“Denton, no one wants you to vote by order. We elected you alderman to do what was best for the ward and city, as it seems to you. You are responsible for your votes to us, and no other man can be. I don’t care who orders you or advises you; in the end, you must vote yourself, and you yourself will be held to account by us.” “Yes. But if I don’t vote as you wants, you’ll sour the boys on me.” “I shall tell them what I think. You can do the same. It’s a fair game between us.” “No, it ain’t. You’re rich and you can talk more.” “You know my money has nothing to do with it. You know I don’t try to deceive the men in talking to them. If they trust what I tell them, it’s because it’s reasonable, and because I haven’t tricked them before.” “Well, are you goin’ to drive me out?” “I hope not. I think you’ve made a good alderman, Denton, and you’ll find I’ve said so.” “But now?” “If you vote for that franchise, I shall certainly tell the ward that I think you’ve done wrong. Then the ward will do as they please.” “As you please, you mean.” “No. You’ve been long enough in politics to know that unless I can make the ward think as I do, I couldn’t do anything. What would you care for my opinion, if you didn’t know that the votes are back of it?” Just then the door swung open, and Dennis came in. “Tim said yez was alone wid Denton, sir, so Oi came right in. It’s a good-mornin’, sir. How are yez, Terence?” “You are just the man I want, Dennis. Tell Denton how the ward feels about the franchises.” “Shure. It’s one man they is. An’ if Denton will step down to my place this night, he’ll find out how they think.” “They never would have felt so, if Mister Stirling hadn’t talked to them. Not one in twenty knew the question was up.” “That’s because they are most of them too hard working to keep track of all the things. Come, Denton; I don’t attempt to say how you shall vote. I only tell you how it seems to me. Go round the ward, and talk with others. Then you can tell whether I can give you trouble in the future or not. I don’t want to fight you. We’ve been good friends in the past, and we can do more by pulling in double harness than by kicking, I don’t know a man I would rather see at the Hall.” Peter held out his hand, and Denton took it. “All right, Mister Stirling. I’ll do my best to stay friends,” he said, and went out. Peter turned and smiled at Dennis. “They can’t find out that it’s not I, but the ward. So every time there’s trouble they lay it against me, and it’s hard to keep them friendly. And I hate quarrels and surliness.” “It’s yezself can do it, though. Shure, Denton was in a great state av mind this mornin’, they was tellin’ me, but he’s all right now, an’ will vote right, or my name isn’t Dennis Moriarty.” “Yes. He doesn’t know it yet, but he’ll vote square on Tuesday.”