"Possibly," she answered thoughtfully. "I used to have a good deal of influence over Newton when he lived in our cottage as a boy. Don't you remember--I got him to go to school regularly, and saved him from the truant officer's clutches on two or three occasions?" "He used to swear by you," said Bailey. "Couldn't you manage to see him now, and get him to talk?" "Get him to confess, if you can," added Joyce. "Offer him immunity if he will tell you all he knows--and I suspect that is a good deal." "Yes, I'll do that," answered the mayor. "I'll telephone now to his place and ask him to come over and see me." They talked on for another half-hour, and when the two men left, their plans were all made. Gertrude and Mary Snow were to appear at the court house next morning, both ready to give valuable testimony against the grafters, testimony which would convict them out of Vickery's own mouth. When she was alone, Gertrude at once took up her telephone and called up Newton Fitzgerald's saloon. "Is Mr. Fitzgerald in?" she asked. "He has just stepped out," was the answer. "Tell him, when he comes in, to please call at the mayor's office before he goes home," replied Gertrude, "Miss Van Deusen wishes to speak with him." She hung up her receiver and turned back to the duties of her desk. It was nearly five o'clock before she heard anything further. Then her telephone rang and a strange voice came over the wire. "Mr. Fitzgerald has fallen and sprained his knee. He has to be put to bed, but wants to know if you won't come to see him tonight. He wants to talk with you about the investigation--has something to tell you." "Where does he live?" asked the mayor. "In the Sutherland," was the reply, "the big apartment building back of the American House." "Very well. Tell him I will be there with Miss Snow at eight o'clock," she answered; and then she called Mary Snow and told her of the appointment. "Don't you think we ought to take someone else along?--a man--Bailey Armstrong, say?" "O, no," returned the Mayor, confidently. "Fitzgerald would not talk before him--or any other man--in my opinion. He was a peculiar boy, but I could manage him. It will be better for us to go alone--and quietly. We won't even take the carriage. I'll come down on the car at a quarter before eight and meet you at Harne's drug store. Then we'll just go quietly up to Fitzgerald's flat. I know his wife." "Very well," said Mary. If she did not feel quite satisfied with the plan, it was not for her to question the mayor's authority, and she said no more.