“Well, signor, men unload and swing boxes--beeg--long boxes inside. One of them fell and brak--” He stopped and looked about. “It was guns, signor!--all bright, new. I ask them what for they put so many guns in the old house. The boss say I must join his Black Hand Alliance--“ Benda laughed. “I tell him go t’ell-- “He say it’s war and I die unless I do--I tell him go t’ell two times. And I send word to you, signor. What you tink?” “I don’t know. I’ll find the owner of the building and tell you. Thanks, Tommaso,” he added cordially. “I appreciate your confidence. I’ll see about it.” “Si, si, signor!” With another wave of his hand to the children Benda resumed his concert. Vassar walked to the door and glanced at the building. There was nothing to mark it from a number of dingy structures along the East River. A speculator was probably buying old guns from our government for their transfer in secret to the agent of a faction in Mexico or South America. Naturally the trader must use the utmost caution or a Secret Service man would nip his plans in the bud. He was so sure of the explanation that he took it for granted, and dismissed the incident from his mind. He was destined to recall it under conditions that would not be forgotten. CHAPTER XVII Vassar plunged next day into his fight. Waldron had moved rapidly. His opponents had already nominated an Independent Democrat of foreign birth, a Bohemian of ability, whom he knew to be a man of ambition and good address. The women had begun a house to house canvass of voters and the number of fairy-tales they had started for the purpose of undermining his position and influence was a startling revelation of their skill in the art of lying. Virginia Holland was booked for a canvass of each election district the last week in October. He knew what that meant. Waldron had held his trump card for the supreme moment. The depths of vituperation, mendacity and open corruption to which the campaign descended on the part of his opponents was another revelation to Vassar of woman’s adaptability to practical methods. Never since the days of Tweed’s régime had the East Side seen anything that approached it. He steadfastly refused to lower his standard to their level. That Virginia Holland knew the methods which Waldron had adopted was inconceivable. Vassar watched the approach of her canvass with indifference. If his people were weak enough to fall for Waldron and his crowd of hirelings, he had no desire longer to represent the district. He ceased to worry about results. He foresaw that his majority would be reduced. He decided to let it go at that.