r.
Sluss gave out an interview in which he served warning on all aldermen
and councilmen that no such ordinance as the one in question would ever
be signed by him as mayor.

At half past ten on the same morning on which the interview
appeared--the hour at which Mr. Sluss usually reached his office--his
private telephone bell rang, and an assistant inquired if he would be
willing to speak with Mr. Frank A. Cowperwood. Mr. Sluss, somehow
anticipating fresh laurels of victory, gratified by the front-page
display given his announcement in the morning papers, and swelling
internally with civic pride, announced, solemnly: "Yes; connect me."

"Mr. Sluss," began Cowperwood, at the other end, "this is Frank A.
Cowperwood."

"Yes. What can I do for you, Mr. Cowperwood?"

"I see by the morning papers that you state that you will have nothing
to do with any proposed ordinance which looks to giving me a franchise
for any elevated road on the North or West Side?"

"That is quite true," replied Mr. Sluss, loftily. "I will not."

"Don't you think it is rather premature, Mr. Sluss, to denounce
something which has only a rumored existence?" (Cowperwood, smiling
sweetly to himself, was quite like a cat playing with an unsuspicious
mouse.) "I should like very much to talk this whole matter over with
you personally before you take an irrevocable attitude. It is just
possible that after you have heard my side you may not be so completely
opposed to me. From time to time I have sent to you several of my
personal friends, but apparently you do not care to receive them."

"Quite true," replied Mr. Sluss, loftily; "but you must remember that I
am a very busy man, Mr. Cowperwood, and, besides, I do not see how I
can serve any of your purposes. You are working for a set of
conditions to which I am morally and temperamentally opposed. I am
working for another. I do not see that we have any common ground on
which to meet. In fact, I do not see how I can be of any service to
you whatsoever."

"Just a moment, please, Mr. Mayor," replied Cowperwood, still very
sweetly, and fearing that Sluss might choose to hang up the receiver,
so superior was his tone. "There may be some common ground of which
you do not know. Wouldn't you like to come to lunch at my residence or
receive me at yours? Or let me come to your office and talk this matter
over. I believe you will find it the part of wisdom as well as of
courtesy to do this."

"I can