. You boys are trying to do me
up--trying to break up the party. You can't expect ME to help you.
I've got great respect for you personally, Mr. Hull. Your father--he
was a fine old Republican wheel-horse. He stood by the party through
thick and thin--and the party stood by him. So, I respect his
son--personally. But politically--that's another matter. Politically I
respect straight organization men of either party, but I've got no use
for amateurs and reformers. So--go to Joe House." All this in perfect
good humor, and in a tone of banter that might have ruffled a man with
a keener sense of humor than Davy's.

Davy was red to his eyes, not because Kelly was laughing at him, but
because he stood convicted of such a stupid political blunder as coming
direct to Kelly when obviously he should have gone to Kelly's secret
partner. "Dorn means to attack us all--Republicans, D