"There will never be one that will grace the office more completely," returned the stranger gallantly. "Although, you will say that a mayor of either sex should not be chosen for graciousness alone." "That is what I was about to say," said Gertrude. "But I am glad you recognize that firmer qualities are necessary, Mr.--Pardon me, did you give me your name?" "Perhaps not," was the suave reply. "I am Orlando Vickery. I represent the Boulevard Railway Co." Gertrude mastered her astonishment. This elegant person, then, was the man who was accused of trying to push his franchise through City Hall, illegally. "I called to talk over matters with you," he was saying. "I feel that if you were to understand our position exactly, what we hope to do for the public, what we intend to do for the development of the city, I might persuade you that our cause is a just one--that we are entitled to all we ask and that, really, we are making a most liberal arrangement for the city." "I do not fully understand just what you want to do," admitted the mayor. "Won't you explain?" He did so at considerable length, entering into a voluble account of the proposed railroad and its expected earnings, and detailing at some length the advantages to that part of Roma which the proposed line would open up. "But you know, of course, that the citizens of that section of the city are opposed to having your railway go through it?" asked the Mayor when he finally stopped. "But they are short-sighted, blind," urged the man. "Now look here," lowering his voice. "We want you with us. I am prepared to offer you a bonus of $10,000 the day you sign our franchise." "Mr. Vickery!" cried Gertrude. "Fifteen, then--twenty thousand," he urged, oblivious to the look on her face. "And, yes, I can make you a shareholder in the system,--and our Railway will be a winner, as I have shown you--" "Mr. Vickery!" the Mayor rose to her full height. "We may as well terminate this interview. I could not think of accepting anything of the sort. Understand, once for all, that I am not to be bought." "Tut, tut, my dear lady," answered Vickery suavely, "I might have known better than to have presented my proposition to any woman--but you are an advanced woman, one who knows the ways of the world. I had presumed you knew something of the ways of politics." "Mr. Vickery," said she, softening under a new idea; "tell me, is it customary for officials with whom you have had similar dealings to,--well, to be made shareholders in the concern?--And these little arrangements of which you speak.--should I be doing an unprecedented thing if I were to accede to your proposition?" "Now you're talking like a sensible woman--a woman who has some idea of running municipal affairs in a business way," the man replied. "While I do not wish to violate any confidences,--I may say you will not find yourself the first, nor the second official who is 'in it,' with the Boulevard Railway scheme."