"I want to talk with you alone," he said when she had taken her seat. "Can't you send the others out?" She was surprised at the request and started to say that her private secretary must be present at all interviews; when she thought better of it and motioned the stenographer and Miss Snow to go out. "Now we can talk business," said the man, drawing his chair up closer. "See here, my name is McAlister. I've the contract for laying out the avenue from Hayden Park to the Boulevard." "And you are doing the work?" asked Gertrude. "Yes, I'm doing the work all right," returned McAlister. "But this smart Alec you have in the law department may make trouble--and expense for the city," he added. "Just how, Mr. McAlister?" asked Gertrude so smoothly as to cause the big contractor to take fresh courage. "Well, you know when a lawyer is put into a public position--city solicitor or district attorney, or whatever--the first thing he does is to look for something that he can rip up the back." "And what is the matter with your contract?" Her tones were dulcet now. "Nothing at all. My contract is all right," replied the man. "But Armstrong is putting up a bluff and threatens to have it overhauled." "But why?" persisted the mayor. "Now look here, your Honor," urged the man confidentially. "Your father was a politician. He knew all the tricks of the trade. He made his pile all right, one way or another." "Mr. McAlister!" Gertrude's voice had a new note. "O, hold yourself close, now," said he. "No harm meant. Senator Van Deusen was as fine a man as Roma ever produced. And if I didn't vote for you--it wasn't because I wouldn't do anything for his daughter. But now,--well, let's make it a mutual thing. You protect me and my interests and I'll stick by you, and where I go, there go several hundred other good voters." "The scoundrel!" said Gertrude to her inmost soul. But she did not change countenance. "Well, I will look into the matter," she replied. "If your contract is all right--and you say it is--the city will certainly stand by you. Of course I could not promise anything more definite than that now. But I will look into the matter and advise Mr. Armstrong." "O, don't take your time to look up a contract a year old," said McAlister. "It won't be worth your while. Take my word,--the word of one who worked night and day for your father,--and just call Armstrong off. He'll find enough in the bridge department to keep him busy, if he must stir things up anywhere." "I will speak to Mr. Armstrong," said Gertrude, rising and pushing the electric button as a signal for the others to return. There was nothing for McAlister to do but depart, wondering just how much he had gained by the interview. "If she goes to looking into old contracts--" he muttered as he went down the stairs--and then whistled sharply. When he was well out of sight, Gertrude sent for Bailey Armstrong.