"Oh, yes, I remember now, you did have that," said Brassfield. "Well, that was fairly well done. Come up and figure with me, and I believe we can make a deal." "Thank ye kindly, Mr. Brassfield," said Conlon, all his obsequiousness returning. "Thank ye! Annything new in politics, Mr. Brassfield?" "I don't know a thing," said Brassfield. "I'm so busy with other things, you know----" "It'll be a great honor," said Conlon, "or so I should take it, to be the mare of the city, an' the master of the fine new house an' all that'll be in it, all this same spring!" "Yes, Conlon, yes--but as to the office--I don't know about that." "They can't bate you," asseverated Conlon promptly. "Oh, I don't know," demurred Brassfield. "You can't always tell." "We're wid ye, to a man," asserted Conlon unhesitatingly, growing warmer. "The common people are wid ye!" "I'm glad to hear that," said Brassfield, "very glad. But business first; and this pipe-line is business. Of course, if the people demand it----" "They will!" "--why, I may---- I'll see, Conlon. Anyhow, I appreciate your friendship. Come up and see me." And the candidate for mayor walked away, wondering how he could have offended Conlon, and rejoiced that he had "fixed" him in time. "Where's the telegram?" he asked, as he entered his private office. "Why, Stevens might have attended to this. Where's Mr. Stevens? Miss Strong, send Mr. Stevens in!" "Mr. Stevens!" gasped Miss Strong. "Mr. Stevens--why----" "Oh, I mean where does he live now? I heard he was moving. And by sending him in, I mean, if you happen to meet him," hastily amended Mr. Brassfield, noting some error. "I want to see him. And show me his account, please; and kindly ring for a boy to take this message." The books showed the discharge of Mr. Stevens, and the closing of his account. Brassfield frowned over it, but resumed his smile at Miss Strong's re-entrance. "Let's see," said he. "What have we for this afternoon? These unanswered--Why, Miss Strong, these must be attended to at once! Please take some letters for me." He had dropped into his rut. For an hour or more Miss Strong's fingers flew as she noted down his dictation, and at the end of that time the letters were answered, and the communications which had so perplexed Amidon were filed away among other things done. The office force breathed freely once more, with the freedom of returning efficiency in management. The man who had brought this relief to his employees now looked at his watch, rose, went out, and walking briskly down the main street, nodding to an acquaintance here, and speaking to another there, made his way out among the homes of the town.