ted under lowering
brows. He had always been associated with a more or less silk-stocking
crew who were unused to the rough usage of back-room saloon politics,
yet every one suspected vaguely, of course, at times that ballot-boxes
were stuffed and ward lodging-houses colonized. Every one (at least
every one of any worldly intelligence) knew that political capital was
collected from office-seekers, office-holders, beneficiaries of all
sorts and conditions under the reigning city administration. Mr. Hand
had himself contributed to the Republican party for favors received or
about to be. As a man who had been compelled to handle large affairs
in a large way he was not inclined to quarrel with this. Three hundred
thousand dollars was a large sum, and he was not inclined to subscribe
it alone, but fancied that at his recommendation and with his advice it
could be raised. Was Gilgan the man to fight Cowperwood? He looked him
over and decided--other things being equal--that he was. And forthwith
the bargain was struck. Gilgan, as a Republican central
committeeman--chairman, possibly--was to visit every ward, connect up
with every available Republican force, pick strong, suitable
anti-Cowperwood candidates, and try to elect them, while he, Hand,
organized the money element and collected the necessary cash. Gilgan
was to be given money personally. He was to have the undivided if
secret support of all the high Republican elements in the city. His
business was to win at almost any cost. And as a reward he was to have
the Republican support for Congress, or, failing that, the practical
Republican leadership in city and county.

"Anyhow," said Hand, after Mr. Gilgan finally took his departure,
"things won't be so easy for Mr. Cowperwood in the future as they were
in the past. And when it comes to getting his franchises renewed, if
I'm alive, we'll see whether he will or not."

The heavy financier actually growled a low growl as he spoke out loud
to himself. He felt a boundless rancor toward the man who had, as he
supposed, alienated the affections of his smart young wife.

Chapter XXXV

A Political Agreement

In the first and second wards of Chicago at this time--wards including
the business heart, South Clark Street, the water-front, the
river-levee, and the like--were two men, Michael (alias Smiling Mike)
Tiernan and Patrick (alias Emerald Pat) Kerrigan, who, for
picturequeness of character and sordidnes