of it," she conceded.

"And if I hadn't piqued you by thinking of it, too, you'd never have
lingered on any other side of it," said he. "Well! Now that we've
cleared the ground--there's Davy. He's to be nominated by the
Republicans for Governor next week."

"Davy? I had almost forgotten him. I'll think of Davy--and let you
know ... And you? Who is there for you?"

"Oh--no one you know. My sister has recommended several girls from
time to time. I'll see."

Jane gave the freest and heartiest laugh that had passed her lips in
more than a year. It was thus free and unrestrained because he had not
said what she was fearing he would say--had not suggested the woman
nearest him, the obvious woman. So eager was she to discover what he
thought of Selma, that she could hardly restrain herself from
suggesting her. Before they could say anything more, two men came to
talk with him. Jane could not but leave.

She dined that night at Mrs. Sherlock's--Mrs. Sherlock was Davy's
oldest sister. Davy took her in, they talked--about his
career--through dinner, and he walked home with her in the moonlight.
He was full of his approaching nomination. He had been making what is
known as a good record, as mayor. That is, he had struck out boldly at
sundry petty abuses practised by a low and comparatively uninfluential
class of exploiters of the people. He had been so busy with these
showy trifles that there had been no time for the large abuses. True,
he had publicly warned the gas company about its poor gas, and the
water company about its unwholesome water for the low-lying tenement
districts, and the traction company about the fewness and filthiness of
its cars. The gas company had talked of putting in improved machinery;
the water company had invited estimates on a filtration plant; the
traction company had said a vague something about new cars as soon as
car manufacturers could make definite promises as to delivery. But
nothing had been done--as yet. Obviously a corporation, a large
investment of capital, must be treated with consideration. It would
not do for a conservative, fair minded mayor to rush into demagogery.
So, Davy was content to point proudly to his record of having "made the
big corporations awaken to a sense of their duty." An excellent
record, as good as a reform politician, with a larger career in
prospect, could be expected to make. People spoke well of Mayor Hull
and the three daily papers eul