"You must always remember the welfare of the party,"--gently. "And the people," supplemented the admonished one. "Of course,"--with thin lips. "But Murphy's name must stand. We depend upon the eighth ward to elect you, and Murphy holds it in his palm. Your friend Williard will be forced to accept Matthews for the same reason. It's a game of chess, but a great game." "Matthews? I don't believe it. Williard would not speak to him on the street, let alone put him on the ticket." "Wait and see." "He's a blackleg, a gambler, worse than Murphy." "And what is your grievance against Murphy? He has always served the party well." "Not to speak of Mr. Murphy." "What has he done?" "He has sold his vote three times in the common council. He sold it once for two thousand dollars in that last pavement deal. I have been rather observant. Let him remain alderman; I can not see my way clear to appoint him to a position in the city hall." McDermott's eyes narrowed. "Your accusations are grave. If Murphy learns, he may make you prove it." Carrington remained silent for a few minutes, his face in thoughtful repose; then having decided to pursue a certain course, he reached into a pigeon-hole of his desk and selected a paper which he gave to McDermott. The latter studied the paper carefully. From the paper his glance traveled to the face of the young man opposite him. He wondered why he hadn't taken more particular notice of the cleft chin and the blue-gray eyes. Had he made a mistake? Was the young fellow's honesty greater than his ambition? McDermott returned the paper without comment. "Is that proof enough?" Carrington asked, a bit of raillery in his tones. "You should have told me of this long ago." "I hadn't the remotest idea that Murphy's name would turn up. You can very well understand that I can not consider this man's name as an appointee." "Why hasn't it been turned over to the district attorney?" "The plaintiff is a patient man. He left it to me. It is a good sword, and I may have to hold it over Mr. Murphy's neck." McDermott smiled. "The Democratic party in this county needs a strong tonic in the nature of a clean bill. I want my appointees men of high standing; I want them honest; I want them not for what they have done, but what they may do." McDermott smiled again. "I have made a mistake in not coming to you earlier. There is a great future for a man of your kidney, Carrington. You have a genuine talent for politics. You possess something that only a dozen men in a hundred thousand possess, a tone. Words are empty things unless they are backed by a tone. Tone holds the auditor, convinces him, directs him if by chance he is wavering. You are a born orator. Miller retires from Congress next year. His usefulness in Washington has passed. How would you like to succeed him?"