"Ah, I think I understand! One of the estimable gentlemen who have been coming to us by the way of the Mexican border of late! When you picked up such a good command of our language, my friend, it's too bad you didn't pick up a better understanding of our country. I haven't any time just now to give you an idea of it, sir. I'll have a talk with you to-morrow." The mayor had seen Officer Rellihan at the door of the hall. As a satellite, Rellihan was constant in his attendance on his controlling luminary in public places, even though the luminary issued no special orders to that effect; Morrison's intended visit to the hall had been quickly advertised down-town. Stewart glanced about him and found Rellihan at his elbow. "Here's the honorable ambassador of Soviet Russia, Rellihan," said his chief. "Take him along with you, keep harm from him on the way, and see that he is well lodged for the night in a place where enemies can't get at him." "I know just the right place, Your Honor," stated the policeman, pulling his club from his belt and waving it to part the throng. Morrison broke in upon Lanigan's mumbled threats. "Mind your manners, Joe!" "But he hit you!" The mayor picked up his garments, one by one, inspected them, and dusted them with his palm; then he pulled them on. The crowd gazed at him. "He hit you!" Lanigan insisted, bellicosely. "When a man hits me, I lick him!" "You're a good fighter, Joe," agreed His Honor, running his forearm about his silk hat to smooth the nap. "But let me tell you something! Unless you put yourself in better shape there'll be a fellow some day that you'll want to lick, and you won't be able to lick him, and you'll be almighty sorry because you can't turn the trick." "Show me the feller, Mister Mayor!" "Go look in the glass, Joe." "Lick myself--is that what you mean, sir?" "Sure! If you can do it when it ought to be done, you'll have the right to feel rather proud of yourself." He invited Blanchard with a side wag of his head and led the way from the hall. "Morrison, let me say this," blurted the mill magnate, when they were on their way in the limousine. "By reason of this people-side-partner notion of yours, you have gone to work and got yourself into an infernal fix. How do you expect to make good that promise?" "I suppose I did sound rather boastful, but I had to put it strong. A mealy-mouthed promise wouldn't hold them in line!" "But that promise only encourages such muckers in the belief that they have a right to demand, to boss their betters, to call for accountings and concessions. You have put the devil into 'em!" "I hope not! Faith in a contract--that's what I tried to put into 'em. They'll wait and let me operate!" "Operate! You're one man against the whole state government and you're defying single-handed the political powers! You can't deliver the goods! That gang down-town will wait about so long and then 'twill be hell to pay to-night!"