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diff --git a/22267.txt b/22267.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..717c77a --- /dev/null +++ b/22267.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5979 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Woman for Mayor, by Helen M. Winslow + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Woman for Mayor + A Novel of To-day + +Author: Helen M. Winslow + +Illustrator: Walter Dean Goldbeck + +Release Date: August 8, 2007 [EBook #22267] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A WOMAN FOR MAYOR *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +[Illustration: "It seems to me I can never outlive this moment of joyous +welcome."] + +----------------------------------------------------------------------- + +A Woman For Mayor + +A Novel of To-day + +By +Helen M. Winslow + +Author of "Literary Boston of Today," etc. +Former Editor of "The Club Woman" + +Frontispiece by +Walter Dean Goldbeck + +----------------------------------------------------------------------- + +Copyright 1909 +by +The Reilly & Britton Co. + +All rights reserved + +Published June, 1909 + +----------------------------------------------------------------------- + +LIST OF CHAPTERS + +CHAPTER PAGE + + I An Unprecedented Proposal 11 + + II A Perplexed Reformer 23 + + III Learning the Ropes 35 + + IV Practical Politics 55 + + V The Opposition Candidate 65 + + VI A Political Trick 77 + + VII An Unusual Ride 90 + + VIII Modern Journalism 102 + + IX Election Day 112 + + X The New Mayor's Policy 125 + + XI At Work 140 + + XII Skirmishing 152 + + XIII An Important Appointment 166 + + XIV Graft 177 + + XV Setting the Trap 191 + + XVI Divided Interests 207 + + XVII A Dumbfounded Populace 220 + +XVIII A Futile Search 230 + + XIX The Boodlers Score 240 + + XX An Enforced Vacation 247 + + XXI Word from the Missing 261 + + XXII A Daring Escape 273 + +XXIII The Hearts of the People 284 + + XXIV An Honest Confession 295 + + XXV The Old, Old Story 310 + + XXVI Retrospect and Prophecy 326 + +XXVII A Heart's Awakening 338 + +----------------------------------------------------------------------- + +FOREWORD + +"Chimerical!" the average man will exclaim when he reads the title of +this book. + +"But why not?" his wife will answer. + +"Worth trying," the reformers and philanthropists will add. + +"One of us," the suffragette will conclude. + +And there may be a grain of truth in every answer. But the idea is not +absolutely new. At this writing, there is a woman-mayor in one of the +smaller cities of the middle states in America; while over in England +there are, I believe, two women doing good work in the municipal chair. + +And again, "Why not?" Housekeeping is a woman's business. It is the +primeval instinct at the bottom of every woman's heart. The average +American and English home is a clean, sweet, sanitary and well-governed +institution,--made and kept so by some woman. God made women to be +wives, mothers and home-makers; and if our modern conditions have sent +some of us out into the world to earn our own living and perhaps to +support somebody else, the instinct remains--as witness the thousands of +tiny flats or cottages where these women dwell and maintain a home, "be +it ever so humble." And so, if we are the natural housekeepers, the +conservators of health and morals and civic pride, why not a woman at +the head of municipal affairs? + +The suffragette, the reformer, the philanthropist, the average wife are +right, too. As for the average man--let him read the story of Roma's +woman-mayor and think it over. And if he does not decide to vote for a +woman as mayor, perhaps he will come to see that woman's housekeeping +instinct and newly awakened civic sense, added to a revival of public +honesty among men, might well combine to make a model city. + +If "it is not good for man to live alone," perhaps it is not well for +him to manage his City Hall alone. After all, is it "chimerical?" + + H. M. W. +Cambridge, Mass. +May, 1909. + +----------------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + +A WOMAN FOR MAYOR + +CHAPTER I + +An Unprecedented Proposal + + +"Well, why shouldn't we change it?" asked Mrs. Bateman, as she scooped +out the grape-fruit that formed the first course at the P. W.'s regular +monthly luncheon. + +"Change it? Change what?--How?" asked several voices at once. + +"The state of affairs in this city," pursued Mrs. Bateman calmly. "I +have been thinking things over since I got home this fall. Everybody +agrees that our little city is going to the dogs; that municipal affairs +were never so muddled as now. And now, here is Barnaby Burke running +for mayor, with a ravenous pack of demagogues behind him." + +"Yes, and not a decent man to run against him," added Cornelia Jewett. + +"I don't see why," began the fluffy little woman in light blue, "I don't +see why no genuine, honest, upright gentleman will allow his name to be +used. Rudolph says it has got so that nobody but a politician will +consent to be mayor of Roma." + +"They're all afraid of the demagogues," put in another. "There's Albert +Turner; he ought to stand as a candidate. But I suppose he wouldn't?" +She turned to a large fair lady across the table who was placidly +consuming her soup. + +"My husband isn't interested in politics," was the reply. "His business +affairs are too pressing." + +"That's the trouble with most of the men," commented another. "They are +too much absorbed in their own affairs to care much what happens to the +community. We need a little more of the socialistic spirit." + +"Oh, dreadful!" muttered another. "We shall be preaching anarchy next." + +"And Granville Mason--or Geoffrey Bateman," added the fluffy lady in +blue. + +"My husband said last night that politics had sunk to such a pass in +this town that no decent man would touch the City Hall with a pair of +tongs," said Mrs. Mason. "That's the answer he gave a couple of men who +came from Headquarters to ask him to stand. And he said that whatever +decent man accepted the nomination was sure to be defeated. He doesn't +care to be the figure-head of Defeat." + +"That's the way they all feel," said Gertrude Van Deusen. "I wish I +were a man. I'd run for mayor! I wouldn't let the figure of Defeat worry +me. I'd make a fight, I would, and we'd see if the demagogues had +everything their own way." + +"Why not run, then?" asked Mrs. Bateman, smiling across the table. + +"I'd get every decent man roused up, for once," said Gertrude, +enthusiastically, "I'd go into every ward and organize--as they do. I'd +work among the poor, the illiterate, the unfortunate; and I'd rouse the +rich and educated, too. That's the class that need awakening in this +town." + +"Then you're the right candidate," said Mrs. Bateman. "Why don't you +take it? Really, now, why not?" + +"O, Mrs. Bateman, I was only imagining a case." Miss Van Deusen was +blushing and confused now. "Of course I couldn't run for office, not +really." + +"Why not?" asked the elder woman in the calm, judicial way which made +her a leader among women. "Why not? The town is going to the dogs--or +rather, to the demagogues. We need a complete revolution in Roma. We +women have the vote in this state; why not take matters into our own +hands? Why not have a woman for mayor?" + +"O-o-oh!" gasped several of her hearers in the slight pause. + +"Think of the field of activities that would open up before a good +woman," she went on. "The condition of our paupers, of our children's +institutions, of our schools. Think of the intemperance and the vagrancy +and the immorality that flourish under our very noses. Yes, and the +machine-politics that keep them flourishing. Oh, there is so much to be +done, and our good men too busy, or--as they claim--too high-minded to +meddle with it." + +"Then what would, what could a decent woman do with it?" demanded Mrs. +Jewett. + +"Walk through it like an angel of light," answered Mrs. Bateman. +"Ladies, we as the 'Progressive Workers' have labored ten years to +effect reforms in this town, to further the interests of the schools, +the poor, the dependent. What have we accomplished?" + +"Why, why, a little," replied Mrs. Jewett. "Enough to have made our +names respected and--yes, a little to be feared." + +"But not enough," resumed Mrs. Bateman. "Not so much as we ought to have +done. Not so much as we might have done had the City Council been with, +instead of against us, or at best, merely tolerant of us. Now here is +our opportunity. The lower element has put up a man, notoriously bad +and unfit, to be mayor. The better side is all at sea. Our old mayor +(weak enough, but infinitely better than Barnaby Burke) is ill with an +incurable disease, and no one whose name inspires the least particle of +confidence has been mentioned yet to take his place. Let us put up a +good, whole-souled, fearless woman and get her elected." + +"Impossible!" said Mrs. Jewett. + +"We can do it," said the fluffy woman in blue. "My husband would help +us; I know he would." + +"But who?" asked Mrs. Mason. "Where could we find the woman?" + +"Right here in our ranks," said Mrs. Bateman. "One of our own members. +Gertrude, you're just the woman for us." + +Miss Van Deusen did not answer. Only the quick flush showed how the +possibilities of the moment found echo in the consternation at her +heart. + +"You are independent both by nature and by inheritance. You represent +the best element of our citizens, you have means and time, you are bound +by no family ties, and you have the kind of courage for the position," +urged Mrs. Bateman. + +"What will the men say?" reflected Mrs. Jewett. + +"It'll give 'em a shock," murmured Mrs. Mason, decidedly. "They need a +shock. Yes, Gertrude, you are just the woman to try it,--to try for it, +I mean. We'll all work for you,--and with you." + +"Now, ladies, let us look the situation squarely in the face," said Mrs. +Bateman. "I've lain awake many a night of late, thinking out things. It +will mean a tremendous amount of hard and systematic work to elect a +woman to the mayor's chair in Roma. But if we are thoroughly organized +and can get some of the men's leagues and clubs to endorse us, I believe +we can win. Think of it seriously a few minutes, and let us keep silence +for a little while." + +Then ensued the strange spectacle of fifteen women sitting at +luncheon--speechless. It was a custom they had, whenever an important +subject came up for discussion, to take ten or fifteen minutes for +silent thought instead of wasting that time in discussion that did not +get anywhere; so that when the moment for talking arrived the +club-members, being accustomed to exert their mental powers, were +prepared to advance and weigh such arguments as might be brought forth. + +"Gertrude," said Mrs. Bateman at last, "you haven't spoken yet. You see +your civic duty?" + +"It will call for an appalling amount of courage and self-reliance and +belief in the ideals of good government," began Gertrude--and stopped. +Her voice thrilled with a new emotion and her fine eyes glowed with +prophetic hopefulness. + +"But the best people would be all with you," put in a young woman at the +other end of the table. + +"Would they, I wonder?" queried Miss Van Deusen. "From the time of the +Nazarene down to today, some of the best people have found it +inexpedient to stand by the right when it was presented in strange or +new guise; and surely this would be a novel innovation--a woman for +mayor." + +"But you have courage enough," urged Mrs. Mason. + +"If there was ever a woman with ideals," said Mary Snow, a newspaper +woman who had not yet spoken, "her name was--is Gertrude Van Deusen." + +"Friends," said Miss Van Deusen, "I'm going to stick to my guns. I said +in my haste that I'd never let the figure-head of Defeat worry or scare +me; that I would put up a fight. Well, I'll make the fight, I'll stand +for the nomination and if I get it, for election." + +"Three cheers for Gertrude Van Deusen," cried Mrs. Mason, and a vigorous +round of hand-claps was her answer. Handkerchiefs were waved and there +was excitement among the P. W.'s. + +"My husband has just got to take the stump for you," said the fluffy +woman. "I'll make him." + +"Thank you, Bella," was Miss Van Deusen's reply. "I suppose I shall be +emblazoned and lauded and berated in the newspapers, and shall come out +at the end of the campaign with scarcely a rag of reputation left, +whether I win or lose." + +"You are going to win, Gertrude," said Mrs. Bateman calmly. + +"Yes, I'm going to win," answered the younger woman. And as she sat with +her handsome head thrown hack and her far-seeing gaze looking out and +past the assembled women into the stormy future, not one of them +doubted, at the moment, the truth of her confident prophecy. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A Perplexed Reformer + + +The chairman of the Roma Municipal League had just finished dictating +his morning's letters and was leaning back in his half-turned swivel +chair. At another desk his secretary worked perfunctorily, awaiting +orders from his chief. + +"Anything from Wilkins?" asked the latter. + +"Worse. Won't live many weeks. Going South tomorrow," answered the +secretary. + +"Or Bateman?--or Mason?" + +"Mason wouldn't touch politics with a pair of tongs,--so he says," the +secretary answered. "As for Judge Bateman,--I tell you, Allingham, if +such men as he would do their duty, there'd be some hope of cleaning out +the Augean stables. But it's hopeless. There isn't a decent Republican +citizen in this town who'll take hold with us,--I mean as candidate for +mayor." + +"The more shame to Roma, then," said Allingham. "Things have come to a +pretty state of graft when--" + +He stopped suddenly, for the door was opening and Mrs. Bateman walked +in. With her were two other women, one white-haired and graciously +dignified, the other young and tall and handsome. + +"Good-morning, Mr. Allingham," said Mrs. Bateman, taking the hand which +the young man, coming forward, stretched forth. "May I present you to +Mrs. Stillman and Miss Van Deusen? And may we have a few minutes' talk +with you?" + +"Certainly," he replied, wondering what these society women could want +with the Municipal League, "certainly. Be seated." + +The secretary slipped quietly from the room while the visitors drew up +in a half-circle around the chairman's desk. + +"We are sure to give you a surprise," began Mrs. Bateman, "so we may as +well tell you at once. We are going to enter city politics." + +"That's good," answered Allingham. "I trust you're going to offer us an +available candidate for mayor? That's the greatest need in Roma today." + +"We are," said Mrs. Bateman, smiling. + +"Good!" cried Allingham, with enthusiasm. "I was just saying to Morgan, +here, that if Judge Bateman would consent to run,--or rather, he was +saying it and I was assenting, when you came in. I hope you're going to +offer the Judge on the altar of municipal duty, Mrs. Bateman. He would +carry the city." + +"No, indeed. Better than that," replied the Judge's wife. + +"Far better, we think," added Mrs. Stillman. + +"Mr. Allingham, the women of Roma are going to put forth their own +candidate," pursued Mrs. Bateman. + +"Good, again. Since the women can vote, I don't see why, if you all get +out and work, you can't elect anybody you see fit." + +"O, do you think so? Do you really believe that?" said Gertrude Van +Deusen, who had not spoken before. + +"I do," solemnly asseverated the young man. "'You women can do whatever +you undertake. Women without the vote can do almost anything they +choose, here in the United States. But where they have the right of +suffrage, they have absolutely everything in their hands. You've given +me great courage. For, if you women really mean business, and will join +your forces with the Municipal League--" he paused a little. + +"That's why we have come," said Mrs. Stillman. + +"Then we are sure of victory. Now if you can bring Judge Bateman or,--a +better man, I think you said,--to accept the nomination, we can +overthrow the gang of grafters at City Hall and establish good +government here in Roma once more. Who is your man?" + +"Miss Gertrude Van Deusen." Mrs. Bateman's eyes twinkled as she +pronounced the name; for she knew well the conservative position +occupied by all the Allingham family on 'the woman question.' + +The chairman of the Municipal League gasped. Surely he had not heard +aright. He turned to the younger woman, who sat smiling at him, +confident of his support. Alas! What had he been saying? + +"I am delighted to feel that we have the Municipal League behind us," +Mrs. Bateman was saying. "We mean to arouse every woman in this town, +and make them vote,----" + +"But, ladies," began Allingham, already floundering in the dust of +expediency, "have you thought?--Do you realize what you are doing? Under +ordinary circumstances--in well-regulated towns perhaps,--but a woman +for mayor?--In Roma? I'm afraid it wouldn't do." + +"But you just said we could do anything we pleased?" began Mrs. +Stillman. + +"In the way of help, yes," replied the chairman, sore beset. "But this +would be such an innovation." + +"Now, Jack Allingham," said Mrs. Bateman, who had known him all his +life, "I know this comes with a shock to you,--I know how difficult the +problem seems at this minute. But don't decide now. Take time to think. +Consult with some of your leaders. We want your co-operation. We believe +that together we can establish the right kind of government in City +Hall. But we are determined to fight for our candidate,--and to win. +Unless, indeed, you succeed in putting up a much better man than any yet +mentioned for the place." + +"Then here is where you throw down the glove?" asked Allingham, +recovering his equanimity, "and I've to--" + +"You're not to decide until you've had time to think, to reason with +yourself, to consult your leaders, and to arrive at a conclusion," +answered Mrs. Bateman, rising. "And now, we'll go." + +They said good-by and left him standing in the middle of the room, dazed +and indignant at the tide of affairs. Even then he noted that turn of +Miss Van Deusen's fine shoulders and the invincible way she carried her +head. + +"What a splendid woman she must be," he said to himself. "A +genuine,--but I'm an egregious idiot,--a blanked blunderer. A pretty +scrape I am in! Why didn't I wait until they declared themselves? And +Miss Van Deusen! She must think me a fool. But a woman for mayor, +indeed!" + +"What do you suppose I've just heard?" exclaimed the secretary, hurrying +in again. "Blatchley says the club women of Roma are going into the +campaign with a vengeance,--that they are going to put up a woman--the +daughter of old Senator Van Deusen. I don't believe it.--And yet, wasn't +she one of those women who just went out?" + +"She was," replied Allingham. "She is. Whether she will be, remains to +be seen. You can't tell what a woman--" + +"Then it's true?" Morgan's tone was incredulous. + +"Yes, I suppose so," returned the chairman. "The women are going to turn +in and work. It is possible they may win. But what a thing for Roma to +do! I don't see how we can--" + +"Then they came for help from the League?" asked Morgan, still more +incredulously. + +"They came," replied Allingham, "to offer to co-operate with us. They +asked no help, come to think of it; they just offered to co-operate and +they seem to have a very definite idea of what they are going to +do,--women!" he finished abruptly, remembering his rash endorsement of +their plans before their unfolding. + +"I'm not certain but it would be a good thing for the town," began the +secretary. "A radical change would--" + +"Morgan," interrupted his chief, "we should make ourselves ridiculous, +we should be a laughing-stock for the whole state. I shall never +consent," he added, with the more heat when he recalled Gertrude's +confident poise and--how he had already half pledged himself to their +cause. + +"I suppose you'll call a meeting of the committee to consider their +plan?" asked Morgan. "If they are really in earnest, these women are a +factor to be seriously considered, whether for or against." + +"Oh, yes, I suppose so," answered Allingham, turning back to his desk. +"But I was brought up to believe a woman's place was at home with her +husband and children." + +"So was I," said Morgan, who was a privileged friend as well as +secretary. "But the teachings of twenty years ago are out of place +today. Indeed, they are as old-fashioned as they were a hundred years +before. Miss Van Deusen is a magnificent woman,--the fit daughter of the +old Senator." + +"You know her?" said Allingham, irrelevantly. + +"Well, no, not exactly. I've met her. But my cousins know her well, and +she must be,--from all I hear, a thoroughly womanly woman. And, they all +say, will marry Armstrong." + +"Let her keep out of politics, then," growled Allingham. "Look here. A +woman like that, according to my mind, would better get down on her +knees and scrub her own front stairs than try to clean out City Hall. +And she's not the woman for either job." + +He chewed his moustache savagely, and strode out of the room, knocking +over his chair in the process and causing his stenographer considerable +alarm as he banged the door together on his way out. Morgan looked +after him and smiled. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +Learning the Ropes + + +The next morning's newspapers were embellished with scare-head-lines, +all more or less complimentary to the women's candidate. + + "WOMEN TAKE MATTERS IN THEIR OWN HANDS." + + "SENATOR'S DAUGHTER RUNS FOR MAYOR." + + "MEN TO BE LAID ON THE POLITICAL SHELF." + + "SENATOR VAN DEUSEN WILL TURN IN HIS GRAVE IF DAUGHTER ACCEPTS + NOMINATION." + +were some of the head-lines which Roma editors had produced by late use +of midnight oil, and the articles that followed them were incredulous, +mildly tolerant, openly snobbish or given over to ridicule, according to +the policy of their several papers. + +One of them read: + + "It is both a disgrace and a menace to this fair city that city + politics have sunk to such a level that our best men will have + nothing to do with them, and that no one with the ideals of good + government, other than a handful of women, will undertake the + improvement of our municipal government. With all deference to + the ladies,--and who knows their many charming qualities better + than we?--it is inevitable that, 'trained to keep silence in the + churches'--(and the City Hall as well)--our women are without the + large-minded grasp of affairs,--the broad and liberal judgment, + necessary to cope with these affairs. Neither can we as self- + respecting husbands and fathers, consent to see them so belittle + their own dignity and influence as to step out into the arena of + public life. The election of a woman,--no matter how able and + high-minded she might be,--would be a step downward for our city. + It can never be." + +Another editor said: + + "The late Senator Van Deusen was one of the most distinguished + jurists in the country. He had a mind singularly open to the best + interests of his native town; his constituents always knew where + to find him on questions of law and polity. He did not favor + woman suffrage, nor giving important offices to the 'weaker sex'; + although personally he was distinguished by a gentle courtesy for + and towards women. What, then, would he say to this wild + proposition of a few so-called 'progressive' women to put his + daughter in the mayoral chair of Roma? Verily he would turn in + his grave. Neither can we believe that this movement has the + sanction of one who was so near and dear to the late senator's + heart, nor that Miss Van Deusen herself has given her consent to + let her name be used as candidate for the highest office in the + city." + +A third paper announced: + + "It is not to be wondered at that the women of Roma, casting + around them to view the kind of men who occupy high seats in Roma + politics, should say 'we will have none of them' and should + desire to enforce a little petticoat government themselves. Roma + has long been proud of its homes, its wives, its mothers and its + housekeepers. Perhaps it would be for the public good, were we to + set a few of these model housewives to cleaning up City Hall. Let + them go ahead and elect a woman-mayor. Then let her proceed to + eject the money-changers from the temple. Perhaps the women can + do it. Certainly we men cannot,--or do not." + +Gertrude Van Deusen read these articles during the hour after breakfast +when a woman loves to "drop down" for a little in her library, with her +feet to the fire, as if to gather her forces for the day. + +"It is what I must expect, I suppose," she said to the cousin who shared +her home. "Man's favorite method of defeating a candidate from time +immemorial has been to villify him in the newspapers. What can a mere +woman expect?" + +"Well, it all adds to the gaiety of politics," returned her cousin. +"What shall you do about it?" + +"Nothing. At least, I don't know. I have already sent for Bailey. He +will advise me. He knows all the ins and outs of politics." + +"And he's secretary of the Union Club, isn't he?" asked the cousin. "At +least, he was. Although that isn't a political club, still its influence +would be worth a great deal." + +"If we can get it," added Gertrude. + +Bailey Armstrong was her second cousin and since the Senator's death had +acted as adviser to Miss Van Deusen whenever she could be imagined to +need advice. He was a rising lawyer with considerable political +influence, and, what cheered the two women most this morning, he was a +thorough feminist. + +Senator Van Deusen had been dead only three years. He had left a large +fortune to his daughters, one of whom had married and gone to Europe. +The other lived here on the handsome estate that had long been one of +the show-places of the town. Surrounded by every luxury, with no want +left unsupplied, there were many to wonder why Gertrude should consent +to be a candidate for public office. But her wealth had not so carefully +guarded her that the modern unrest of her sex could not penetrate her +soul, and she was strongly possessed of a desire to do something for the +public good. + +Educated thoroughly and broadly, in an American college and later at +Girton, her mind had been developed still further through constant +association with her father. Her life with him in Washington had +unfitted her for the fashionable career which she might have had if she +had desired. Several times her hand had been sought in marriage, once by +a diplomat of renown, but so far love had not touched her heart and she +was not a woman to marry for any other cause. She was now thirty and +looking forward instead of backward (as unmarried women of her age once +did) towards a "career." + +"I think Bailey will run in on his way down town," she said, rising and +walking to the front window, where her slight form stood silhouetted +against the late-September sunshine that shimmered and filtered through +the plate glass. "There's the postman." + +A moment later a letter was handed in to her. She tore it open and read: + + "Dear Miss Van Deusen: + + I've just heard, privately, that the Municipal League has turned + us down. How's that for their boasted progress and reform? For they + will combine with the Burke crowd. But never mind. Keep a brave + heart and we'll win out yet. + Yours to command, + Mary Snow." + +"You're wanted at the telephone," said the maid at the door, and +Gertrude hurried out to find that it was Mrs. Bateman at the other end +of the wire. + +"I'm so wrathy, I don't know what to say," she began. "I have a letter +from John Allingham. Shall I read it to you?" + +"Oh, yes," said Gertrude. + +"Well,--'Dear Mrs. Bateman:' he begins. 'At a meeting of our +directors last night, we decided,--regretfully, I beg you to +believe,--that it would not be wise nor safe for the Municipal League to +accept the woman's candidate for mayor. We beg that you will change your +mind and select, if you choose (or at least, endorse) a good man for +that office. In which case we shall gladly meet you more than half way +in any plan you may have for his election. Awaiting your reply and +hoping most earnestly for your reconsideration and co-operation with us, +I am, + Most respectfully yours, + John Allingham, Chairman.' + +There! What do you think of that?" + +"I'm not surprised," answered Gertrude. "Did you not perceive how +uncomfortable he was when he discovered who our candidate was--after all +his talk about the influence of women in public affairs? He began to +crawl and hedge even then." + +"I know it," Mrs. Bateman replied, "but I didn't think he would go +against us. He's always been such a nice boy. But now,--" + +"Moreover," interrupted Gertrude, "I've just heard that the League will +combine with the Burke forces, if it comes to a choice between us." + +"Oh--not so bad as that," said Mrs. Bateman. "What are you going to do? +It doesn't frighten you?" + +"My dear," and Gertrude's gentle tone had a ring that was familiar to +those who had known the Senator, "did you ever know a Van Deusen to +scare easily? They may defeat me, but they will not frighten me. I've +sent for Bailey and after I've had a good long confab with him, I'll run +over to talk with you." + +"That's good. You're true blue," was the response. + +As Gertrude turned from the telephone, Bailey Armstrong was entering. + +"Well, well, what's this I hear?" he exclaimed, coming forward with +outstretched hand. "You'll have Roma shaken to its foundations if you +keep on.--And I suppose you'll keep on?" he added, with a keen look into +her eyes. + +"I am my father's daughter," she replied, and led the way into the +library, where she told him her latest news. + +"I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't been there last night myself," +said Bailey. "There was a pretty hot discussion. Some of us want to help +you, but the majority want a precedent back of them. And there's no +precedent for a woman-mayor, you know. Say, Gertie, are you fully +determined to run?--because the Augean stables aren't exactly what +you've been accustomed to,--and that's what you will find." + +"I'm fully determined," answered the other quietly. + +"That settles it, then," said the young man. "Now let's plan out the +work." + +"Then you're going to help, Bailey." + +"Sure thing. Want me?" + +"Of course we do." + +"Not 'we,' Gertie,--I," he answered in a voice as quiet and as +determined as hers. "Now, I've been through several campaigns and am not +only a good fighter, but I'm conceited enough to believe I'm a pretty +good organizer,--and that's a hundred times better." + +"Well, tell me just how to go to work to enlist the multitude, to win +the populace;--in short, to get votes," said Gertrude. "How do I +begin?" + +"Well, there are two ways," answered the young man. "If you were a man I +would say, you can break in by sheer force of audacity, without definite +purpose; or, you can enter quietly, with a fixed principle in mind which +you wish to see worked out in public life. The first is the old idea, +the latter is the new." + +"And the old way?" said Gertrude. + +"Well, if you enter in the old-fashioned way, you will have to place +yourself at the disposal of the chairman of some campaign committee in +the city; you will read a great deal of 'literature' prepared by the +committee, mostly vituperative nonsense about the opposing party; you +will learn this by heart, follow the red light and the brass band to the +nearest 'stump,' and mixing what you have read, but not thought out, +with some stories of considerable age and questionable humor, will +deliver it all to a bored and weary audience, confident that you have +established a reputation for eloquence. + +"By this time you will feel like a full-fledged politician; you will +become mysterious and tell everybody everything you know in confidence; +secret conferences will be held behind closed doors; old clothes and a +slouchy manner will be brought out to catch the labor vote; you will +speak to all sorts of people, and call them by their first names, +thinking all the time that, if a candidate, you would lead your ticket. +As a matter of fact, you may have lost hundreds of votes." + +"Yes," said Gertrude with spirit, "and then I would be taken up by the +machine. They would call me a budding genius and I should look upon the +boss as a great man." + +"Yes," pursued Bailey, "until you begin to think for yourself. Then it +will occur to you as strange that in a representative government you +should be selected as a candidate of your party recommended as you have +been; still more strange that the platform upon which you are to run was +set up in type in the newspaper offices several hours before the +convention which nominates you met, and had been submitted to the +president of the railroad that runs through your town for his approval +or revision." + +"Yes,--and then," broke in Gertrude, "some day by accident, if I take +the trouble to read at all I shall notice in a statute a little clause +concealed in fifty pages of meaningless verbiage, which grants an unjust +and special privilege to certain interests closely connected with the +dominant party in state politics. I shall be unable to reconcile this +law with my ideas of fair play and justice, and it will occur to me +that possibly it is a mistake, which can easily be remedied by appealing +to the 'party leaders.'" + +"And so you protest," Bailey chimed in, "and in your sweet and charming +innocence you suggest that this law be amended and the special privilege +abolished. The bland smile that greets your remark will get on your +nerves, and you will sit down to think it over; and when you have +cleared your brain of cobwebs, you will realize for the first time that +machine politics, to which you have been an unconscious party, has +nothing whatever to do with ideas, principles or policies, but is purely +a game of money in its last analysis; that it is a scheme to enrich a +few at the expense of the many--" + +"And all accomplished under the folds of the flag in the name of the +'grand old party' of Abraham Lincoln, that freed the slaves, or the +great party of Thomas Jefferson, that 'preserves the fundamental rights +of man'," finished Gertrude. "When the white light begins to play upon +all my surroundings in political life, I shall become disgusted and come +back to sweet home-life,--or else turn around and have the fight of my +life." + +"I reckon," said Bailey, smiling, "that you didn't live several years in +Washington--or are a great senator's daughter for nothing. But all this, +you know, is the old way. You won't follow politics after this fashion. +You will take up the 'new idea in politics,' which simply means that +reforms should be brought about by the injection of ideas and principles +at the outset rather than by campaigns against individuals for +wrong-doing. It further means that everything should be done in the open +and by the people themselves rather than by a few bosses who have +allied themselves with the corporations in nearly all the states of the +Union." + +"To be of service politically, then, according to the rules of the 'new +idea,' the candidate must first ally himself with one of the organized +political parties in the country?" asked Gertrude. "But what if they +will not have you?" + +"No," replied Bailey, "I do not mean to say that this is absolutely +necessary, for there are many useful men who do not ally themselves with +any party; but experience has shown, I think, that one can be of the +greatest service and do the most useful work by joining a party and +exerting himself at the primaries, where all government begins, to make +his party stand for definite principles rather than remain an +organization devoted solely to the task of dispensing patronage.--And +there are other allies than the Municipal League," he added. "No. First +make a thorough study of the political situation in Roma. I presume you +have done this already. You will find that not two per cent of the +voters go to the primaries. The ring selects the delegates and their men +nominate the candidates as they are told. There is no contest and the +worst men get put in offices by the money from some trolley or railroad +or other interest, simply because the people do not know--and will not +take the trouble to find out what is going on. But you women can get up +mass-meetings and attend primaries and do all these things, and if there +is not a pretty general waking up in this town before next January, then +I'll lose my guess." + +"We'll do it," said Gertrude. "And I believe,--am I too confident when I +say it?--that we can win." + +"Well, if not, we can arouse this community as it never has been yet," +was the reply. "We can wake up the people, and educate them to an +intelligent vote. And we'll elect you yet, Gertie,--see if we don't." + +And five minutes later, when Bailey had left for his down-town office, +Gertrude was asking herself, "Why couldn't John Allingham behave as +sensibly? He cannot be right and Bailey wrong. No. But I wish--" + +She wheeled about very decisively and went upstairs for her hat; for +things must be talked over with Mrs. Bateman. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +Practical Politics + + +A few nights later several gentlemen could be seen entering the Van +Deusen mansion, where they were greeted by Gertrude and her cousin, +Jennie Craig. With them, too, were Mrs. Bateman, Mrs. Mason, and Mrs. +Stillman. They had all met to organize the Reform Club, at Bailey +Armstrong's suggestion, and he had enlisted a few of the leading members +of the Union Club. + +Miss Van Deusen's candidacy had been talked over at the clubhouse as +elsewhere, and most of the members being old friends of her father or +herself had agreed, more or less cautiously, to support her. John +Allingham, with a few of the most conservative members, had prevented +the Union Club from officially endorsing her, but he could not keep the +several members from exercising their prerogative to work for whom they +chose. And so while the Municipal League was holding a meeting at one +end of the town to see if there were not some available candidate to +defeat her, the new City Reform Club was being started at the other, to +further the cause of Gertrude Van Deusen. + +Judge Bateman opened the meeting and was made moderator, and later, +elected president of the new organization, with Bailey Armstrong as +secretary. + +"You announce yourself here, Miss Van Deusen," asked the Judge after +these preliminaries, "as candidate for mayor?" + +"I do," was the answer. + +"Then it becomes our affair to endorse you and to prepare our definite +plan of work. That it is a most unusual, perhaps unheard-of thing to +offer a young woman as candidate for the mayor's chair, we all know, +goes without saying. But it seems to some of us sufficient reason for +going down on our knees with thankfulness that a good and an able woman +will consent to serve her city in such capacity. And we owe it to her, +to ourselves as men, and to our city as voters and citizens, that we +shall go out and work for her. Has anyone a definite plan of action?" + +Nearly every man in the room spoke in the same strain and before ten +o'clock their campaign was planned. Then the newspapers were called up +and reporters began to appear. The next morning Roma had its second +sensation. A leading editorial ran thus: + + "Last night at the residence of the late Senator Van Deusen, a + number of the most prominent men and women of this town met and + organized the City Reform Club, and incidentally endorsed the + candidacy of Miss Gertrude Van Deusen for mayor. If this + organization, which welcomes representatives from all political + parties, accomplishes half of what it has set itself to do, last + night will have been a historical date for Roma. It has begun + with a few aristocratic leaders, but we are inclined to believe + the membership will soon embrace all grades of social as well as + political voters; for careless as we have been in the past, the + citizens of Roma desire to stand for the best things--to have the + best schools, the best citizens, the best government in the + state. The chief reason, perhaps, why we have them not, is that + the people have not been in touch with the executive department. + The people have known nothing of what was going on at City Hall. + Now and then, we have attempted to lift the veil, but we all have + been lax and easily turned aside. We confess it with shame; but + we promise, as for this newspaper, to do better; and we publicly + declare ourselves this morning as in sympathy with the new Reform + Club. From now on The Atlas will champion the candidacy of Miss + Gertrude Van Deusen as mayor of Roma, just as, for many years, we + were proud to hold aloft the banner of her father, the late + Senator Van Deusen." + +When Gertrude read this she sat half-dazed for a moment, and then +clapped her hands with gleeful surprise. + +"What is it?" asked her cousin. + +"The Atlas has come out for me. It endorses the Reform Club--and me. +That's some of Bailey's work." + +"Yes. I hope you appreciate what Bailey is doing for you," said Miss +Craig. "He would make a good mayor, himself." + +"There are a dozen men in Roma who would be good mayors," answered +Gertrude, "if they would. But they will not. Hence--well, I'm going to a +caucus tonight. Are you going with me?" + +"Oh, no, I think not. I'll go when and where it is necessary to cast my +vote for you, Gertie," said Miss Craig. "But for the rest--excuse me." + +Mrs. Bateman and the Judge accompanied Miss Van Deusen, however, to the +nearly empty room where the first primary was being held. It was in an +outlying ward, and the few men who stood about were wonder-stricken at +the presence of women,--although they had seen the sex out on election +days in plenty. + +"Now you are seeing just how politics in Roma has been managed for a +decade past. Right there in that corner," said the Judge, "you find a +door with a slit in it through which you deposit your ballot. No record +is kept of your vote, and behind the door sit the leaders of the ring, +already making up the returns, which show, without doubt, as this is a +hostile ward, that your delegates were defeated by an overwhelming +majority. Tomorrow the ring newspaper, which prints all the legal +notices of the county and receives a generous income through the +advertisement of corporations allied with the ring, and whose proprietor +is promised a commissionership by the governor who is backing the ring, +will notify its readers that the selfish office-seekers, who had +contested in the primaries, have received a stinging rebuke at the hands +of the voters, and their villainous attempts to destroy the party, which +had so unselfishly devoted itself to the interests of the community, +have fallen to the ground." + +"And must this be allowed?" asked Mrs. Bateman. + +"No," and the Judge's tones rang firmly. "We will call a mass-meeting in +every district in the city, right away; we,--you, Miss Van Deusen, as +well as I and the others,--must address the people, telling them what we +mean to do, and how." + +"I never faced an audience of men in my life," answered Gertrude, "but I +can do it--and I will." + +From that time on, there were meetings and caucuses and primaries every +night. _The Atlas_ was the only newspaper that came out openly, "the +ring" sheet villified the "woman-question," while the others remained +discreetly on the fence. But _The Atlas_ had the largest circulation and +its editorial policy had considerable weight with the citizens. + +The "Progressive Workers" did everything possible to illustrate their +name. Every woman of the two hundred worked and talked in and out of +season. They attended primaries, they called mass-meetings in every +district in the city, they provided speakers at these "rallies" (some of +the best from their own membership) and they saw, personally, editors +and political leaders wherever they might be found. Gertrude Van Deusen, +herself, appeared on the platform at most of these meetings, attended by +Mrs. Bateman, Mrs. Stillman and others of the leading women of Roma; and +an increasing number of voters were won over to her side, as they +listened to her clear voice giving utterance to calm and judicial +opinions, worthy the daughter of Roma's pet senator. Even her intimate +friends were surprised to note the accuracy with which she comprehended +the city's needs and the insight which she had gained into the existing +state of municipal affairs. + +"A long head, that woman's got," remarked one business man to another, +as they left one of the rallies. "If she could get the mayoralty I'm +inclined to think she'd make Roma sit up and take notice. I'm half +inclined to vote for her myself." + +"Oh, pshaw!" returned the other, "she's astute enough--like her father +before her. But you can't tell anything about it. Let the women get the +power and they'll soon have a ring and a machine and their bosses as +much as the men. And they'd crowd us right off the earth. No women in +mine." + +The other smiled, as he thought of the speaker's household of an +assertive wife and four grown-up daughters, but he only said: + +"Well, I'm not sure of that; and a change of bosses might be a good +thing. Amalgamated took a rush today, didn't it?" + + + + +CHAPTER V + +The Opposition Candidate + + +John Allingham was not enjoying life during these exciting days and +nights. The Municipal League (which claimed to be "non-partisan") had +not succeeded in settling upon a candidate, as the Republicans had not +chosen any, and Burke, the choice of the Democrats, was too bitter a +pill for them. The papers were not "interesting reading" for him, filled +as they were with the doings of the "Progressive Workers" and Miss Van +Deusen. He could not go on the street nor step inside a car, without +hearing the buzz of talk about Gertrude Van Deusen,--"this young woman +whose place was in her own refined and luxurious home, but who had +chosen to pose in the lime-light of publicity instead," as he said. The +story of how he had met the three ladies when they had called to +announce their candidate, and of how he had met them more than half-way, +and then eaten his own words, had leaked out through Judge Bateman, who +thought it too good to keep; and as usual, it had gone the rounds of all +his friends before Allingham knew it was in circulation. When he did +hear of it, he was exceeding wroth, perhaps all the more so because he +had no one but himself to blame. And he was in that mood when the +chairman of the Republican committee called one morning. + +"Got a candidate yet?" asked Allingham as his visitor drew up his chair. + +"We've got one chosen," answered the chairman, whose name was Samuel +Watts, "if he'll accept. And he's a good one." + +"Well, go on," urged Allingham, as the other hesitated. + +"He's got a good many points in his favor," said Watts, incisively. +"He's popular with all classes, he's well-off, educated, of the best +family stock, young, active, and knows how to make himself solid with +the lower classes,--the working people, you know." + +"Then he must be made to accept," answered Allingham. "In these times, +it is the duty of such a man to accept the nomination." + +"Think so?" asked the other with a grin. "Glad to hear it; for our man's +name is John Allingham." + +"Sam! I can't--I won't," exclaimed the chairman of the Municipal League, +cursing himself inwardly for his habit of speaking his mind before he +knew his premises. "This is too much--I don't want the office--or to +contend with a woman for it!" + +"That's your native chivalry, Jack," answered his friend in soothing +fashion. "But we've got to put up a candidate with all the good +qualities she possesses, to beat her. As the refined and beautiful +daughter of Senator Van Deusen, we--you and I--have only admiration for +this young woman--but--by Jove! when she enters politics she must meet +us on our own ground. She must expect to give and take as we do. And we +are bound to beat her. You, Jack, can do it. I know of nobody else who +is available--this is quite between you and me--who would be sure to do +it. Surely you are not afraid of a woman? When it comes to votes you'll +win--and that will put the laugh on the other side when it comes to +talking about the influence of women." + +"I'll do it," said Allingham impulsively. "If you'd offered it to me a +month ago--before you offered it to a half dozen others instead of +afterward, I'd have refused straight up and down. But now, as things +stand today, I accept the nomination." + +"And I may go and report to the committee?" urged Watts. + +"You may." + +The chairman arose and shook Allingham's hand long and heartily. Then he +departed to spread the good news. When he was gone, Morgan returned to +his desk. + +"Do you think there is need of sending out any more of those A-128 +circulars, Jack?" he asked. + +"No," answered Allingham. "Morgan, I'm an egregious fool, perhaps; but +I've consented to accept the Republican nomination for mayor, myself." + +The secretary gave vent to a long, low whistle. + +"To run against Miss Van Deusen?" he asked, at length. + +"To run against Miss Van Deusen," replied Allingham. + +"H-m--this contributes something to the interest of affairs," said +Morgan. "But, Jack--I wish you hadn't," he added doubtfully. + +"Wish away," returned Jack cheerfully, "and much good may it do you." +Then he turned to his desk and began to write diligently on the document +he had been preparing when Watts came in. + +Half an hour later, the door opened and Bailey Armstrong entered. + +"Hullo, Bailey, take a chair," was Allingham's greeting, for the two had +been schoolboys together. "What's the news? How's your candidate?" + +"Jack," began Bailey anxiously, "I've come down to have one more +heart-to-heart talk with you about Miss Van Deusen. It's a shame the +Municipal League cannot endorse a noble, splendid woman like her. You +know how rotten City Hall is. You ought to be the first to help in a +movement to overthrow the present system. Come up with me tonight to +Miss Van Deusen's. Get acquainted with her and listen to her sane talk +and clear views; and then I am sure you'll come out on the right side." + +"I'm on the right side now, Bailey," returned Jack, "and on the right +track. It's too late to call on Miss Van Deusen." + +"Why, too late?" asked Armstrong. + +"Because I've already consented to accept the nomination of the +Republican party," said Allingham. "I shall be her opposing candidate +and I mean to beat her." + +"Not by all the shades of the great Agamemnon!" exclaimed Bailey. "I'll +turn every stick and stone in Roma to defeat you. Jack, I wouldn't have +believed it of you!" + +"Nor I of myself," returned Allingham coolly. "If you hadn't put up a +woman I'd never have consented, Bailey, old fellow. But a woman's place +is at home--she is too delicate for public office." + +"O, bother the woman's place," returned Armstrong, rising to go. "The +modern woman's place is where she is needed most, where she can do the +most good, whether it is sewing on your buttons or ruling your city. +Good-bye; reckon on sure defeat next January, Jack, or I'm no guesser;" +and he slammed the door behind him as he hurried away. + +He went straight to Van Deusen Hall and called for Gertrude. She was at +the moment sewing on buttons for herself, but soon descended, smiling, +to greet him. As he looked at her coming down the stairway, Bailey +thought of the great calm of a starry night in the country. Some women +always bring the sense of freshness and repose and brooding peace when +they enter a room. + +"You've got some news for me?" she said, giving him her hand. + +"How do you know?" he asked. + +"I see it in your face," was the reply. "You have news--something that +disquiets you." + +"Yes, I have," said Armstrong. "I may as well tell it at once. Jack +Allingham is entering the lists against you. He will be the Republican +candidate." + +She smiled. "I am not surprised. He considers it his duty, since a woman +presumes to occupy the mayor's chair. I have met his mother several +times, and his aunts. He is an only child and has been brought up to +believe in all the old-time theories. I presume he knows no really fine +up-to-date woman." + +"No, he doesn't," replied Bailey. "He is one of the most conscientious +and best fellows I ever knew, but he has been spoiled by his women-folk. +I think he believes that a man is really a much superior being: that +woman is only a weak imitation of God's noblest work. It's the doting +aunt and the over-indulgent mother that spoil our men--" + +"Undoubtedly; it is they who keep them from their best development," +answered Gertrude. "But I'm rather glad on the whole, to have an +opponent like Mr. Allingham--a foeman worthy of my steel, so to speak. +If I win over him it will count for something, whereas to beat a man +like Barnaby Burke--" She made a wry face. + +"Yes--I grant that," said Bailey. "And you'll come near beating, too. +We shall have to work harder than ever, but I'll beat Jack +Allingham--or bust! Excuse the slang, Gertie, but I've got to relieve my +feelings." + +"You always were a great boy," laughed Miss Van Deusen, "and you always +will be. Here's Jessie with letters. Get her to play to you while I read +mine." + +He went into the music-room and left her by the open fire. One of the +letters bore the emblem of the Municipal League. She tore it open and +read: + + "My Dear Miss Van Deusen: + + As the daughter of your respected and beloved father and as the + hereditary flower of womanhood of Roma, I owe you both allegiance + and admiration. But holding, as I do, the sincere conviction that + women belittle themselves and lower the standards of all humanity + when they enter the public arena, I feel justified in announcing + myself your opposition candidate. I have just consented to allow my + name to be used, and I feel that I wish you to know it at once. + + Yours respectfully, + John Allingham." + +And having read it, she placed it on the glowing coals, smiling softly +to herself the while. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +A Political Trick + + +The campaign was a furious one after that. The women, instead of leaving +the management of things to men, were stirred to wonderful activity. +They worked, not only among the men of their own acquaintance, but among +the working-people; they held meetings in factories at noon, or in +school-rooms or cheap halls at night in the districts where the +factory-hands lived. They spoke at mass-meetings and rallies, and if +they did not appear in torchlight processions, they saw that many +banners were carried in them, bearing the women's motto and legend. It +was a hard fight, but a good one, and the cause of womanhood as well as +of good government was advanced by it. + +When Sam Watts, for instance, with his pockets well-lined, went down +into the district where lived the employees of the Roma Ice Company, he +did not find it so easy to disburse that money as he had expected. + +"No," said one man, "I can't forget that Miss Van Deusen's been good to +me and mine." + +"O, she is the Roma Ice Company, of course," returned Watts. "That is +one of her assets; but you people are being ground down to hard labor +every day to keep her in luxury--don't you see that?" + +"I see," answered the man, "that she is almost the only employer I know +who takes a personal interest in us." + +"Yes, when votes are to be counted," sneered Watts. + +"Listen," said the man. "Two years ago, when the strike was on, and +there was a good deal of hard times around, she came right down among us +and helped. She didn't sit down at home and let us take the consequences +of the strike (no, I never was in favor of it. I only went out with the +rest because I had to.) And she didn't send us a check as if we were +just objects of charity. She came right down into the tenements and +talked with our women-folks. She found out what they needed and provided +it when it was necessary. She sat up all night with the sick baby of one +of the strike leaders. My! but he was a shamed man the next day! And my +own woman, why, man alive! when she had her baby and we'd no money at +all, Gertrude Van Deusen sent a nurse and a doctor and paid for 'em; but +more than that, she came down and stood by my wife (who was once a maid +of hers), all through it. Do you suppose we are going back on a woman +like that? No sirree! The votes of the Roma Ice Company are hers--to a +man." + +So it was that while the politicians were declaiming against her as a +cold-blooded aristocrat, there were poor people all over the city who +had some tale to tell of kindness done in secret, either by her or her +father. + +Towards the last of the campaign, a demand grew for a joint debate. Miss +Van Deusen had appeared on the platform many times, and defined her +attitude on public issues in Roma quite clearly. John Allingham had done +the same, for he had a good following of the business men of the city, +while the demagogues made a formidable showing for their candidate, +Barnaby Burke. There was a growing feeling that there must be a fusion +of the woman's ticket with the Allingham forces, but the former would +not withdraw their candidate, and Allingham having put his hand to the +municipal plough would not take it away. + +Consequently, both sides agreed to a joint debate to be held at a great +mass meeting the Monday evening before the election Tuesday. This was +not without opposition from within each party, and there were some who +hinted darkly that it might not come off. + +All through the Monday preceding the debate Gertrude Van Deusen worked +in her library, to prepare her speech for the evening. She had become +familiar enough with her own voice so that she spoke easily and well to +audiences of all sizes and degrees of intelligence, but this evening was +to witness a trial of strength, a matching of wits which put her on her +mettle. For John Allingham was a fine speaker, with a magnetic presence, +clear logic, and a control of his audience that made him a powerful +opponent, and Gertrude Van Deusen, although she would have died rather +than own it, trembled secretly at the coming contest. + +At six she ate her dinner with as much calmness as was possible under +the circumstances, and proceeded to dress for the evening. She was one +of the women who realize that appearances count with an audience, as +well as words, and she put on her most becoming array. At half-past +seven her maid came up from the door: + +"They've sent for you," she announced. "An automobile is at the door." + +"Why, I didn't know the committee was going to send for me," said Miss +Van Deusen. "I ordered the carriage for a quarter to eight. Go down and +ask the chauffeur--no, never mind. It's all right, no doubt. I'll go +with him. Call up Thomas and tell him he needn't take the horses out +tonight. But first hand me my fur coat and put on my over-shoes." + +The maid obeyed and in five minutes more Gertrude Van Deusen was being +tucked into the electric cab, by a chauffeur well wrapped up and muffled +to his ears. The glass doors were closed tightly, Gertrude +congratulating herself that she was shut away from the cold, clear +January air, and that her horses might stand in their comfortable +stalls. And then they whizzed away. + +It was some moments before she noticed that they were going up the +street instead of down it; but immediately she remembered that the city +was repaving one of the streets between her home and the hall where she +was to appear, and since they were evidently going to take the "longer +way around" she settled back in her seat and began, once more, to +rehearse the carefully-prepared speech for the evening. She had gone +nearly through with it when she noticed that the streets, instead of +being more thickly settled as they approached her intended destination, +were wider, with scattered residences along the way; and that they were +going at a rapid pace, over the smooth ground. It was a bright moonlit +night, and there was a clear sky twinkling with stars. The onrush of the +cab made no impression of a wind against her cheek, because she was so +well shut away from the outside world, but through the glass windows she +noted the beautiful, quiet night, and saw that they were fast leaving +the city behind and gliding into the country. + +Through the glass she could see the chauffeur sitting, almost immovable, +intent upon his machine, and turning neither to the right or left, and a +feeling of terror seized upon her as she realized that she was being +carried away she knew not where, and that she was quite alone and +helpless. She called to the chauffeur, but he paid no attention whatever +to her cries. She shook the doors to her cab-prison, but she could not +open them; she rapped on the glass front close to the driver's ears, but +for all the notice he took of her she might have been a moth fluttering +in the background of the night. And all the time they were rushing on, +on, on, into the great calm of the moonlit night, beyond the glare of +electric lights, beyond the suburban dwellings, beyond the cheerful +farmhouses, and into the wooded roads which she recognized as belonging +to a neighboring town, at least fifteen miles from Roma. She called +again and again; she pounded the glass-front with the silver top of her +purse--the only thing in her possession which could make a noise, but +still the chauffeur sat motionless as if he were entirely alone. She +rose in her seat and called to the driver of a team as they passed it; +she tried to get the attention of a solitary foot-passenger, but the car +flew too fast, and if the men saw her she was out of their reach before +they could answer. + +Then she settled back, exhausted. She realized now, that she was the +victim of some trick of the opposition party. She looked at her watch. A +quarter of nine. By now she should have made her speech. John Allingham +was having everything his own way now, beyond a doubt. Possibly--probably, +he was behind this attempt to kidnap her--afraid to meet a woman on a +public platform; for that was it, disguise the thing as they might by +saying he would not debate with a woman. Contemptible! + +And still they flew on into the shining, moonlight night, out from the +fine old wood road, along the river-way, miles and miles away. + +If they were unwilling to match wits with a woman, why did they not say +so? Why condescend to kidnaping a woman and running away with her from +the fight? If this was the kind of a man John Allingham was-- + +They were turning into a cross-road now which led up-hill into another +strip of wood. Shadows of tall pines and oak trees made it like a solemn +temple, into the arched aisles of which they seemed to be entering. +Gertrude did not see, and apparently the motionless automaton before her +did not, that other machine gliding on in the shadowy road above and +toward them. There was a jar and a crash and they all came down +together. + +Gertrude Van Deusen, inside her prison, was not hurt, but at last, her +chauffeur was shaken out of his stoicism. Extricating himself from the +wreck, he hurried to unfasten the door which was uppermost. + +"Are you hurt?" he asked, speaking for the first time in twenty-two +miles. + +"I don't know. I think not. But let me out," she answered. + +He drew her out and she was soon on the ground again. There was a groan. + +"Who is that? There is a man hurt somewhere. We must get him out;" she +said. "Hurry." + +By this time the driver of the other machine had crawled out and was on +his feet. + +"It's Allingham," he said, in a tone of horror. "He's under the gear--" + +"Then get him out--quick," cried Gertrude. + +Her coolness and quickness of wit stimulated the two men and they set +about releasing the imprisoned sufferer. But it was Gertrude Van Deusen +who directed them and drew him out from under the wrecked machine, as +the two chauffeurs lifted the weight above him. + +It was John Allingham--quite unconscious. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +An Unusual Ride + + +"We shall have to go back to the nearest farmhouse for help," said the +chauffeur who had driven Gertrude Van Deusen. "We cannot get the +machines apart without help. Can you stay here with him--alone?" + +"Yes, yes, go on," she replied. "But first open his coat and get me his +handkerchief." She was sitting on the ground with Allingham's head in +her lap, staunching with her mouchoir the blood which flowed fast from a +cut on his forehead. "And hurry, for we must get him to a doctor as +quickly as possible." + +A moment later she was alone in the beauty of the night, except for the +man who lay unconscious beside her. She folded her own handkerchief and +laid it on the wound and then arranged the larger one as a bandage. In +tying it around his forehead, her fingers came in contact with his +face--a white upturned face which appealed to her pity so deeply that +she stopped to smooth his wide brow, as if he were a suffering child. + +Allingham awoke suddenly as if an electric current flowed suddenly +through his veins. His eyes opened, and gazing upward, he looked +straight into the clear face above him, which was, also, changed and +white in the moonlight. For a moment he did not recognize her. It was as +if their kindred spirits had met in clear space, away from all earthly +conditions. But in a moment, returning consciousness drew the veil +between them and he sat up, still clinging to her hand. + +"You!" he cried, "and here? What has happened? Why are you here?" + +"We are having our joint debate," she replied whimsically, her voice +betraying nothing of the tumult within. "But we are having it in an +unlooked for place and fashion. And you have the worst of it. Be +careful, please. Don't try to get up. The men have gone back for help. +Our affairs seem to be decidedly mixed; but never mind; we shall soon be +out of the woods--literally, I trust." + +"How can you keep so calm?" said Allingham. "Most women would have gone +to pieces. Why aren't you in tears?" + +"Perhaps to demonstrate my fitness for the mayoralty of Roma," she +replied with a touch of sarcasm. "There, the men are coming, with two +others." + +It was the work of but a few moments to get one automobile righted +again, when it was found to be not seriously impaired; but the other +one was wrecked beyond possibility of help that night. + +"You'll both have to go back to Roma in this one," said Gertrude's +chauffeur to Allingham. + +"If you'll permit me?" queried Allingham to the young woman standing +erect in the shade of the whispering pines. "But if you would prefer, I +will stay at the farmhouse." + +"No, no," answered Gertrude. "You must get back to the city and your +physician at once. That is, if you can endure the ride." + +"O, I'm all right. I was stunned a little, that's all, and my forehead +seems to have been scratched quite a bit," said Allingham. "But come, if +we are to ride together, we must get in." + +He helped her to her seat and got in himself, while the two men tucked +them in warmly and then climbed into the front seat. It was but a few +moments before they were on the road again, spinning towards the city +more than twenty miles away. + +"Now, tell me," Allingham began, after making sure they were on the +return road, "how did you happen to be here? I am devoured with +curiosity." + +"Don't you know--surely?" she returned. + +"Know?--I? How should I?" was the answer in a tone that convinced the +young woman, for the time being, anyway. + +"Why," she hesitated. "It looked suspicious--or at least--well, somebody +was behind it." + +"You don't mean to say you were kidnaped, too," cried Allingham. "I seem +to see light ahead." + +"I had just ordered my carriage to go to the hall and was all ready to +start," explained Gertrude, "when the automobile appeared, the +chauffeur saying he had been sent for me. I supposed the committee had +sent him--" + +"Just as I supposed my committee had sent for me," interposed Allingham. + +"Once in, and off, we came so fast I hardly realized anything until we +were out of town; and when I tried to open the door I couldn't, it was +fastened some way, on the outside; while as for making that automaton +hear--well!--" + +"The same in my case," said Allingham. "I was locked in. I've been +attributing my ride to Bailey Armstrong's minions--and I presume you've +been giving mine the credit for yours; but we probably owe it to the +City Hall crowd. For Burke, I hear, is getting a good deal worried over +tomorrow's election. But here we are, alive and with reason to be +thankful." + +"O, no, no," cried Gertrude, "think of that hall full of disappointed +people--of the friends who believe in our good faith--of how we have +failed to keep our promises. O, no, we cannot be thankful!" + +"But think of the accident and of what might have happened in the +crash--and didn't," he answered. "And let us forget for the rest of the +ride, the political situation and that we are opposing candidates." To +tell the truth, John Allingham was still tingling from that electric +touch, although faint from loss of blood, and judging by the pale face +of his companion, he felt that neither could endure much more. Gertrude, +looking out of the cab-window at the river gleaming under the bright +moonlight, was suddenly reminded of a night she had once passed by the +Danube, and fell to talking of it. + +Allingham, who had traveled much abroad, and had a keen memory, welcomed +the reminiscent mood, and the desultory conversation for the rest of +the way was such as might have been expected between two intelligent, +sympathetic acquaintances, thrown together during an idle hour. + +It was long after twelve when they glided into Roma again. The hall had +been closed an hour before and the disappointed audience, after +listening impatiently to the extempore speakers who had tried to fill +the time until the principals in the joint debate should appear, had +gone home doubtful of the morrow. + +The auto stopped outside the gate in front of Van Deusen Hall and one of +the chauffeurs, still muffled to the eyes, helped Gertrude to the +ground. John Allingham had stepped out first. But before he could +remonstrate with them for leaving a lady on the street alone and past +midnight, in fact, just as he was beginning to ask angrily, why they did +not drive in, the man slammed the door, jumped to his seat, and the cab +glided away. + +"And we haven't the faintest idea who they are?" said Miss Van Deusen. +"They didn't have any number--" + +"If it wasn't left with the wreck," answered Allingham, "and they were, +doubtless, too sharp for that. They have taken it off and hidden it. But +I shall have this thing looked into. A kidnaping affair like this can't +fail of discovery." + +"But neither of us could describe the men," returned the young woman. "I +couldn't--could you? They were thoroughly disguised in their big coats +and caps; and mine did not speak, only that once." + +"Nor mine, except at the wreck," said Allingham. "Nor do I know of an +electric cab in Roma. But nevertheless, you must go in." + +He walked up to the door with her. The house was all alight, her cousin +waiting in the greatest alarm. For there had been much telephoning +around the city when the speakers failed to appear at the meeting, and +the utmost consternation had been felt at their disappearance. + +Jessica Craig met her cousin with a sob, and a demand for explanations +in the same breath. But Gertrude was insisting that Allingham should +step in and rest, late as it was. + +"He is hurt," she explained to her cousin. "He must have something done. +Telephone to Dr. Dean immediately, James." + +It did not take much urging to induce her opponent to enter the +hospitable mansion, for he was now weak and faint. Once inside, the warm +atmosphere proved too much and he had to be helped to a sofa. Stimulants +were brought and administered, and Gertrude herself assisted in getting +him to the library to await the doctor. + +When that functionary appeared he found a severe scalp wound and a pulse +which bounded so high that he ordered him to his own carriage, bearing +him off to the Allingham home as soon as he could apply the requisite +number of plasters and bandages to his head. An anxious mother and aunt +were already preparing to receive him as an invalid, the news of the +accident and of his return to Roma having been telephoned. But before he +went, he found a chance to murmur to Gertrude Van Deusen his thanks for +her flying of the flag of truce, and his appreciation of her kindness. + +Feverish as he was, he half hoped she might win next day, whenever in +that long night, he recalled the look on her face, as she bent over him +in the moonlight. + +As for Gertrude, she tossed through sleepless hours, after the +excitement had passed and everybody had gone home, thinking, thinking, +thinking. + +"What a pity for him to feel as he does about women," she said to +herself. "A man full of all tenderness and chivalry at heart, he is +behind his age. I wonder how we would have met if I had never gone into +politics. I wonder if he would have liked me then, really?" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +Modern Journalism + + +The "Progressive Workers" has been especially busy in arranging for the +joint debate between their own and the Republican candidates, and they +were in full force and early at the meeting. When eight o'clock came and +Gertrude Van Deusen had not appeared, they felt no anxiety, but as the +moments passed and she did not come, they began to be surprised and then +alarmed. + +"Gertrude is always prompt," said Mrs. Bateman, as they waited in the +ante-room. "I cannot imagine what is keeping her. Telephone over to her +house, Anna, and see if she has left, won't you? I have to attend to +things here." + +Mrs. Stillman hurried to the telephone, coming back later with a puzzled +expression on her aristocratic features. + +"Her cousin says she left there at half past seven in an automobile," +she said. "It is half past eight now." + +"An automobile?" said Mrs. Bateman. "Did anybody send for her, I +wonder?" + +No one seemed to know. Their candidate had always been transported in +her own carriage and no one had thought of sending for her. Still, some +friend might have done so--and in an automobile, Bailey Armstrong, for +instance--who had a new one. Nothing was more natural than-- + +But just then Bailey came into the ante-room. + +"It's the strangest thing," he began, "Miss Van Deusen does not come, +and nobody seems to know where she is. And Jack Allingham is missing, +too. None of his friends can account for his absence. What are we going +to do?" + +"Do?" repeated Mrs. Bateman. "What can we do?" + +"The audience--a crowded one--is getting impatient," Bailey went on. +"We've got to begin somehow. The other side have a speaker whom they can +put on, but we--" + +"Go on yourself, Bailey," said Mrs. Mason. "You'll have to. We can fill +up the time somehow until Gertrude comes." + +After a hurried consultation with the representatives from Allingham's +committee, the meeting was opened and the speaking began. But although +those who addressed the audience were eloquent enough, they were +unprepared, and moreover, were conscious that their listeners were +keeping one eye upon the door; in short, everybody present desired only +to hear the two appointed speakers; so that the affair was most +perfunctory. The minutes grew into hours, and these did not arrive. Mrs. +Mason, Mrs. Bateman, even Mary Snow, were sent out to the platform to +represent the woman's side, and although they were well received, the +meeting broke up at eleven o'clock with a distinct sense of +disappointment, not to say failure. The audience dispersed with but one +question: + +"Where are they? and why have they not come?" + +A little after two, Gertrude called up Mrs. Bateman and told her of the +events which had transpired since she had started out for the joint +debate; but it was too late to send explanations to any other member of +the committee. + +"Are you going to let it get into the newspapers?" asked Mrs. Bateman. + +"Not I," said Gertrude. "Think what a miserable sensation it would +make." + +"Then I must call up Allingham's house and ask them to suppress it," +answered Mrs. Bateman. "But what excuse can we make? Something must be +said in explanation." + +"I don't know," said Gertrude wearily. "I leave that to you and Judge +Bateman. I do not want it to get into the newspapers." + +"Very well; then I will call up the Allingham's" responded Mrs. Bateman. +Which she did, and found that Mrs. Allingham was horror-stricken at the +bare suggestion that the kidnaping of her son should be written up for +the press. + +"He is asleep," she said, "and has been since the doctor put on his last +bit of plaster; but as soon as he wakens I will ask him what I shall +tell you to say. Anyhow, we will keep it out of the papers, if +possible." + +But all the same the next morning the story was featured in every +journal in town, with more or less display according to the style of +each individual paper. Naturally, the more conservative of them strove +to tell the story correctly and insinuated that the Burke party were +behind the "contemptible trick;" but the sheet which upheld the "City +Hall crowd," as all Roma termed its municipal authorities, gave a most +sensational account, telling it with a flippant and gleeful inaccuracy +which spoke volumes for the accomplishments of modern yellow journalism. +It headed its article thus: + + "CANDIDATES IN COLLISION" + + "Handsome Woman Candidate and Aristocratic Aspirant for Mayoralty + Flee from Joint Debate, only to Crash Together in the Woods and + Return in Electric Cab Together." + +A portion of the article ran as follows: + + "For weeks the advocates of higher education for women and the + shriekers for female suffrage who have been pushing the daughter + of the late Senator Van Deusen forward in her attempt to become + Mayor of Roma, have been laboring to arrange a joint debate in + which their candidate should take the platform and discuss the + issues of our city campaign with that scion of would-be American + Royalty, Jack Allingham. They have left no stone unturned to + interest the public in this expected clash of argument and trial + of brain-power. (We refrain from commenting here upon the minimum + quantity of the latter necessary to such a debate.) Finally they + had, with great flourish of trumpets and beating of drums--(we + are speaking politically, not literally now)--arranged for such a + debate on the very evening before election day. + + "Last night Brocklebank Hall was crowded with the usual audience + of mixed social position and nationality in attendance at mass- + meetings of the Republican and Independent parties in Roma. They + had gathered to hear the accumulated perorations of wit and + wisdom on the part of their two candidates. They were to decide, + finally, which one to vote for today; to make up their little + minds whether to put into the mayor's chair a stiff, conservative + aristocrat who cares no more for the laboring classes of Roma + than he does for its work-horses--(or its mules) or a young woman + of good ancestry, but no actual knowledge of municipal affairs-- + only an inherited cock-sureness of opinion on any and every + subject that may come up. + + "Did they hear this great joint debate? + + "No. Why? Because during the hours while the impatient + audience were beguiled by feeble arguments from mushroom + speakers, who attempted to amuse them while they waited, the + principal actors in this farce were miles away, chasing each + other about in electric cabs, which at a distance of twenty miles + or more from Brocklebank Hall collided and threw the aspiring + occupants out in a deep wood. Thus doth fate pursue the over- + ambitious and wreck their plans. + + "When the chauffeurs returned from the farmhouse whence they + had gone for help in extricating their machines, Allingham, the + aristocrat, lay prone on the ground with his head in the lap of + her who had been his whilom opponent for the mayor's chair. A + sight fit for the gods, truly--and also for the voters of + Roma. + + "The couple, erstwhile at swords' points, but now tucked + cosily together in one electric cab, were later brought back to + Roma at one o'clock in the morning--she none the worse for her + skillful evasion of the platform contest, and he with a slight + scalp wound only, to show that he had been worsted. + + "It remains now for the voters of Roma to consider whether + such candidates as these are to be considered fit to be trusted + with the affairs of our enterprising young city--and to vote + accordingly." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +Election Day + + +Election day dawned bright and clear and all Roma was up early, actively +interested for once in the outcome of the day's work. The polling places +were lively at seven o'clock and from that hour they grew more and more +crowded, as men and women of all parties swarmed to deposit their +ballots according to the Australian system. Never before in the history +of the town had so many voters been out on the day of a municipal +election. + +The women had opened coffee-rooms for the day close by all the important +voting booths, and wives and daughters of the most prominent men in +town served the steaming beverage by turns throughout the election hours +free to all who might come. Moreover, they saw to it that no voter who +mustered under the City Reform Club banner, was neglected. It would be +too much to assume that the liquor stands were outdone, but at least the +"Progressive Workers" were the means of sending many men home sober that +day, and of rescuing a few of the tempted ones. + +The leaders of the different parties were here, there and everywhere, +looking after the interests of their respective candidates, talking, +persuading, urging or buying the dilatory or vacillating vote. And the +women found, early in the day, that in order to compete with the +opposition, they must stay close to the polls. + +"What shall we do? How divide our forces?" they asked. + +Bailey Armstrong had just dropped into the coffee-room in the principal +ward. + +"Well, something, and at once," he said. "Sam Watts is everywhere, +guiding his committees and buying up votes. Morgan and Jack Allingham, +too, are getting down to business." + +"Then Mr. Allingham is able to be out?" inquired Gertrude, at Bailey's +side. + +"He is out, able or unable," returned Bailey. "And they are leaving no +stone unturned to get votes. I guess you'll have to come and turn a few +cobblestones yourself--" + +"Yes, Gertrude," said Mrs. Bateman, "you'll have to. I'll go the rounds +with you." + +"Mrs. Stillman and I will go over to ward seven," said Mrs. Jewett. +"Mrs. Mason and Mrs. Turner to ward three, and Mrs. Wentworth and Grace +Tolman to ward two. And we'll get out some others. You couldn't go, +could you, Miss Snow?" + +"I am writing up the woman's part of today's battle," returned Mary +Snow. "I shall go to every ward, and will help what I can,--but I cannot +neglect my paper. _The Atlas_ is going to give us all the space we can +fill tonight." + +"_The Atlas_ has been good to us all through," said Gertrude. "We have +one paper--and a decent one--we can depend upon." + +It was arranged that the women should divide themselves into committees +of two at each voting booth, these couples to shift every hour or two, +so that Gertrude Van Deusen might be seen at every booth. + +"One would think I had been on view long enough so that every man, woman +and child should be familiar with my features by this time," she +laughed, remembering her constant appearance on the platform during the +campaign. "Yet they are saying in some of the lower wards, that the +voters have never laid eyes on me. Well, they shall have the chance." + +Had it not been that the love of battle and of conquest had been born +and bred in the old Senator's daughter, Gertrude would have sickened +already of politics and politicians and the mass of feeble humanity that +was like clay in the hands of the potter. For in spite of the real +interest of the more intelligent citizens, there were the usual +hangers-on and heelers,--men who had no civic sense, no idea of public +duty, no moral stamina; men who sold their votes openly and as a matter +of course. + +"What'll you women give me?" asked one of these derelicts of Mrs. +Bateman. "Burke's crowd has given me two dollars. If you'll make it +three, I'll vote for your candidate." + +"We are not buying votes, sir," replied the Judge's wife. "We have no +respect for a man who will sell his vote. But we will give you, in +return for yours, the satisfaction of feeling that you are a man among +men; that you are doing the right and honorable thing, and that you are +helping to establish an honest government here in Roma. Isn't your +manhood worth more than two or even three dollars to you?" + +"Well," returned the man after a speechless moment, "I'll be dinged if +it isn't! I am going to vote for you, anyhow." Which he proceeded to do, +although in somewhat maudlin fashion. + +At ward three, Miss Van Deusen came face to face with John Allingham. It +was an awkward moment for both. Gertrude flushed, but she carried her +head high, and said "Good morning," with so much cordiality that +Allingham felt more awkward than ever. + +All night he had slept but fitfully, and in his wakeful hours had +regretted with self-denunciation, that his name was to be voted upon +that day. In his waking dreams he had thought once of withdrawing his +candidacy, even at the polls. When he slept, he was riding once more, +through the beautiful night--not alone, locked into the cab--but with +Gertrude Van Deusen beside him, talking in her sweet musical voice, of +things far removed from Roma and its dirty politics. The mobile face, +the starry eyes, the delicate perfume that enwrapped her, lingered with +him, and when he waked, it was difficult to cast the memory aside and to +gather his wits for the fight which he must make against her that day, +for an office he did not want;--but on the other hand, more than ever +did he want her not to have it. That beautiful and gracious young woman +he told himself, endowed with rare graces of mind and soul,--she must +not be allowed to soil herself with the political machinery at City +Hall. She had been misguided, led into this candidacy by those other +women, strong-minded suffragists. Was it not his duty to get out and +work for her defeat? + +And so he arose and dressed, and although hotly opposed by his +women-folk, who thought he should stay in bed and be carefully nursed +for a week, he went forth, his face adorned with surgeon's plaster and +his heart full of mixed motives, to the fray. + +"You are none the worse for your ride?" he said to her. "You are sure +you were not hurt?" + +"No, not a bit," laughed Gertrude. "There isn't even the odor of +liniment about me. But you,--your hurts must pain you? You were badly +used up last night. Ought you to be out?" And then she blushed, +remembering he was out to defeat her. + +"Oh, I am well again," he returned, "only these bits of plaster make me +out worse than I am. As soon as this election is over I'm going to find +out who was at the bottom of that devilish plot." + +"You'll never find out," said Bailey Armstrong, coming up at that +moment. "It was some of Burke's dirty work, but they've covered their +tracks mighty well. I've been making inquiries this morning. There isn't +an electric cab in this city." + +"Then they came over from Bonborough--or Plattsville," said Allingham. +"There are plenty of them there." + +"Yes, many," returned Armstrong. "But we shall never learn the truth. +The trick was done so well that the perpetrators know how to cover +their tracks." + +But a bevy of voters coming in, the conversation ended and Gertrude did +not see her opponent again that day. + +At six o'clock that evening, she lay on the couch in her own room, weary +with the day's experiences. For all she had considered herself well +posted in political methods, this day had been a revelation to her. + +"Well, Jessica," she told her cousin, "I suppose we shall know before we +go to bed how I stand. But at this moment, after all I've seen today and +realizing the state our city affairs are in, I will own to you in +confidence that I hope--honestly and earnestly,--that I am defeated. +John Allingham may have the mayor's chair and welcome. I've seen enough +of it already, and I tell you I am sick at heart." + +"And what if it is Barnaby Burke who comes off victorious?" asked her +cousin. + +"Well, I am not sufficiently discouraged to be willing to have that +happen," said Gertrude. "Still--between you and me,--I don't 'want the +job,' as I heard one man express it today. But, even if I lose the +election, it will always be a comfort to me to remember how the +working-people came out for me,--as well as to know just who, among my +father's old friends, can be reckoned as mine. And now, I want a little +nap before dinner." + +Down at the headquarters of the City Reform Club Judge Bateman and his +colleagues awaited the result of the count. With them were many of the +"Progressive Workers," eager for news. The Union Club, the hotels and +Burke's headquarters were crowded, while John Allingham and his trusted +lieutenants were gathered at the Municipal League rooms. Returns came in +slowly and the crowds on the street clamored for news faster than the +bulletins could be given out. + +At ten o'clock John Allingham was obliged to retreat and go home, +physically worn out. The accident of the previous evening, combined with +the excitement of the day, had proved too much for him. He was already +in bed when the final returns reached him by telephone. Then he shut and +locked his door, refusing to speak to another soul that night,--not even +to his mother when she came up to see if he had taken the doctor's +medicine. + +Gertrude Van Deusen, too, remained in her room alone. Face to face with +the decisive moment of victory or defeat, she could not see anyone. She +was too tired to care much whether she had won or lost, although she +recalled now, as a hopeful augury, that she had never yet been defeated +for any office for which she had run in the various women's societies to +which she belonged. + +"Let John Allingham have the place, if he can get it," she was saying to +herself for the fiftieth time, as the mantel clock chimed out the +half-past ten. "I am swept under by a queer psychological wave of +repulsion. I hope I shall lose." + +But she was aroused just then by the sound of women's voices on the +stairs,--laughing and chattering,--and she felt the note of triumph +ringing through her brain as they came up to her door. + +"Hurrah for Roma's Woman Mayor!" cried the first one to enter. "Here's +to Her Honor the Mayor." + +At the same moment John Allingham and Barnaby Burke were saying to +themselves with a choice of words befitting their habitual language: + +"Defeated! and by a Woman!" + +And Burke added: + +"I wonder now, just what happened in that cab last night. That was a +mistake." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +The New Mayor's Policy + + +The story of the kidnaping spread through the city like wildfire, and +surmounted in interest even the result of the election. As usual in such +cases, the facts were exaggerated and speculation ran rife as to the +principals in the plot. Some people (the more sensible) thought the +Burke forces had planned and executed the whole coup, but others +believed that it originated with Sam Watt's party and that Armstrong, +getting wind of the carrying away of Gertrude Van Deusen, speedily +turned the tables on Allingham by hiring another cab and seizing upon +him as he was leaving his house alone, to walk down town to the public +debate. It leaked out, too, that there were two men with the cab which +carried John Allingham, lest,--the people said,--he should try to break +the plate glass front and jump from his moving prison. But that the plot +was a well-matured one was proven by the fact that outside locks had +been placed on the doors to both cabs, so that they could not be forced +open from the inside. + +No definite clue, however, could be obtained to the perpetrators of the +kidnaping scheme, although both sufferers from it had put private +detectives at work upon the affair. But, like many startling public +events, the midnight ride of the two candidates was a "nine days' +wonder" and then the public interest centered around the newly elected +mayor. + +Gertrude had need not only of public sympathy, but of all the courage +and clear-sightedness which she had inherited. This she realized more +fully than ever, when the excitement of campaigning was over. If she had +chosen to spend her time and strength and money on automobiles or fine +clothes, people would have passed upon her choice as the natural thing, +and envied her way of living; but now that she had elected to work hard +and to give herself freely to fighting for principle and establishing +good government in her city, her friends of different tastes whispered +among themselves, "How strange!" "How unwomanly!" "How unnatural for a +woman!" + +"The only motives many people can understand," said Gertrude one day to +her cousin, "are the ones by which they themselves are actuated. And not +always then. My rich friends may not be able to understand, but the +plain people will; the ones who are capable of conviction and of +sacrifices for conviction will." + +"All the same, Gertie," retorted her cousin, "this world is not made up +of Savonarolas nor other burn-at-the-stake folks. You are in a bad +scrape and I wish you had had sense enough to say no when those women +dragged you forth," which only went to prove the axiom that one's +relatives are privileged of speech. + +But the new mayor paid no attention to her cousin and went on calmly +planning for the future of Roma, visiting its various institutions and +getting as thorough an insight into its public administration as +possible before taking her place in the mayor's chair. She visited the +schools, the hospitals, the police stations, the jail. She was +overwhelmed with the magnitude of what she had undertaken, but already +dreamed of a new and beautiful development of the city. She consulted +with the leading business men,--judges, lawyers, and the clergy. She +began to evolve ideas of her own and thanked Heaven every night that she +had been endowed with courage and will-power sufficient to keep her from +turning back from her municipal plough in a panic,--courage enough to +keep her head high and her aim straight in the path that lay in front of +her. She began to draw near the people, to feel a personal interest in +them, to realize the great brotherhood of humanity, and to wonder how +best she might hope to apply the highest social ideals to the everyday +life of her city. Did any man ever take possession of the mayoral chair +with purer hopes or more worthy ambitions? + +In the meantime every mail brought her letters more or less +congratulatory in tone. Some predicted a glorious career ahead for her; +some half concealed their disbelief in her ability to fulfill the duties +she was to assume; some openly warned her of the perils of weakness and +demagogue government, or advised her against the institution of radical +reforms. + +Socially, she was more in demand than before. Dinners and receptions +demanded her presence as chief guest, while her newly acquired gift of +speech-making was called into requisition on all sorts of occasions. But +the finest social affair of all was the dinner given in her honor by the +"Progressive Workers," on the night before her inauguration. To this +were invited all the notable men and women of Roma, the mayors of the +neighboring cities and the governor of the State, who really attended, +supported by a galaxy of uniformed officers which lent brilliancy by +their glittering stars and bars, if not by their wit and intellect. + +Gertrude, arrayed in her finest Paris gown,--a white embroidered crepon +with garniture of exquisite lace,--received the guests at six o'clock, +in line with the governor and the mayors of six other cities, together +with Mrs. Bateman as president of the "P. W.'s", and Judge Bateman of +the City Reform Club. John Allingham had been invited, too, to stand in +line, as the head of the Municipal League, but until the last moment no +answer was received from him. + +Gertrude had not seen him since election day. He had been ill after the +election was all over, and unable to go out for a fortnight; and +although he had been strongly tempted to write a note of congratulation +to the new mayor, he was kept back by pride--which in this case, it must +be admitted, was another name for obstinacy. For this reason, he did not +decide whether or no to attend the new mayor's reception until Bailey +Armstrong descended upon him in the League rooms, two days before the +date. + +"Why don't you answer your bid for the reception to Miss Van Deusen, +Jack?" he asked bluntly, as he seated himself in the chair nearest the +chairman's private desk. "Can't you lay aside your prejudice long enough +for that?" + +"Well, what do you think?" replied Jack. "The League refused to endorse +her, you know." + +"Under you, yes," retorted Bailey with the frankness of an old friend. +"But isn't it about time the League came around and did the square +thing? You're putting the League in a bad light, Jack; really you are. I +thought you had more sense. And, I tell you, Miss Van Deusen is going to +give this town a waking up, such as will make you want to enlist under +her banner--quick. Come, be decent, now." + +"If you think it will be best for the League," began Allingham. + +"Yes. It'll be better for the League--and best for you," said Bailey. +"Hurry up now and write your acceptance, and then come." + +It was late when he arrived, and the rooms were closely crowded with +guests, so that he was hurried past the receiving party and left in his +place in the line. He had just a formal greeting for Gertrude and at the +dinner was seated where he could only note her beauty and brilliancy +from afar. But the effect was John Allingham's first eye-opener in the +development of the modern woman. Brought up as he had been, by a narrow +jealous mother, kept close at his books, living at home, even during his +college days, he had never before come under the direct influence of the +women who are becoming an educative, progressive power in the world of +today; and he began to wonder for the first time in his life, if a +woman might not be a strong force in public reforms and still retain +her refinement of spirit and her home-loving, home-keeping qualities. + +He recalled how lovely Gertrude Van Deusen used to look as a girl of +eighteen, when he had seen her at public gatherings with her +distinguished father. But here tonight, she was even more beautiful; her +expression was sweeter and more confident; the fine lines of her figure +suggested power, and also repose. She had the same rich color, the same +lovely curves, the same joyous health; but she had, too, a wiser and a +far finer face. + +"And yet," he told himself, "all my study and travel and observation +tells me a woman's natural position in society is in a safely guarded +home; and the evil consequences of meddling with this position must show +themselves, sooner or later. Humanity is of one general quality +everywhere,--and that not so high as she apparently believes. Changes in +social ideals are more or less dangerous and indicate decadence, often, +rather than advance. Yet the atmosphere tonight is charged with joyous +triumph. Let us see what she is going to say." + +For amidst deafening applause, the new mayor had begun to speak to the +assemblage around her. + +"I am not going to announce any definite line of policy," she was +saying, "because, as yet, I have none. I shall take up the work as it +comes to me and shall not forget that I am after all only the city's +chiefest servant. But, there are many thoughts which I would share with +you. There are many things I would have you be thinking over, that we +may see alike, perhaps, in the future when our work develops,--for it is +yours as much as mine, this work of making a better city. Instead of +accepting a written code of first principles in municipal ethics (and +why not municipal ethics as well as moral and medical ethics?) let us +learn to trace and connect, explain and apply, so as to make our +accepted truths into a working principle. Every trade, every profession, +has a basis of ethical knowledge; all conduct, public or private, has +its ethics. Get the people to study the science of conduct, the +development of the ideal into everyday life, and our public morality +will rise and spread every year. We have separated too much those two +closely allied things, religion and ethics. Let's try to bring them +together right here in Roma. We can't reform the city in a year,--but we +can begin. No religion is alive until--unless it works. We want no +'varnish religion,' as somebody called it; we want no ethics that won't +strike in and uplift humanity as high as is humanly possible. God is +still busy in Roma. It is our business, as private citizens, as well as +public officials, to take right hold and help. Let us all set ourselves +to studying the ethics of city government. What have been our especial +hindrances, and why? What can be done to improve matters, and how? What +are our first and most crying needs, and who are our best men and women +to help them? We are set here together to help on the good work. I'd +rather see the people of Roma loving each other in dollars and cents' +and reaching out to help, realizing the immeasurable happiness of living +by giving themselves in service, than anything else in the world. We can +all demonstrate the highest social relation, our highest duty to God, by +doing things. Will you help?" + +There were tears in the eyes of the other women present when she sat +down,--and a corresponding feeling in the hearts of many men, for she +had stirred to the depths many a heart that only needed the path of duty +pointed out, to desire to walk therein. + +As for John Allingham, he sat spellbound. A woman,--a young woman to +talk like this? to dream of applying the doctrines of ethics to city +politics? And in the City Hall of Roma? And yet,--why not? + +When the exercises were over and the goodnights were being said, he went +over to where she stood, shaking hands again with the departing guests +and joyously receiving pledge after pledge of help from those whose +assistance she most eagerly desired. He had to wait for some moments +before his chance came. But finally he held out his hand and said with +more cordiality than he had thought possible: + +"I want to congratulate Roma upon its woman-mayor. I want to thank you +for what you said tonight; and please count on me, from now on, to help +in every possible way." + +He was still young enough to thrill at the tone of her voice and the +light in her eyes as she thanked him, and said, "I shall remember." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +At Work + + +The new mayor's inauguration into office was an event which will go down +in the history of Roma as witnessing the greatest crowd of citizens of +both sexes in City Hall which that temple of the money-changers ever saw. +Both the friends and the enemies of the new administration were out in +full force, and Gertrude Van Deusen's speech, accepting her new +responsibilities, found ready response in many a heart which was +thrilled by her words for the first time that day. The women of Roma +turned out en masse and the old City Hall was not spacious enough to +shelter all that came. + +But it was when she took actual possession of the handsomely appointed +office of the mayor, that she realized fully she was face to face with +the greatest problem of her life. For now she had access to the inner +temple of the mysteries of city government. She had already provided +against the sex-awkwardness of her situation by installing as private +secretary, Mary Snow, of the Atlas. + +"Don't tell me no," she had urged when she offered Mary the position. "I +must have a broad-minded, capable woman there who has had experience and +knowledge of affairs. I know of nothing that could give a woman this +kind of insight into public matters, like newspaper work of the kind you +have done." + +"But there are other newspaper women," began Mary-- + +"Yes, I know there are," replied Gertrude Van Deusen. "But a woman must +have personal character and dignity and personal honor to fill this +position, as well as the aforesaid experience." + +And Mary Snow had accepted the place, to the joy of all other newspaper +workers; for the gatherer of news is always rejoiced to find a newspaper +man or woman ready to serve them when they are sent out for information +by their chiefs. As the new mayor believed in publicity she soon had the +sworn support of most of the newspaper men who came near City Hall. Her +stenographer, too, was an attractive young woman and the feminine +element soon became evident in all that part of the building devoted to +the mayor's use. Flowers bloomed in the windows, an early and thorough +house cleaning took place, and the cuspidors which had been conspicuous +at every turn were banished,--all but the occasional one which must be +left for the stranded politician who could not wait until he got out of +doors. Signs were placed in various parts of the building, calling +attention to the new waste-baskets, and prohibiting smoking and +expectoration. + +From time immemorial, City Hall had been a loafing place for seedy +politicians, active and retired, who passed their time plotting for the +next campaign in the free seats provided by the City Fathers. One +morning these individuals found no chairs,--absolutely none except those +used by the officials and clerical force. They called the janitor and +expostulated volubly, but all to no effect. + +"She's banished 'em, boys," he said. "It would be as much as my place is +worth to bring 'em back. The boys say she ain't agoin' to have no +heelers 'round here, nohow." + +With this they had to be content--after they had grumbled long +enough--to go away and hunt up new quarters. For once, there was a City +Hall with clean corridors, no tobacco smoke, and no loafers. + +From the moment of her entrance into office, office-seekers and +office-holders beset Gertrude Van Deusen until she began to doubt if +there would be time left for the pursuance of any other duty in life +than to appease them. She learned, quickly enough, to shunt these off on +her private secretary; but while she did not propose to discharge good +men, she found that there must be good counsellors at hand for her own +safety. At the end of her first week she called for the resignation of +the city solicitor, McAdoo, who was rather glad than otherwise to "cut +loose from petticoat government," as he expressed it. His place she +filled at once by giving Bailey Armstrong the position. + +The Common Council was made up of eighteen men, about half of whom were +new to the position, so that it remained to be seen how far they could +be depended upon to support any radical reform instituted by the new +mayor; but as Geoffrey Mason and Albert Turner had finally consented to +run on "the woman ticket" and had been elected, she felt that she might +count on their influence, at least, and hoped to win over others. There +were perhaps half a dozen, besides, on the "woman ticket"--every one of +whom were men who would have declined to serve with any other mayor; but +having pledged their word to "see her through" and been elected, they +fulfilled their pledge now, like the staunch, good citizens they were. +With this backing she felt that she might hope to carry out the work she +had undertaken. + +There were many things to harass her, however, chief among them being +that the board of aldermen were strongly against her, men of the old +regime mostly, ready to fight against any radical reforms and to begin +work already to defeat her most cherished plans. + +"She's in for two years, worse luck," said one of them. "But we'll tie +her hands so she can't do too much mischief. A mayor's only a mayor, +after all," with which significant utterance he winked solemnly to the +reporter who was interviewing him for the _Screamer_. + +But the new mayor went serenely on with her new duties, and if she knew +all these things, gave no sign; apparently, the machinery of municipal +government was running on well-oiled wheels until even the most ardent +of her supporters began to wonder when she was "going to get busy." + +But she was busy. The new mayor had a constructive imagination and did +not fear big ideas. She dreamed already of a warfare against +privilege--the privileges of the franchise corporations, the privileges +of unjust taxation, and ultimately the privilege of private monopoly. +Graft must be stamped out of the city administration, and a high order +of men elected to the bench. Some big things must be accomplished in the +city. + +She had arrived at the conclusion that to most people the municipality +is an industrial accident, its government rather a matter of police, +fire and health administration, some public schools and a police court, +a street and water department; that they wanted just enough of these +things, and at the lowest possible cost, to enable men to go about their +daily business. + +"That," she said to herself, "is the average man's conception of the +uses of a municipality. Some day we shall look back upon such an idea of +a city as we now look back upon the straggling tepees of an Indian +village. The city of tomorrow will be a people's city, doing countless +things, all for the welfare of the people." + +"And you expect to put that idea into practice here?" asked Mary Snow +somewhat incredulously, as they sat at lunch together after a morning of +hard work. "You expect Roma to stand for all that!" + +"Her Honor" smiled back across the table. "Yes," she said, "I expect to +start things in that direction, and to create such a public interest +that my successor will be chosen especially to carry on the work that I +mean to begin. I know of one city which already views these things as a +necessary part of a good city's administration. It is not content with +doing as few things as possible; it does as many things as possible for +its people. Its public bath-houses give hundreds of thousands of baths +every year. They are equipped with gymnasiums, where public instructors +teach the children. Thousands of families are entertained free of cost +by the baseball games played upon the public diamonds scattered all over +the city. A number of city leagues have been organized, composed of +clerks and workingmen. In the winter, skating carnivals are held and two +score artificial skating ponds are maintained. The children are invited +to the parks for May-day and romping-day festivals. All of these things +not only enlarge the life of the people, but also identify them with the +city in a way that was not dreamed of a few years ago. By following +these lines, Roma may be a people's city, a city that serves, that +brings happiness to thousands whose life is otherwise encompassed with +the dreary drudgery of toil." + +"If you could bring such an ideal state of things to pass," said Mary +Snow, "Roma would call you blessed among women. And you would never be +allowed to stop being mayor." + +"Well," returned Gertrude, "the best way to fight the saloon is to offer +a substitute greater in interest. In my ideal city not only will there +be plenty of free baseball diamonds, but also golf links and tennis +courts, to invite thousands of people into the city's pleasure resorts. +A dozen playgrounds will be laid out in the congested districts. Here +trained men will teach the children of the poor how to play. These +children will be taken from the street. They will be saved from the +reformatory. They will be given good bodies to live in. In this way the +work of the police department will be diminished, for one playground is +the equivalent of several patrolmen. And it does not cost one-quarter as +much. Who knows but our Roma of tomorrow will do these things on a +grander scale than any of our cities have yet attempted? It will rival +the saloon and bring opportunities for recreation and happiness within +easy access of the poorest man's home." + +But Mary Snow did not answer. She had caught Bailey Armstrong's smile as +he passed down the room, and even the ideal city faded into +insignificance as a warm thrill called the color into her cheeks, and +made Gertrude say as she glanced up at her: + +"How pretty you look, Mary. I wouldn't suppose you were a day over +eighteen." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +Skirmishing + + +When Gertrude returned to her office a man sat waiting for her, a big, +burly looking man with an evil-looking eye. + +"I want to talk with you alone," he said when she had taken her seat. +"Can't you send the others out?" + +She was surprised at the request and started to say that her private +secretary must be present at all interviews; when she thought better of +it and motioned the stenographer and Miss Snow to go out. + +"Now we can talk business," said the man, drawing his chair up closer. +"See here, my name is McAlister. I've the contract for laying out the +avenue from Hayden Park to the Boulevard." + +"And you are doing the work?" asked Gertrude. + +"Yes, I'm doing the work all right," returned McAlister. "But this smart +Alec you have in the law department may make trouble--and expense for +the city," he added. + +"Just how, Mr. McAlister?" asked Gertrude so smoothly as to cause the +big contractor to take fresh courage. + +"Well, you know when a lawyer is put into a public position--city +solicitor or district attorney, or whatever--the first thing he does is +to look for something that he can rip up the back." + +"And what is the matter with your contract?" Her tones were dulcet now. + +"Nothing at all. My contract is all right," replied the man. "But +Armstrong is putting up a bluff and threatens to have it overhauled." + +"But why?" persisted the mayor. + +"Now look here, your Honor," urged the man confidentially. "Your father +was a politician. He knew all the tricks of the trade. He made his pile +all right, one way or another." + +"Mr. McAlister!" Gertrude's voice had a new note. + +"O, hold yourself close, now," said he. "No harm meant. Senator Van +Deusen was as fine a man as Roma ever produced. And if I didn't vote for +you--it wasn't because I wouldn't do anything for his daughter. But +now,--well, let's make it a mutual thing. You protect me and my +interests and I'll stick by you, and where I go, there go several +hundred other good voters." + +"The scoundrel!" said Gertrude to her inmost soul. But she did not +change countenance. + +"Well, I will look into the matter," she replied. "If your contract is +all right--and you say it is--the city will certainly stand by you. Of +course I could not promise anything more definite than that now. But I +will look into the matter and advise Mr. Armstrong." + +"O, don't take your time to look up a contract a year old," said +McAlister. "It won't be worth your while. Take my word,--the word of one +who worked night and day for your father,--and just call Armstrong off. +He'll find enough in the bridge department to keep him busy, if he must +stir things up anywhere." + +"I will speak to Mr. Armstrong," said Gertrude, rising and pushing the +electric button as a signal for the others to return. There was nothing +for McAlister to do but depart, wondering just how much he had gained by +the interview. + +"If she goes to looking into old contracts--" he muttered as he went +down the stairs--and then whistled sharply. + +When he was well out of sight, Gertrude sent for Bailey Armstrong. + +"What are you doing to one McAlister?" she asked. "A street contractor, +I believe he is." + +"Nothing, as yet. Why?" asked the city attorney. + +"Well, he's just left me," replied the mayor. "Says you are going to +'rip his contract up the back,'--to quote him literally." + +"Aha!" said Bailey. "Then he's afraid, is he? I've done nothing as yet, +but I heard something the other day that caused me to suspect trouble in +that direction. See here, Gertie, just how far do you want me to go in +this 'ripping-up-the-back' business? I'm positive if we once begin we'll +find graft on every side of us. Then trouble will begin, you +know,--trouble for you, I mean." + +"Never mind me," she answered. "What am I here for if it is not to +purify city government? I don't expect to make friends in the process; +but if I can serve the city--and thereby my state and my country, +why,--" She stopped and looked fearlessly at Armstrong. + +"Then I shall go ahead--looking into the matter of contracts and +appropriations?" he asked. + +"Certainly," she replied. "No matter whom it hits, investigate every +department of the administration." + +"Bravo!" said he. "You're a chip of the old block all right." Gertrude +remembered with a twinge of apprehension what McAlister had said about +her father's "pile." "But you must be prepared for war--underhanded, +tricky, politicians' war," added Bailey. + +A week later he appeared again at her office and asked for a private +interview. + +"Gertrude," he began, "it's as I feared about McAlister. He has an +infamous contract--or, rather, a whole set of them--and he is fleecing +the city with every yard of pavement he puts down." + +"That doesn't surprise me," replied the Mayor. "It's the scared bird +that flutters." + +"He has a separate contract for every 300 square yards of pavement he +lays," said Armstrong. "Instead of accepting the terms of the lowest +bidder, the board of aldermen let him these contracts. It is a wrong +system from the start. We ought to have a competitive system and award +our contracts to the lowest bidder who will do good work. Instead of +that, there seems to have been some sort of chicanery by which McAlister +was given all these little contracts,--on every one of which he makes a +big profit,--while the other bidders were not even considered." + +"Who has the giving out of contracts, anyway? Oughtn't there to be a +regular system about it?" + +"There should be a law about it," said Bailey. "But I find nothing in +the city charter. And I find that contracts have been given out by +aldermen, councilmen or mayor, just as happened to suit their notions +best." + +"Suppose you go to work, Bailey, and draft me a bill providing that +every piece of work to be done for the city shall be open to all +bidders. We must have some definite plans of considering and acting on +these bids--so that none of the officials can give out contracts without +such action and vote as the whole council and the mayor think best. +Better make it obligatory that the bids be opened in the presence of all +who may wish to be present and in the presence of, or by, the mayor. +That would be something I'd like to establish in my term--something to +be remembered." + +"Not only that," said Armstrong, "but no contract should be considered +binding on the city without the mayor's signature of approval." + +"Go ahead and draw it up," said the Mayor. "And then we'll have a +meeting of the Common Council and get it adopted." + +But while it was easy enough to draw up and elaborate the bill, it was +not so simple a matter to get it passed. A meeting was called and every +one of the Common Council came. Then Gertrude began to count her +strength, and to find that a man's pocketbook is next to his heart in +more senses than one. + +It was a stormy meeting--this first one over which the woman-mayor +presided. Mason and Turner and several others of the new members of the +city council worked ably to get the proposed amendment to the charter +through; but every alderman and a majority of the Council were against +it. The debate was hot and turbulent. Several times the mayor had to +bring down her gavel sharply, and call to order men much older and +better versed in parliamentary tactics than herself. And when it was all +over, the assembly had voted to lay the whole matter on the table! + +"It all comes to just this, I am afraid," said Gertrude to Armstrong and +Mary Snow when it was all over and they were back in the mayor's office. +"They all fear exposure of one kind or another. How much do you suppose +they want to conceal?" + +"There is nothing hid which cannot be found out," retorted Bailey, "and +by the great horn spoon, I'll find it out." + +"They may wish they had voted 'yes' before they get through with this," +said Mary Snow. "For they must know that you have access to every sort +of record in the city, if you choose." + +"And I choose," responded Miss Van Deusen. "I'll go through every +contract, now we're started. That reminds me, Bailey, McAlister hinted +that you could find plenty to do in the bridge department, if you must +'rip things up the back'. I would look into that, too, if I were you." + +"Yes--and this new franchise the street railway is so nearly +concluding," he answered. "O, we'll be enough for them yet. When are you +going to appoint a new street commissioner? Perhaps that might +precipitate things a little." + +"Tomorrow, then, I'll ask for Thalberg's resignation," was the reply. +"How would John Allingham do for that place? I've been thinking it +might be a good thing all around." + +"Splendid," cried Bailey. "He'd like it, too. He likes a good +fight--always did." + +"Would he, do you think? Under a woman-mayor?" she added. + +"I think so. It's different now you are elected, you know. Ever notice +how much easier it is to support an innovation after it is well started +than before?" + +"Then come, Minnie," she said, turning to the stenographer. "Take this +to Mr. Thalberg;" and she proceeded to dictate a letter advising him +that his resignation, taking effect immediately, would be acceptable to +the mayor. + +Then she dictated another as follows: + + Mr. John Allingham, + Municipal League Rooms; City. + + Dear Mr. Allingham: + + Will you do me the favor to call at this office Thursday, the + seventeenth, at ten a. m., and oblige, + + Gertrude Van Deusen, + Mayor of Roma. + +Which, when Allingham opened and read it late that afternoon, caused him +to give vent to a long, low whistle, and to read it over the second +time. + +But he wrote, immediately, accepting the appointment; and a dozen times +that night he asked himself what she could want of him--and just how +much he would be willing to help the woman-mayor. + +Then, looking out across the moonlit city from his tower window, he +recalled that other night when they rode together in the open country +beneath the shining moon--when she was not the candidate, the +mayor-elect, the modern strenuous woman--but just a sweet and gracious +spirit with a melodious voice and a presence that thrilled him. Then he +told himself, "Yes, anything--anything she wants." + +And Gertrude, in the silence of her own room, was saying to herself, +"Will he come, I wonder? Would I, if I were in his place? If I were a +man who had been brought up to believe as he does about women; and then +a modern suffragist who had won out over me, had sent for me,--to ask me +to come and help--would I go? Oh, how do I know?" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +An Important Appointment + + +When John Allingham arrived at City Hall Thursday morning he was first +of all impressed with the changed interior of the place,--the absence of +loafers, the clean corridors, the blossoming plants. Neither could he +help seeing that in place of the old spirit of listlessness in the +various departments, everyone seemed busy and interested. "If this is +what women can do in politics," he began to say to himself,--but the +idea of incongruity was so deeply fixed in his mind that he at once +supplemented his unfinished sentence,--"but they have no business here, +just the same. It is no place for women." + +He displayed none of the sense of awkwardness he felt, however, when he +entered the Mayor's office and bade her good-morning. + +"You wanted to see me?" he asked, taking the seat close to her desk. + +"I sent for you," returned Miss Van Deusen, "because I am in special +need of good, reliable men. Mr. Armstrong thinks you might be willing to +help us in the struggle to get our city government on the right basis." + +"I have already told you, I think," answered Allingham, with a slight +sense of reserve, "that you can depend upon me." + +"Yes, I know," said the Mayor; "I am proving it by now offering you the +position of street commissioner. Will you take it?" + +Allingham was distinctly taken by surprise. He had not expected--had he +deserved?--a prominent place in the city government. He was not sure +that he wanted it. + +"Perhaps you would like a day to consider the proposition," she went on, +divining his hesitation. "And won't you talk with Mr. Armstrong about +it? He knows as well as anybody what the work of the street department +is going to involve. Can you think this over and let me know tomorrow?" + +"I thank you for the honor you do me, anyway," answered he, rising to +go, "and I will talk with Mr. Armstrong as you suggest. Of course you +know, Miss Van Deusen, we all want to uphold your work, now." + +"Yes, yes, I believe so," she returned seriously. "And, Mr. Allingham, +it is because I want some thorough work done in the street +department--by a fearless, trustworthy official, that I sent for you." + +"Thank you," said Allingham--and went down stairs in a tumult. Had he a +right to such treatment? Had he not done everything in his power to +prevent her election? Had he not used pen and tongue in all bitterness +against her? And here she was, offering him one of the "plums" of the +municipal pudding, just as if he had been her devoted henchman. But +stay,--was she doing this to win him over, to make him come out before +the public as her supporter? What would people say? + +No. He would go over to his office and write a letter, declining the +offer. A very polite letter it should be, acknowledging her +distinguished kindness in offering him so responsible a post on her +corps of working officials; but his private affairs--his law practice, +the work of the Municipal League, his health, all combined to make it +impossible for him to accept a position which would entail so great an +obligation to the city--and to her. Yes, to her! That was it, he knew. + +And yet--to her? Why not? How capable and strong and self-reliant she +had looked that morning in the mayor's chair. How different from any +other women he had ever seen! What must she have been made of--this +woman who had been the social equal of the best people in Washington, +that she could lay aside for the moment all social preferences, all +refined and educated tastes, to become mayor of such a city as Roma?--to +sit there in the temple of the money-changers and try to wrestle with +its problems. Bah! he had no taste for such modern women, or for such-- + +But he had promised to do everything he could to help her,--and to see +Armstrong. Pshaw! He would go back and have it out with Bailey. + +He turned and climbed the stairs to the city solicitor's office. +Armstrong welcomed him with a cordial bluffing way the two always used +towards each other. + +"About time you came," began Bailey. "Here I am occupying one of the +seats of the high and mighty, and you make off as if I were nobody. I've +a mind to take it out of you somehow." + +"If you dared," returned Allingham. "But you can't. You've a character +to maintain and I'm a guest. I say--was it you who put it into Miss Van +Deusen's head that I'd take any little plum she chose to offer me? +Because I won't, you know." + +"O, yes, you will," said Bailey, "when it's _pro bono publico_. And say, +if you've any civic pride whatever--if you want to discover graft in its +most rampageous form and help to suppress or expose it--here's your +chance. And you a boasted 'Municipal Reformer!'" + +"What do you mean?" asked Allingham. + +"Well, just this. One of Burke's contractors came into the Mayor's +office the other day and complained that I was about to 'rip his +contracts up the back,'--at least, that's the classic language in which +he chose to present his ideas to a lady. I hadn't begun to look into +these matters at all; but what he said led Miss Van Deusen to send for +me and we have since been looking him up. I find that he is paving +several streets--or will do so--on no end of little contracts of three +hundred yards for each. He makes a nice fat sum on each,--an aggregate +of several thousand dollars, I won't undertake to say how much. That +sets us to thinking and investigating some more. Say, Jack, remember the +franchise the Boulevard Railway asked for and almost got last year? It's +still pending, you know. Well, I've reason to think the Mayor was in on +it--and Burke--for no end of boodle. That's why he wanted to be mayor. +So you see, 'there's a reason' why a man like you should be willing to +take the job of street commissioner this year. It will be no 'plum' this +time, I can assure you. It looks now, as if it would be a fight +instead--and perhaps a good hot one." + +"That puts a different look to it," said Jack. "You know I'm not afraid +of a fight--a good one." + +"Don't I know it?" retorted Bailey. "Haven't I gone to bed sore and +stiff, too many times, as a boy, to forget it? It's because you are a +fair fighter and not a boodler that we want you at the head of the +street department now. Come, Jack, will you do it?" + +"You can be sure of it, Bailey," returned Allingham. "I'll accept at +once. Tell me more of what you are finding out. That is, if you think +she won't mind." + +"She won't mind your knowing some of it anyhow, because you'll be +expected to help us look into certain matters," said Bailey. + +They talked together for an hour or so, and when John Allingham finally +departed he felt a deeper interest in city reform than ever, and +believed the time had come when he could be of real use to his +community. + +"By the way, Jack," said Armstrong, as he was leaving, "have you found +out anything more about the originators of your strange ride the night +before election?" + +"I have detectives working on it now--or pretending to," replied Jack, +"but they don't seem to get anywhere. Whoever was behind the scheme +covered his tracks well." + +"Yes, we, too, have had a detective working," said Bailey, "though Miss +Van Deusen has called him off now. No use, she says, and thinks perhaps +any further work in that direction may hinder what she wants to do in +another." + +"Perhaps she's right," responded Allingham. "All we have been able to +discover is that two electric cabs, both provided with outside means of +locking the doors and windows, took the opposing candidates and went off +twenty miles or so into the country, on the night before election, +breaking up an important debate that might have turned the current of +affairs in another direction--" + +"--Um, perhaps," interrupted Bailey. "Perhaps not. Anyway, all this we +knew before midnight, the evening it happened." + +"Yes. And while there are no electric cabs in Roma, there are plenty of +them within a radius of twenty-five miles of us. And the Burke gang +could easily have brought any of them here. I've been having a hunt made +for cabs with outside locks; but so far, none have been discovered. +Between you and me, I doubt if we can ever find out." + +"Between you and me, I shall not be surprised if we run up against +further deviltry of that sort," said Bailey, "before we get through +with--" + +The telephone interrupted him, and after a short one-sided conversation, +Bailey arose, too. + +"I'll go along with you," he said. "Miss Van Deusen wants to see me." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +Graft + + +Two weeks later, the fluffy little member of the Progressive Workers +presented herself one morning at the rooms of the Mayor and requested a +private interview. Probably she was the last woman in Roma one would +have suspected of wanting to take a hand in politics. Yet, here she was. + +"Why, Bella, is it you?" asked Gertrude. "What is it? Don't they keep +your street clean? or empty your ash can often enough?" + +"Well, I hope I should know enough, Gertrude Van Deusen," retorted the +fluffy lady, "to go to the street-cleaning department about that. No, +I've something really important to tell you." + +"Indeed. You may close the door after you, Minnie," she said to the +stenographer. "Now, what is it, Bella?" For the life of her, she could +not help using the same tone she would have used to a pretty child who +had dropped in to complain of her teacher. + +"Well, Mary Flynn,--that's my laundress, you know,--has overworked +lately, and to keep up her strength, I'm sorry to say, has indulged in +her habit of toning up for her day's work with more of the 'crathur' +than is good for--, By the way, when are you going to tackle the +saloons, Gertie?" She did not wait for an answer, but rattled on. "And +so, you know, she gets rather talkative. Yesterday she was about +half-seas over and talked every minute, and when I went down stairs to +show her about my new lingerie waists--well, you should have heard +her!" + +"Entertaining, no doubt," said Gertrude, wondering why she should have +come here to take up her time with these purely domestic affairs. + +"'Faith, an' a woman for mayor is it, we do be havin'. An' a fine muss +she'll be in ef she kapes on, indade and indade! McAlister's foreman was +a tellin' av us last night, he was, that they'll soon be losin' their +job. He says, says he, she's again' an honest man makin' a livin', she +is. Why, there's me own naice's husband, Tim Mathews, ain't he an +ahlderman, rayspicted an' looked up to? Ain't he layin' by a tidy little +fortin' for Mary, just by aldermannin', when he's dead an' gone?' 'How +is that, Mary?' I asked. 'He doesn't get much of a salary as alderman, +does he? How can he support his six children and lay up a fortune?' +'Oh, well, ma'am, it ain't the salary as does it,' returned the woman. +'It's the plooms; ef it wasn't for the plooms, he couldn't afford to +lave his groceryin' an' his little corner saloon. But it's the plooms as +make it worth while, he says.' 'What do you mean by "plums," Mary,' I +asked, 'perquisites?' 'Why, ma'am, them that wants railroads an' saloons +an' other privileges must pay the aldermin for thim. Why,' says she, +'would you believe it--Tim put a thousan' dollars in the bank in me +naice's name the day he voted the franchise for the new street railroad, +or that is--well, Mis,' did you say blue thim waists or not?' and not +another word could I get out of her, although I quizzed her carefully as +long as I dared to. I told Rudolph about it last night and he said, +'Aha!' and whistled; and then he told me to tell nobody else in the +world, but you. So I've come. Rudolph will support you. I always said +so. He seems to think,--at least he said--'this may open up a pretty +deep question for Miss Van Deusen.'" + +"As indeed, it does," replied Gertrude, thoughtfully. "Tim Mathews, you +said was the man?" + +"Yes," said the fluffy lady, "but Rudolph said if that story was so, +undoubtedly there are others." + +"Undoubtedly," replied Gertrude. "Thank you, Bella, for coming to me. +And you'll say nothing of this to anyone else?" + +"O, no; and Rudolph thought it better that I should not be known in +this. So you must promise, Gertie, not to let it be known that I told +you. I might lose a very excellent laundress if you did." + +Gertrude laughed. "What a very feminine point of view!" she said. "But +you may have rendered the city a very good service, and I heartily +thank you." + +When her visitor had gone Gertrude Van Deusen sat alone for some time. +She had caught only at a straw,--but it might indicate which way a very +strong wind had blown or might now be blowing. Was this the reason the +board of aldermen were so opposed to her proposed bill? Evidently, there +was need of a secret and courageous study of the situation. Corruption +was in the very air; she had known it was there for a long time; but +this was the first real evidence of it in definite shape. And yet,--the +story might have been but the idle boast of a half-drunken washerwoman. +What should she do? Send for Judge Bateman?--Bailey?--Allingham? Not +yet. She would look into it herself a little more. + +She sent for the city treasurer, who came in somewhat uncertain as to +what this woman could want with him. But he soon found out, for after +perfunctory greetings, the Mayor put the case squarely before him. + +"Mr. Hanaford, I would like to look into the matter of our expenses for +the last year or two." + +"Why, certainly, I will draw up the statement for you," he answered in +some surprise. + +"No. That is in all the reports, I suppose," she said; "I would prefer +to look into the books myself. I can then take the time to study the +situation and compare figures." + +"But really, Miss Van Deusen,--your Honor--you do not mean to insinuate +that you do not trust me?" The man's tone was aggrieved, almost +rebellious. + +"I insinuate nothing. I distrust nobody," she replied quietly. "But our +charter gives the mayor access to all the books and accounts of the city +at any time. I wish to familiarize myself with the city records, +financial as well as clerical." + +"Very well," said Mr. Hanaford. "But this is--may I be excused for +saying it?--unexpected." He was saying to himself, "And what we might +expect from a woman, with no knowledge of business." + +"Will you come to my office?" he added respectfully, reassured by the +thought that because she was a woman, she could not grapple with the +problems before her, except by special study in each department. + +"It will be better for you to bring all the books to my office," she +answered. "Please have them here tomorrow morning." + +Mr. Hanaford had scarcely gone out of hearing when an unfamiliar name +was announced, with the information that the man insisted on seeing the +mayor. + +"I have tried to make him tell what he wants," said Mary Snow, "but +apparently he wants nothing but you. He is a gentleman,--that is, he +dresses and speaks like one." + +"Send him in and stay near the telephone," said Gertrude. And a moment +later a stranger entered,--a well-dressed, heavily mustached man of +forty-five. + +"Your Honor, the Mayor," he began. "I am proud to meet the first woman +who sits in a mayor's chair in America." He waited for her to be seated +and then drew up a chair close to her desk. + +"Thank you. Let us hope I may not be the last," answered Gertrude. + +"There will never be one that will grace the office more completely," +returned the stranger gallantly. "Although, you will say that a mayor of +either sex should not be chosen for graciousness alone." + +"That is what I was about to say," said Gertrude. "But I am glad you +recognize that firmer qualities are necessary, Mr.--Pardon me, did you +give me your name?" + +"Perhaps not," was the suave reply. "I am Orlando Vickery. I represent +the Boulevard Railway Co." + +Gertrude mastered her astonishment. This elegant person, then, was the +man who was accused of trying to push his franchise through City Hall, +illegally. + +"I called to talk over matters with you," he was saying. "I feel that if +you were to understand our position exactly, what we hope to do for the +public, what we intend to do for the development of the city, I might +persuade you that our cause is a just one--that we are entitled to all +we ask and that, really, we are making a most liberal arrangement for +the city." + +"I do not fully understand just what you want to do," admitted the +mayor. "Won't you explain?" + +He did so at considerable length, entering into a voluble account of +the proposed railroad and its expected earnings, and detailing at some +length the advantages to that part of Roma which the proposed line would +open up. + +"But you know, of course, that the citizens of that section of the city +are opposed to having your railway go through it?" asked the Mayor when +he finally stopped. + +"But they are short-sighted, blind," urged the man. "Now look here," +lowering his voice. "We want you with us. I am prepared to offer you a +bonus of $10,000 the day you sign our franchise." + +"Mr. Vickery!" cried Gertrude. + +"Fifteen, then--twenty thousand," he urged, oblivious to the look on her +face. "And, yes, I can make you a shareholder in the system,--and our +Railway will be a winner, as I have shown you--" + +"Mr. Vickery!" the Mayor rose to her full height. "We may as well +terminate this interview. I could not think of accepting anything of the +sort. Understand, once for all, that I am not to be bought." + +"Tut, tut, my dear lady," answered Vickery suavely, "I might have known +better than to have presented my proposition to any woman--but you are +an advanced woman, one who knows the ways of the world. I had presumed +you knew something of the ways of politics." + +"Mr. Vickery," said she, softening under a new idea; "tell me, is it +customary for officials with whom you have had similar dealings +to,--well, to be made shareholders in the concern?--And these little +arrangements of which you speak.--should I be doing an unprecedented +thing if I were to accede to your proposition?" + +"Now you're talking like a sensible woman--a woman who has some idea of +running municipal affairs in a business way," the man replied. "While I +do not wish to violate any confidences,--I may say you will not find +yourself the first, nor the second official who is 'in it,' with the +Boulevard Railway scheme." + +"Well, Mr. Vickery, I want to think this over a little," said Gertrude. +"I cannot decide today." + +"Take all the time you want," replied the promoter, cheerfully. "Only, +of course, the sooner we get this through, the better it will be for us +all." + +"I see," answered the Mayor. "And now, good morning, Mr. Vickery." + +When she was alone again she sat back in her chair and stared hard at +her desk for a good five minutes. + +"I am beginning to see light," said she at last. + +Meanwhile, Orlando Vickery was getting into his automobile and whirling +away down the street, chuckling to himself. + +"Reformers are just like other folks," he told himself. "Catch 'em just +as easy as a bird--only put a little salt on their tails, in the shape +of good paying stocks, or a sufficient number of good hard, gold +plunks." + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +Setting the Trap + + +Her next two days were given up to the study of the treasurer's +books--and the financial system of government in Roma. The process +necessitated looking up many details regarding salaries and other +expenses, which took time and careful scrutiny on the part of both her +and her office assistants. What the Mayor found out the first day led +her to send for a trained accountant, whom she set quietly at work on +the second morning. That night she sent for Armstrong to come to her +house. + +"I am beginning to realize what it means to a business man to have a +good home," she said to her cousin as she drew her pet easy chair up to +the open fire in her library,--for although it was May the nights were +chilly. "I never appreciated fully what it means to have a comfortable +house well-kept;--to draw up after a hard day's work before one's own +fire--to let the world go by while I 'take mine ease in mine inn.' I +tell you, Jessie, if women all realized what this means, there would be +more happy homes and fewer divorces." + +"I suppose so," replied her cousin. "Yet there is something to be said +on the other side. I get so tired of staying in the house all day, +struggling with the problems of housekeeping and the vagaries of +servants that I rather sympathize with the women who demand the company +of their husbands at night, to the theaters and dinners and whatever +social functions come handy." + +"Wrong," said Gertrude sententiously. "When a man gets home at night, +weary in body and mind with the grind of his business, he wants a good +dinner, an easy chair, his newspaper or magazine, his pipe. I can +understand how like heaven a woman can make his home--a woman with +tact;--or how like the other place it might become with her discontented +grumbling or her determination to get him into evening clothes and drag +him into the outside world again,--to be harried and worried and kept +uncomfortable for several hours more." + +"But the wives--what are they going to do?" asked Miss Craig. "Are they +never to have any outside pleasures?" + +"With all the clubs and bridge-parties and afternoon teas, they have +going in the day-time," said Gertrude, "let them be content. But at +night, if she values domestic happiness, let the wife not dare deprive +her husband of the delights of a good well-kept home," and she snuggled +closer into her big chair. + +"Goodness, Gertie!" laughed her cousin. "One would think you +contemplated a husband. Or are you getting up a speech on Public Life +for Women as a Training for Matrimony. But here's Bailey. I suppose you +want to talk over City Hall matters--the last thing I want to listen to. +So you'll excuse me. But, do you think the ideal domestic menage would +allow business after hours? O, Bailey, I suspect she'll be taking up +cigarettes next;" and with that she went away to make a call at the +nearest neighbor's. + +"Sit down, Bailey," said Gertrude, reaching up to greet him. "I'm so +comfortable--and lazy, here; I'm sure you won't mind if we just sit by +this fire and talk things over. Well--do you know that Mr. Henry,--the +accountant,--has been going over the books today?" + +"Probably a good thing," was Bailey's comment. "Find anything out of the +way?" + +"He thinks the salary bills, some of them, larger than they should be. +O, there is so much to do! So many ways in which things should be +improved!--so many ends to be looked after and gathered up," she cried. + +"Not getting tired, Gertie--already?" asked Bailey, in a surprised tone. + +Gertrude sat up straight in her chair. "There are two sides to me, +Bailey," she answered. "I suppose there are two to most people. There is +the Gertrude Van Deusen who has been shielded and cared for all her +life, who has never known hardship or difficulty--or even work; and +sometimes--as tonight here in the shelter of my father's fine library, +she comes to the surface with her cry for luxury and the easy sheltered +path she has always known. But there is another Gertrude Van Deusen, who +having laid her hand to the plough, would deem it a disgrace to turn +back before her furrow is ploughed. She is the one who stands ready to +face anything, to dare the city rogues, to root out corruption if it +exists--and I think it does." + +"Not much doubt of that," returned Bailey. "And good for you. You're the +same girl I used to drive into a corner of the snow-fort, just to see +you fight." + +"Not very ladylike, was I?" smiled Gertrude. "But if I had been of the +ladylike kind,--well, Roma would have had Burke in as mayor now. And +Bailey, I believe Burke is deep in that Boulevard business. How shall we +find out?" + +They talked for a long time over the glowing coals; then Mary Snow came +in and Jessie Craig again, and there was music and a quiet game of +whist, after which Bailey escorted Mary away with his most gallantly +protective air. + +"Gertrude, do you think Bailey is just a trifle interested there,--in +Mary Snow, I mean?" asked Miss Craig when they had gone. + +"Bailey? O, no," answered Gertrude. He had been devoted to her so many +years, she felt an almost proprietary interest in him. She felt that she +might have married Armstrong any time within the last ten years. "Bailey +is always interested in people I like," she went on. "And I certainly do +like Mary. I don't know what I could do without her. The work brings the +two in close consultation often, you know." She did not see the lifting +of Jessica's dainty eye-brows as she turned to say good-night. And it +was well she did not see Bailey when he said good-bye to Mary a little +later. + +The next morning Vickery came to see her again. + +"Weren't expecting to see me so soon, perhaps?" he asked as he drew +close to her desk. "But I thought I'd drop in and see what you've +decided on,--or if you've decided on anything. How is it? Coming in with +us?" + +"There are still some points I want to question you about," said the +Mayor. "Minnie, will you give us the room, free from interruption a few +minutes? Thank you. Now, Mr. Vickery, will you go over your proposition +again?" + +The man did so, explaining the advantages and necessities of the desired +franchise with many words. She asked an occasional question, cautiously +and with apparent lack of intelligence, and even at the close of their +talk he doubted if she understood half of what he had been saying. + +"You want to remember," he concluded, "that we have good men behind the +scheme. There is plenty of money, and we are prepared to put some of it +where it will do the most good." + +He waited significantly, but she did not seem to understand. What could +be expected of a woman, in matters of this kind. + +"As I said the other day, there will be a nice little slice of stock for +you,--and $20,000 besides for you, or for your pet charity," he urged, +to put the thing more plainly before her. + +"But if we were to get found out?" she asked. "If it were to be +known--might we not get into trouble?" + +"Huh! no danger of that," laughed Vickery. "The aldermen are all in +it--we can manage the common council--that is, if you come with us. And +Armstrong will be sure to come in, if you do." + +"Hadn't I better talk this over with the chairman of the board of +aldermen?" asked Gertrude. + +"You might," assented Vickery. "Still,--in matters of this kind, it is +better to do as little talking as possible." + +"But how am I to be sure they are in it?" The Mayor seemed to hesitate. +"I do not want to do any unnecessary talking--but how do I know this is +not all a trap, to catch me?" + +"More astute than I gave her credit for being," said Vickery to himself. +Then aloud: + +"My dear lady!--but I realize your position--yes, and I respect it. If I +give you proof, actual figures,--will you believe me then?" + +"Yes, I'll believe you then," said Gertrude. + +"Then suppose I come again this afternoon," urged the man. "I'll have +the memoranda of the figures with me." + +"Very well. Come at three," answered Gertrude. "I will have the way +clear by then." + +And Vickery departed, well satisfied with his half-hour's work. But when +he had gone, Gertrude sent for Mary Snow, and they had a long talk +together. + +At three, promptly as the clocks were chiming out the hour, Orlando +Vickery presented himself, and was ushered into the Mayor's private +office. + +"Well, I'm here," he said. "We are alone, of course?" He walked over to +a curtained doorway, and drew aside the draperies. The stenographer's +office was disclosed--empty. He remembered having seen her in the outer +office as he came through. + +"Pardon me," he apologized. "I just wanted to make sure--for your own +sake, of course. For while these little arrangements are always being +made, we prefer to have no witnesses, you know. Again, pardon me, but +where does that door lead to?" He pointed towards the corner, just +behind the desk. + +"Only into a private closet," answered Gertrude. "You can look in if you +insist upon it." But she quaked a little inwardly as she said it. + +"O, no," answered Vickery. "I thought it might lead into one of the +other offices. We don't want to be disturbed. Now, for business. Here's +my private memorandum. Look it over. Anything you can't understand, just +ask me." + +Gertrude took the book--a small leather-covered memorandum--and began +turning its leaves. But somehow she seemed dull of comprehension. + +"What is this?" she asked. "'Paid in 1907,--Royalties.' What are +royalties?" + +"Well, I preferred to put them that way. I should put you, when we +perfect our little transaction, under that head." + +"O, I see," answered Gertrude. "Here is John O'Brien, $12,000; is that a +royalty as you call it?--because he is pledged to the franchise?" + +"That's what," answered Vickery. "He's already had that much. He was +chairman last year, you know." + +"And Mr. Mann,--our present chairman," asked Gertrude. "Is he here?" + +"Later on you'll find him," was the reply. + +Gertrude read on, in a low distinct voice, the various items, showing +"royalties" paid various officials, running from $500 up to thousands, +finally coming down to Mann's. + +"Is this right--Otis R. Mann, $13,500?" she asked. + +"That's right." + +"And that means that Mr. Mann has already taken $13,500--and pledged +himself to get the franchise through?" she asked in her low clear tone. + +"That's what. All we need now is your signature and to go through the +form of getting it passed through the council again, and we are all +done," answered Vickery. "You have a queer charter in this town." + +"And if I sign the proposed bill?" she asked. + +"You get $20,000 cold cash and a thousand shares of preferred stock," +urged Vickery. + +"Why not give me a certified check right now?" asked the Mayor. + +"Now if that isn't just like a woman!--a charming feminine trait, too," +returned Vickery. "No man would think of asking for a check in these +little transactions. Good, solid money is all right, isn't it?" + +"I suppose so," she returned. + +"Well?" he asked, after a slight pause. + +"Well?" she returned. + +"You're going to sign the bill?" he asked, wondering just what she would +do next. + +"Mr. Vickery,--it's against all my principles, you know,--taking money +or its equivalent for my signature," said the Mayor. + +"Oh,--I thought we had gone all over that," he retorted. + +"Yes, I know. I haven't said I won't," she went on. "But I want just one +day--or rather, one night more to think this over--I wonder what my +father would do in my case." + +"Your father was a good politician," answered Vickery confidently. "He +would have known at once what to do." + +"I believe he would," answered Gertrude in her most inscrutable manner. +"Well, I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll take tonight--only just tonight, +to settle this with my conscience--and I will see you in the +morning--early, if you say so." + +"I suppose I shall have to be satisfied with that," answered Vickery, +tucking the little memorandum book safely away in an inner pocket. "But +I would like your promise now." + +"Oh,--Mr. Vickery, tomorrow morning, please." She smiled and held out +her hand. He took it and bade her good afternoon. He was not quite sure, +when he went down stairs this time whether he ought to congratulate +himself or not. + +"These women," he said to himself, as he sought the aldermen's room, +"are not to be depended on. You think you have 'em one minute, but when +you go to put your finger on 'em, they are not there." + +But upstairs, Gertrude was telephoning for the district attorney. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +Divided Interests + + +Instead of calling on the Mayor the next morning as he had planned to +do, Orlando Vickery found himself hailed before the Special Commissioner +and put on the grill. But he took refuge behind the corporation for +which he claimed to be acting as attorney and refused to admit or +confess to any transactions of a financial nature, or incriminate in any +way the officials whom he had approached. He was arrested on the charge +of extortion, however, and that gave the prosecution a chance to shut +him up, while they arranged for an investigation before the grand jury +(which was already being impaneled) into the schemes of the Boulevard +Railway Company with the city councilmen. These proceedings were +conducted as quietly as possible, but in spite of all precautions, the +newspapers that evening flamed with head-lines, which varied as usual in +size and sensationalism with the character of the sheet which used them; +and before Roma retired for the night, the whole city was stirred by the +prospect of a most spectacular fight. One half the citizens were +congratulating themselves that at last, corruption and the spoilsmen +were to be uprooted, while the other half revelled in the excitement and +turmoil which always attends the witnessing of a deadly combat. + +And meanwhile, the few,--the "ring,"--were in anxious consultation. "How +much do you know?" was the question that stirred them. Under an assumed +coolness and indifference, and acting in secret, there were those who +saw to it that a high and mighty representative of the Boulevard Railway +Company came on to arrange bail for Vickery. The board of aldermen was, +apparently, most indifferent of all, and refused to talk of the new +sensation either to reporters or to any one else,--except among +themselves when no outsiders were near. For as yet, none of them could +determine how any information had leaked out or just who had been +implicated. + +While events had been leading up to this point, the women of Roma had +not been idle. Even before the "Progressive Workers" had thought of +putting up their candidate for the mayoralty, they had been interested +in the subject of pure food--and this, too, was before Senator Heyburn +had introduced his famous bill to the United States Congress. One of +the liberal churches in the city had called a woman to its pulpit some +years ago; and the story of what she accomplished among the young people +of her parish is too long and too complicated to be incorporated here. +Suffice it to say that one day she was "discovered" by a "P. W." and +invited to join the club. Too earnest and active a worker to sit by and +listen to literary exercises and discussions that did not get anywhere, +she had almost at the beginning of her membership cast about for some +definite work which she--and the rest--might do. + +Now, she was a housekeeper on her small salary, and therefore must go to +market for herself. Like thousands of other club women, she had come +away from her provision store or grocery, half nauseated by what she had +seen, or experienced through her olfactory sense. But unlike the average +woman, she refused to endure these things patiently. She began, +quietly, to investigate. She visited the city abattoir, the wholesale +markets, the cattle-pens. Even before the municipal election, she had +laid out a thorough campaign in the interests of pure food, which she +presented to the "Progressive Workers." The previous spring there had +been an exhibition prepared by the club of foods and food-products, pure +and adulterated. This exhibition had been attended by thousands of +housekeepers and by a few men, and had served to awaken a semblance of +interest in the question of pure food. + +When Gertrude was fairly installed in office, the Reverend Martha +Kendall had called at City Hall and laid before the Mayor a definite +plan, the result of which was that the woman minister was made Inspector +of Markets, there being such an office provided for in the old City +Charter, although it had remained a dead letter on the books. And no +sooner did the Reverend Martha Kendall receive her appointment than she +went to the club and asked to have a special committee appointed from +that organization to work with her for clean markets and pure food. + +When the women of any city show beyond question that they want pure +food--or any other definite thing--they are going to get it, and without +delay. Although there was some grumbling among the marketmen, the +provision stores were soon put through such a course of scrubbing and +whitening as to make the old-fashioned "spring house-cleaning," which +has been the bugbear of _pater familias_ and one of the chief assets of +the paragrapher for so many years, a process of incomparably mild +flavor. At the abattoir it had not been so easy to effect a reform, but +with such women as Mrs. Bateman, Mrs. Albert Turner and the Reverend +Martha Kendall coming down there to inspect and to demand cleanliness +and wholesome conditions, the butchers who shone before the public as +"wholesale meat producers" did not dare to refuse the improvements asked +for; so that by the time the grand jury began to look into the methods +of the aldermen with the street railway system, there were both friends +and enemies of the new administration ready to take a hand, if +necessary. + +Then, too, there were the men who owned, and the men who ran, the +questionable resorts; the gambling dens; the saloons; the houses of +which good women are popularly supposed to know nothing. All of these +had been problems which Gertrude had been thinking about and planning +for, before her election was settled. These matters she had talked over +with few, if any, of her advisers; for she had her own ideas--or perhaps +her father's. When she was fairly established in the Mayor's chair she +had appointed a reliable man as police commissioner--one who would carry +out her plans. There were no spectacular raids, with their round-ups and +the subsequent laxity which allows such places to flourish in the same +spots and with no lapse of time (and profits). She abolished the +"drag-net system" by ignoring it; but she broke up gambling, closed the +wine-rooms, and the other questionable resorts, simply by stationing a +trusty policeman in uniform on the steps of every one of these places, +whose duty it was to take the name and address of every person who +entered them; and to turn this list into the City Hall every morning and +every night. As a consequence, some of these property owners and +"managers" had found their income vanishing. The latter were leaving +town in bevies; but the former were nursing their grievances and were +fast getting into line as open or secret enemies of the reform +administration which the "woman's movement" had now fairly inaugurated. + +It must not be thought, either, that the women of Roma stood solid for +the woman-mayor. As long as there are husbands and wives, the latter +will be guided, in greater or less degree, by the opinions of the +former. The women who do not read, the women who do not care, the women +who do not think, invariably take the opinions of the men nearest them, +no matter how ignorant and unintelligent these men may be; and the women +who do read and care and think,--but it may be as well to carry the +argument no farther. + +So it happened that the women of Roma were as divided as the men on the +subject of city reform; although, as Gertrude noted with pride, most of +the educated, thinking women could be counted on to support her in every +effort she was making for the betterment of their civic conditions. It +was the women like Mrs. Bella's "wash-lady" who were most opposed to +her; and those other women of the underworld who do not recognize the +friend of her own sex when she appears clothed in the garb of a +reformer. + +Thus it came about when the investigation was actually begun and +occupied the most prominent place in the public interest at Roma, there +were almost as many against the new mayor as there were actively or +passively for her. Because, too, there was the large contingent of +citizens who cannot make up their minds in a hurry, but must wait for +popular opinion to crystallize before they can adopt it. + +As always, the _Atlas_ came out strongly for the administration of +justice: + +"At last" it proclaimed editorially, "Roma has a Mayor with the +courage of conviction. At last, corruption is not only detected, but it +is to be dragged forth to meet its judge; at last, it is not going to be +shared by our public officials. It behooves every man and every woman in +Roma to uphold the present investigation and the new mayor." + +But the "ring sheet" spoke otherwise: + + "After months of promising to 'reform' something, the woman-mayor + and the lady-like gentlemen who are supporting her, are going to + do something great. They have--by crooked and devious ways-- + discovered (so they affirm) Graft, with a big, big G. It is + hinted that the Mayor herself is to go on the witness stand to + prove that men who know a hundred-fold more about running a + municipality are dishonest boodlers. Just like a woman! She has + got beyond the rudiments of municipal financiering and into the + sub-divisions which she cannot understand and there she cries + 'Graft.' She is beyond her depth and so she imagines there is + fraud. Well, let her prove it; in the meantime, while she is + trying to do so, she will demonstrate--exactly as we predicted + last fall--what a dangerous thing it may be to a city to let a + woman loose upon its administrative functions. Women were never + intended for public officials. Perhaps--as the opposite party + piously claim--the hand of Providence put her there; just to + prove to Roma and her voters what a dangerous thing a little + power may be in the hands of the incompetent and inexperienced + public servant." + +Gertrude read all these editorial sayings and smiled or sighed according +to her mood. Sometimes they helped her gird on her armor all the more +bravely, ready to do battle for her principles to the last breath. +Again, "that other Gertrude Van Deusen" came to the front and she wished +in secret that she were a quiet, protected home woman, with a husband +who loved her and little children to lead along the right paths. But why +should John Allingham always come into her mind just there? + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +A Dumbfounded Populace + + +Just one week after Vickery's last call, the district attorney and the +city solicitor met in the mayor's office. The former official, Robert +Joyce, was a young man with most of his reputation to gain; and he had +welcomed the Vickery case as an excellent weapon with which to gain it. +How he had happened to win his office was a cause for wonder to some +people, until they stopped to remember that all interest in the election +of the previous winter had been centered on the mayor; and that although +the rank and file of voters knew that Joyce was making a fight for his +candidacy, none of them had believed he could win over the old +incumbent, and had paid little heed to his political efforts. His +election was one of the surprises of the campaign, but even that was not +much talked about, in the excitement of proclaiming the woman for mayor +of Roma. + +Now, as once before, he saw his opportunity and seized it. For the past +week he had done little else but probe the affairs of the Boulevard +Railway scheme, scarcely eating or sleeping while he pursued the case +with all the eagerness of a hound after his first fox. Gertrude Van +Deusen could not have found a better ally than Robert Joyce, and she +knew it. He had already secured evidence and managed his case so well +that the grand jury would bring in a bill for indictment, not only +against Orlando Vickery, but against Otis H. Mann, chairman of the board +of aldermen. The case was to be brought up in court on the following +morning. + +"I must congratulate you, Mr. Joyce, upon your quick and able work," +said she. "I wanted the case hurried along, and you have surely done +it." + +"Mr. Armstrong has helped greatly," returned Joyce. "He has a good deal +of inside knowledge, and it didn't take long to convince us both that +there was a vast amount of corruption. How to clinch the evidence has +been the problem. But you say you are willing to go on the witness +stand?" + +"I am--and Miss Snow also," answered the mayor. "I should think our +evidence enough." + +"It is; and yet, while we are about it we want to catch the whole +outfit. We don't want to leave any loop-holes for the criminals--for +they will have an expert to defend them; you may be sure of that. Some +of the old aldermen may confess. They will pin their faith to +confession as the rock of salvation for them. But that is just the +beginning. We are after the big man, the man who debauches as well as +the man who receives. This is no partial house-cleaning. Fordham, the +agent of the Roma Telephone Company, who handed the old board $1,000 +each, is now on his way back from China. To save his skin, he may tell +us about the money which his corporation has so generously handed over +to the supervisors. Then the Telephone Company, composed of men high in +the social circles of this city (with its franchise bought for a paltry +few thousand dollars) will have to show its books, and if we can reach +the guilty ones, on the top, indictments will soon be moving their way. +I think within the next month we will have indictments from the grand +jury for at least four of the more-holier-than-thou sort. That is where +the bomb is going to fall, unless my plans miscarry most woefully." + +"You see there are lively times ahead," added Bailey Armstrong. "There +is a man--one on whom a great deal depends--whom we want to bring to +confession. He is the son of your father's old coachman--Fitzgerald." + +"Newton Fitzgerald?" asked Gertrude. "The one who has a saloon over on +the south side?" + +"Yes--and, unfortunately for us, a properly certified license," answered +Bailey. "He is a tough character, but when a boy he had a soft side. Do +you suppose you could reach him, Gertie?" + +"Possibly," she answered thoughtfully. "I used to have a good deal of +influence over Newton when he lived in our cottage as a boy. Don't you +remember--I got him to go to school regularly, and saved him from the +truant officer's clutches on two or three occasions?" + +"He used to swear by you," said Bailey. "Couldn't you manage to see him +now, and get him to talk?" + +"Get him to confess, if you can," added Joyce. "Offer him immunity if he +will tell you all he knows--and I suspect that is a good deal." + +"Yes, I'll do that," answered the mayor. "I'll telephone now to his +place and ask him to come over and see me." + +They talked on for another half-hour, and when the two men left, their +plans were all made. Gertrude and Mary Snow were to appear at the court +house next morning, both ready to give valuable testimony against the +grafters, testimony which would convict them out of Vickery's own mouth. + +When she was alone, Gertrude at once took up her telephone and called up +Newton Fitzgerald's saloon. + +"Is Mr. Fitzgerald in?" she asked. + +"He has just stepped out," was the answer. + +"Tell him, when he comes in, to please call at the mayor's office before +he goes home," replied Gertrude, "Miss Van Deusen wishes to speak with +him." + +She hung up her receiver and turned back to the duties of her desk. It +was nearly five o'clock before she heard anything further. Then her +telephone rang and a strange voice came over the wire. + +"Mr. Fitzgerald has fallen and sprained his knee. He has to be put to +bed, but wants to know if you won't come to see him tonight. He wants to +talk with you about the investigation--has something to tell you." + +"Where does he live?" asked the mayor. + +"In the Sutherland," was the reply, "the big apartment building back of +the American House." + +"Very well. Tell him I will be there with Miss Snow at eight o'clock," +she answered; and then she called Mary Snow and told her of the +appointment. + +"Don't you think we ought to take someone else along?--a man--Bailey +Armstrong, say?" + +"O, no," returned the Mayor, confidently. "Fitzgerald would not talk +before him--or any other man--in my opinion. He was a peculiar boy, but +I could manage him. It will be better for us to go alone--and quietly. +We won't even take the carriage. I'll come down on the car at a quarter +before eight and meet you at Harne's drug store. Then we'll just go +quietly up to Fitzgerald's flat. I know his wife." + +"Very well," said Mary. If she did not feel quite satisfied with the +plan, it was not for her to question the mayor's authority, and she said +no more. + +But the next morning the newspapers brought a new sensation to a +startled city. Two important pieces of news furnished excitement enough +to arouse even the staid and respectable old _Atlas_. People gathered in +knots on street corners to discuss them. The air was breezy with +excitement. The street corners were blocked with gathering knots of +indignant citizens, eager crowds gathered in front of newspaper bulletin +boards, questioning among themselves whether there was any respect for +law and order left in Roma; whether life was safe on the open street; +whether the public was to be fooled any longer by charlatans and +tricksters; whether the police could or would do anything in the +premises. In short, every citizen of Roma, rich or poor, old or young, +was aroused at last by these two bits of news. + +The startling news was-- + +Orlando Vickery had "jumped his bail" and disappeared; and + +The Mayor and her private secretary had not been seen nor heard from +since they left the drug-store the previous evening at a quarter before +eight. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +A Futile Search + + +It would seem that in a city of fifty thousand inhabitants, it would be +impossible for the Mayor and his (or her) private secretary to drop so +suddenly and completely from sight as to leave no trace or clue behind +them; yet such was the fact. Knowing Fitzgerald to be of a peculiar +temperament, Gertrude had arranged to meet him as quietly as possible. +Had her cousin, Jessie Craig, been at home, she would have told her +where she was going, but that lady had gone to Philadelphia for a few +days' visit, and there was no one in the Van Deusen home but the +servants, to whom Miss Van Deusen had merely remarked that she was +going out and would be back, probably, about ten. + +Mary Snow lived in an apartment hotel and occupied her two-room suite in +spinster independence, carrying her own latch-key and accounting to no +one for her goings and comings. So accustomed had the clerks and +elevator-boys become to seeing her come in, during her newspaper days, +at all hours of the night, that they paid little heed to her movements. +So there was no one to feel any alarm when midnight came and they did +not return from their excursion to the suffering Fitzgerald. + +Towards morning, however, when Miss Van Deusen failed to appear, the old +butler who had known her so many years, became alarmed, and at daylight +telephoned to Bailey Armstrong. The news came to him with a shock, but +he went at once to Miss Snow's hotel, thinking the Mayor might have +stayed there for some reason. When he found them both missing, he became +alarmed, sent for the chief of police and the district attorney, and +telegraphed Jessie Craig to return. + +A systematic search was instituted, detectives set to work, and all the +majestic machinery of the law put in motion. It had happened strangely +enough, that the proprietor of the drug-store which had been their +rendezvous was out when the two women had met there, and neither of the +two young clerks knew the Mayor or her secretary by sight. Consequently, +there was not a soul who had seen or recognized either of them after +they had set out for the appointment with Fitzgerald. Neither had anyone +known of that appointment; nor would it have mattered in the least if +they had, since, Fitzgerald himself, alive and well, had known nothing +of the engagement made in his name, and was even now talking loudly +against the outrage and the shame of what was plainly foul play. + +"Kidnaping," every other man said, and believed, and the detectives were +on a still hunt again for the mysterious electric cab of election eve. +In this particular line of search John Allingham was bending all his +energies. Every garage in the city was visited and made to account for +each one of its machines. No chauffeur was left unquestioned, and the +records were thoroughly examined--all with the foolish consciousness +that nothing could be easier than for some private owner or renter of an +automobile to have skimmed quietly away with the mayor in his tonneau, +quite out of reach of the law. As the day passed, rumors of flying +automobiles came in from all directions, making a hopeless confusion of +clues that led nowhere. + +At City Hall, the chairman of the board of aldermen took the helm, +becoming acting-mayor for the time being. Although he directed the +search for the mayor and her secretary with much skill and patience, the +Honorable Otis H. Mann was enjoying an inflated sense of independence, +such as does not come often to a small man on large occasions. + +As the day closed and no news came from the missing women, the +excitement grew. Crowds gathered on the streets and squares, until +someone, by a happy thought, called for a mass-meeting in Masonic +Temple. If Gertrude could have heard the speeches made there, and noted +the sympathy and pride of her townspeople, she would have felt her +strength renewed as the eagle. For however they might have been divided +in opinion before, every man, woman and child were solidly for her now. +A great wave of indignation had swept the city, and left the public +heart alive with love and sorrow for the brave young woman who had dared +take up this burden. Although they talked hopefully and determinedly of +perfecting their search and restoring her to her office, many a heart +was cherishing a great fear that death, or worse than death, had already +overtaken her. + +"A terrible thing has befallen us," one of the speakers was saying. "And +an awful state of affairs exists when the mayor of our own city can be +completely swallowed up--and hidden from all pursuit--in an evening. +When we remember that it is a woman--two women--of the highest breeding +and inheritance who have been so foully dealt with, we are overwhelmed +with a sense of disaster." + +"But we must find a way--we must organize our forces," interrupted +another. "They must, they shall be found." + +There was much ardent talk, but little practical advice, and when Bailey +Armstrong and John Allingham left the hall together, the hearts of both +were heavy. + +"I'd give all I've got in the world to find those two," said Bailey. +"But between you and me, it looks pretty dark. There was something queer +about it. Why should Gertrude go out at night alone? Why didn't she call +on me to go with her? She often did, if no one else was going--from the +house, I mean." + +"Did you hear her say anything about an appointment?--or Miss Snow?" +asked Allingham. "Evidently they had one." + +"Not a word. I was in the office yesterday. We talked things over, some. +I asked her--" Bailey stopped. "Say, she was going to telephone Newton +Fitzgerald to come up. You don't suppose he's in it?" + +"Let's go over to his saloon," said Allingham. "Here's a car coming +now." + +But when they got over there, Fitzgerald was declaiming loudly gainst +the rotten politics of Roma. + +"I've known her since she was a kid," he was saying to a gang of beery +individuals around his door, "and she's been an angel of light to me an' +mine. I voted for her--yes, I'm proud to say I did, against the party +though it was. And I shall do it again, if she comes back alive. Why, I +found a note on my desk this morning when I came in, that my barkeeper +put there, saying she'd telephoned for me to come up to the Hall +yesterday afternoon. I'd a' gone, only I was out of town and didn't get +back here last night at all. Mebbe I'd 've been of use to her some way +if I'd been on time. Anyway, I'm going on a still hunt for her tomorrow, +all by my lonesome." + +"He's sincere enough," remarked Bailey. "Newton's a good-hearted fellow. +He always liked Gertrude." + +They walked back and soon separated for the night, but neither of them +slept, for thinking of those two, so suddenly and mysteriously snatched +away. + +As John Allingham walked home he lived over again the exciting evening +before election. He recalled the moonlit night, the rushing automobile, +the ghostly shadows chasing themselves in swift procession ever behind +him. He remembered the shock and the overturn and finding himself face +to face with Gertrude Van Deusen on the pine-shaded road. He lived again +through the rushing ride home, hearing again her silvery voice as she +talked, and feeling again the indefinable charm of her presence. He +forgot--that she was doing a man's work; he thought only of her +femininity and grace and beauty. Then, realizing afresh the calamity +that had befallen the city, he groaned aloud. + +"Oh, my God!" he muttered. "If she is lost--" + +Then he knew, all suddenly and with a great heartache, that he loved a +woman--that she was Gertrude Van Deusen--and that she was lost, and that +she might be dead, or in great misery and sorrow. + +"Good God," he cried, "what can I do to help her?" + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +The Boodlers Score + + +A week later, there was a meeting of the city council, at the mayor's +office, called by the chairman of the board of aldermen, to "discuss the +unusual state of affairs and find a way out," as Mr. Otis H. Mann put +it. Every member was present, and Mr. Mann counted his supporters +carefully as he opened the meeting for business. The mayor's friends +were strong and outspoken, he decided, but they were not in the +majority. He began by making a rather neat speech, deploring the state +of things in Roma, and trusting that the citizens' committee, which had +been organized the week before for the purpose of discovering the +absent officials, would be successful. + +"A terrible condition of municipal affairs exists," he went on smoothly, +"when its chief magistrate can be abducted and kept hidden, without--or +with?--her own volition for a whole week. Only in the extravaganzas of +modern romance could we look for similar happenings. Just what is our +duty in the premises, gentlemen, is a serious question. The citizens' +committee has taken the work of restoring our mayor to her place out of +our hands; but I think we should assure them of our co-operation and +offer to place every means of assistance at their disposal. Will some +one make a motion to that effect?" + +The motion was quickly made and seconded, but before it was put Mr. +Turner was on his feet. + +"I wish to be put on record," he began, "as of the opinion that it is +nothing to our credit that the citizens had to call a mass-meeting and +form their own committee. We should have led in this work, and if we +could not do that, every one of us should have been on the committee. +May I inquire why but five of the councilmen are identified with the +movement to find Miss Van Deusen and her secretary--to discover the +perpetrators of this outrage and bring them to punishment?" + +"The member is unduly excited," replied the chairman, in his most +unctuous tones. "It is not easy to know what to do in the position which +has suddenly been forced upon me--a condition without precedent, so far +as I know, in the whole country. If I have failed in my duty, I ask your +pardon; but with so many local issues--so many details at loose ends in +the mayor's office--I beg your pardon, gentlemen, for mentioning this." + +"Question, question," called a voice with a strong accent from the back +row. "Question--I call for the question," echoed another. + +The chairman hastened to put the motion and the expression of sympathy +and co-operation with the citizens' committee was unanimous. + +"The motion seems to prevail--the motion prevails. The secretary is +instructed to communicate this vote at once," added the chairman. + +"And now I must add, by the force of stringent necessity which I find in +my endeavor to carry on the work of our mayor," said the chairman, "that +it became necessary for us to transact a little business here tonight. +Exigencies are arising which make it important to have some action taken +on the sub-letting of contracts. Will some member move that the present +incumbent be given discretionary power to act in these matters?" + +"No, no," shouted Turner, and was echoed by two or three others. But +Blatchley rose and moved that the chairman of the board of aldermen be +allowed to go ahead with all the city's business during the indefinite +absence of the mayor, using his discretion therein. + +The motion was seconded by several others and when Mr. Mason arose, +there was a chorus of "Question, question," from the opposite faction. +He would not give way, however, and stood his ground for some moments, +arguing for fair play, and finally offering a substitute motion, asking +that no contracts be given out and only routine business be transacted +while the present crisis was on; but he might as well have talked to the +vagrant wind. Not over half a dozen men present were in entire sympathy +with him, and they were helpless. It soon became evident that the +others had been primed for this meeting--as indeed was the case, every +doubtful one having been called to a private confab with the acting +mayor, and promised something for good behavior. + +"Isn't there an ordinance that prevents our taking any action whatever, +until the mayor has been absent a fortnight?" finally asked Mason. + +"That ordinance was changed two years ago," replied the chairman. "The +time is now limited to one week." + +"And you have waited just that," replied Mr. Mason, sitting down. He saw +it was impossible to struggle any longer. + +So the acting mayor was given full power to do what he pleased while the +mayor was still secluded. Fortunately, it was voted to keep this +decision from the newspapers; for feeling was growing daily more bitter +against the city council, and the people were already asking how much +the aldermen knew about the abduction of their woman-mayor, and why they +were not more active in the search for her. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +An Enforced Vacation + + +When Gertrude Van Deusen decided to go to see Newton Fitzgerald on that +eventful evening, she thought first, as has been intimated already, of +calling on Bailey Armstrong to escort her. But as she hoped to win +Newton's confidence, and did not like to have her visit known to others, +she believed that by going quietly, alone with Mary Snow, she would be +doing wisely. And so the two met at the drug-store, as previously +arranged, and attracted no attention whatever. + +When they arrived at the address given them, they found a big apartment +block, with stores underneath. There was no one in the vestibule as +they entered, but a man stood waiting at the elevator--apparently the +functionary who had charge of the lift. + +"Does Newton Fitzgerald live here?" asked Gertrude. + +The man motioned to the elevator and the two young women entered and +were quickly borne to the top floor. + +"This way," said the man, leading the way down a narrow corridor, and +pressing an electric button at the last door on the right. + +It was opened by a neatly dressed Irish woman, who led the way into a +comfortably furnished living-room. + +"Be seated," she said. "I'll be back in a while." She spoke with a +brogue, and they did not notice the peculiar expression. For some +moments they remained quietly waiting; but no one came. + +"He must be pretty sick, the place is so quiet," said Mary Snow, at +last. + +"Probably," assented Gertrude. "But I suppose they'll call us when they +are ready." + +Fifteen minutes, thirty, forty-five--an hour went by, and still no one +came. The place was oppressively still. The electric lights burned +brightly; a breeze came in from an open window; the street sounds below +floated up to them, insistent and garish. But no rustle of garments, no +hushed voices, no slightest motion in the rooms beyond came through the +door. + +"This is strange," said Gertrude at last. "Newton must be very ill--or +something." She arose. "I wonder if we'd better investigate. I hate to +intrude, but we ought to be getting back, I didn't tell anybody at home +where I was going." + +"Nor I--I didn't tell anybody," said Mary. "I thought we should be back +long ago. Yes, let us find someone." + +They went on through the open door into a bedroom. Out of this opened a +small dining room, and beyond that a little kitchen. There was a tiny +bathroom, and lights were burning in all the rooms. But there was no +sign of the sick man. + +They looked at one another, puzzled and anxious. + +"They seem to have gone out," said Mary. "Here is another bedroom. +Perhaps Fitzgerald is here." + +But the bed, all clean and white, had not been disturbed. + +Simultaneously, they turned and went back to the door by which they had +entered the flat. It was locked. + +"We've been trapped," said Gertrude in a low voice. "Let's look through +the place." + +They began another search, opening closet doors and looking into +wardrobes and cupboards and under the furniture. They went to the +kitchen and tried the door into the back passage; but that, too, was +locked. There was nobody else in the flat; there was no possible way of +getting out. + +"The windows," said Gertrude. "There should be fire escapes." + +But there were not. They could not raise the windows from the bottom, +either, although they could lower them slightly from the top for air. +They climbed up and peeped over, only to discover that they were seven +stories from the ground, and looked only into a light-well. The flat +across from them was unoccupied. + +They looked at their watches. It was ten o'clock--even then the churches +were chiming out the hour. + +"Let us look for a note, or some intimation of what to expect," said +Mary. "I wonder if they are going to keep us here all night." + +"It's a trick," said Gertrude. "There's no knowing how long we may +stay--nor what will happen to us. I'm glad I thought of this before I +started out alone tonight." And she produced a small revolver from her +coat pocket. + +"Mercy!" cried Mary, "do you carry that? Would you know how to use it?" + +"I carried it when father and I walked through the Pyrenees a few years +ago," answered Gertrude. "I used it once--to good advantage--and I could +again, if I had to," she added. "Now, let us see what the gods--or the +other thing--have provided." + +Another search showed them that their flat was well-provisioned, +well-furnished, heated and lighted. There were a few books and +magazines, a piano, a writing desk, even a pack of playing cards. + +"We may have to resort to solitaire yet," laughed Mary. "Though nothing +short of imprisonment could induce me to fool away my time with the +silly game." + +"Well, they have provided for an indefinite stay, I fear," said +Gertrude. "Somehow, I have a feeling that we are not going to get out +easily. We must think up some way of letting our friends know we are +here." + +But their jailers had looked out for that. They could hang towels from +their upper windows, but to what end, since these could not be seen? + +There was no stationery in the desk, but Mary had a pocket diary in her +chatelaine bag. "We will write a note and shove it through the crack +under the door," they said--and did, repeatedly, the ensuing week--but +no answer came. + +"I should think somebody would question the elevator boy," said Mary. +"Or, that, when he hears we are gone, he will remember bringing us +here." + +"That was not the regular boy--depend upon it," answered Gertrude. "It +was one of the conspirators, if there was a conspiracy, and he will not +tell. It was Orlando Vickery who was behind this." + +"Shall we go to bed tonight?" asked Mary. + +"No, indeed," said Gertrude. "We couldn't possibly sleep. And +besides--something might happen." + +But nothing did happen. The slow night wore away and morning came. When +the whistles below were calling people to their work, the two young +women got up from their couch and easy-chair, and went to the windows +again; but they could see nothing but the blank wall of a light-well. +They were trapped and helpless. + +"Well, we may as well be philosophical while we can," said Mary. "There +are coffee and breakfast things in the pantry. I saw them last night. +I'm used to getting my own light breakfast. Let's eat." + +They prepared and ate their simple meal and went back, to wonder and +speculate and devise new ways of getting some message to the outside +world; but nothing came of it. They could do nothing more than scribble +notes on pages torn from the diary and throw them from the tops of the +windows into the light-well, where they fell harmlessly into the rubbish +heap that gathered unnoticed in the corners. The day wore monotonously +along and was succeeded by another and another. Then a note was found +shoved under the front door in the early dawn. + + "Open the little door to the dumbwaiter in the pantry and find + supplies." + +They obeyed, and found a basket of fruit, cream, vegetables and meat. +They wrote an appealing note and placed in the basket and tried to send +it down; but they could not manipulate the dumbwaiter. They left the +little door open, to know when the basket descended, but it did not go +down until some time during the following night. The only reply to their +note--if it was a reply--was a second typewritten note, that came under +the door late the fourth evening. + + "You can be let out any time that Miss Van Deusen will send down + her signed and witnessed resignation from the office of mayor. + Push it through the crack and the door will be opened for you." + +When they read it, Gertrude's face flushed hotly. "So they think to +force me out, do they?" + +"Don't you resign, Miss Van Deusen," said Mary. "We'll stay here and +starve, first. Somebody will find us--some time." + +"I've not the slightest intention of resigning," replied the other. +"And how often have I asked you to call me Gertrude? We aren't mayor and +secretary now--or I'd command you to call me by my given name. We are +just two prisoners." + +"Then I'll do as you say--if I don't forget--Gertrude," answered Mary. + +"I wonder what they are doing down below," said Mary later in the day. + +"How many times do you think we've said that this week?" laughed +Gertrude. "We've heard the usual street sounds, and an unusual amount of +bell-ringing--which may or may not have been on our account." + +"At least, we haven't heard them toll the bells for us!" interrupted +Mary. "That's something." + +"But not a paper, not a line, not a breath from the outside world has +reached up--except the basket of provisions," exclaimed Gertrude, +ruefully. + +"And the demand for your resignation," interrupted Mary again. +"Honestly, now, Gertrude, don't you wish at the bottom of your heart, +that you had never gone into politics? That you'd let the office of +mayor go begging last fall?" + +Gertrude's face was a study. For an instant her friend thought she was +about to confess that she had made a mistake. Then the old spirit flared +up. Gertrude held her head high. + +"I would never own it if I did," she said. "When the next election comes +around, however--" + +She did not finish her remark, but picked up a book and fell to reading. + +"This 'Fated to Conquer' isn't a bad story, Mary," she said after a +while. "When I read such a book--of love and romance and all that--I +wish I were, or had been, of the marrying kind of women. As it is--I'm +going to say it in confidence, Mary--I believe, when we get out of this, +I'll marry Bailey." + +She did not notice her friend's peculiar expression, but talked idly on. +"You know he has wanted to marry me several times in the past. To be +sure, he hasn't proposed for a couple of years, but he will. A man will +always propose to the woman he loves if she gives him half a chance." + +"Why didn't you marry him?" asked Mary in an expressionless voice. + +"O, I never loved him, or thought I didn't," answered Gertrude. "I +didn't fully believe in his love for me, either; that is, he did not +love me as I wanted to be loved. We are comrades from childhood, and +sort of cousins. He's been as near a brother to me as he could and I've +been fond of him in that kind of way." + +"Then you don't love him--not really?" asked Mary; and she could not +entirely suppress a joyous note in her voice. + +"Well, yes," blandly replied Gertrude. "I love Bailey in a way. Not the +passionate kind of love one reads of in novels--like this, for +instance;" she indicated the book she had been reading. "The heroine +goes through all sorts of tribulations for love's sake, and the hero +finally renounces everything for her sake; but that is only in books. +People don't love in that violent fashion. Mutual esteem and confidence +are what I see between the happiest married couples of my acquaintance. +Bailey is thoroughly reliable, helpful and honorable. I am tired of +standing up to the world alone. It must be a comfort to have a good +husband to take care of you." + +"It must indeed," replied Mary, inscrutably. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +Word From the Missing + + +"There seems to be something queer about the way the search goes on," +said Bailey to Allingham. "They don't pull together, some way." + +"I think it's because there is no real, efficient head to the +committee," returned Allingham. "Blatchley's afraid of running counter +to Mann; or if not exactly that, he waits for our acting mayor to take +the initiative." + +"Which he will never do," retorted Bailey. "It isn't in him--and +besides--" + +"I know what you mean," replied Allingham. "You don't have to put it in +words. But something more definite and aggressive has got to be done +than is doing now." + +"Right you are," said Armstrong. "The question is--what?" + +"The people are getting clamorous, not to say critical," said Allingham, +"Why not call another mass-meeting and put it right to them to demand or +institute a better organized search for the missing mayor?" + +"Good idea," said Bailey. "Let's talk it over with Mason and Turner and +Jewett, and see if we can't stir Mann up a bit." + +The two men had been lunching together at the club, with a little talk +afterwards, while they smoked their cigars in the lazy summer atmosphere +of the well-kept garden. + +"Well, here it is three o'clock," added Bailey; "and I have an +appointment at a quarter-past. So long." + +"I must be going, too;" and Allingham followed, walking down street as +far as his office. Once there, he hung up his hat, changed his coat for +a thinner one, and sat down to his desk, whereupon a pile of letters lay +unopened. It was a warm day, and Allingham took his own time to read his +correspondence, and jot down on the back of the letters the reply which +he wished his secretary to write when she arrived in the morning. Then +he rested his head in his hands and his elbows on the desk for a few +moments' quiet thought before closing his office for the day. It was a +habit he had, when alone, and today the baffling situation with regard +to the woman-mayor was making him more worried than ever. + +"There's some devilish chicanery going on in high quarters," he told +himself, "or this search would be conducted differently. The thing for +us to do is to find out just what O. H. M., Esquire, is up to in his +little mind. Hullo, what's this?" + +A slip of paper had been tossed by the vagrant wind, through the open +window onto his desk and lay there, open, under his eyes. Ordinarily, he +would have swept the crumpled thing into his waste basket. But the +mysterious power which guides us when we do the unexpected thing, stayed +his hands, and the half-obliterated note arrested his attention. + + confined in top + block. Safe but + come to the corner + Streets and liberate + Gertrude + Mary S + +"Good Heavens!" cried Allingham. "They are somewhere in the +neighborhood--or were, when this was written. No date, nothing to show +where they were or when. Just like a woman. Well, well, here's +something to work on at last, thank Heaven." He turned the piece of +paper over and over, but there was nothing more to be seen, and he held +it up to the light in vain, when he tried to make out what the penciled +words had been which had completed the sentence. + +"Let's see. This is Thursday. What day was it, when it rained so? +Tuesday? No. Sunday? Then this was written before that and has laid out +where it was washed by the rain. Then it has dried in the sun and the +wind caught it up and brought it here. Blessed wind!" + +He walked over to the window and looked down into the street. He had two +rooms, one of them a small, back room, opening into a court; but this +piece of paper had floated in from the street under his very eyes. He +looked across at the big block opposite. She might be right there. A big +department store occupied the lower floors--but the upper stories +seemed to be tenements for living purposes. What if she should be there, +now--at this very moment? Or here, under the same roof with himself? + +The thought electrified him and he went out, locking his door behind +him. There was an elevator. "Top," the note had said. He took the lift +and went to the topmost floor, stealing down the corridors on a voyage +of discovery, and feeling like a thief, or a detective. But the rooms +were all occupied by tailors or the like, and every door stood hospitably +open. Surely he could not reasonably disturb these people and search +their premises without a warrant. + +He turned and went down again, with the happy inspiration to telephone +to the chief of police and to Bailey Armstrong. + +"If you could come right here," he said to the former, "I can not only +give you some important information, but give you an idea of this +locality which you may not possess. For I have a positive clue." + +"I'll be with you in fifteen minutes," replied the official, who cared +not a rap for the dignity of his position. + +To Bailey, Allingham only said: "Come down here at once, I've something +definite and important to tell you and to show you. But not a word over +the telephone." + +In five minutes Bailey came in, breathless. "What is it?" he demanded. + +"Read this," and Allingham put the scrap of paper in his hands and +related the story of its anchorage on his desk after days of weary +wandering. Before the tale was fairly unfolded, the chief of police +appeared and it had to be told all over again. + +"Now," said Allingham, when he had finished, "what is the first and +quickest thing to be done?" + +"Organize," answered the chief. "Get a few men together and go through +this section of the town thoroughly. Strange we haven't done more right +here. We've gone on the theory that they were in the suburbs or in some +other town." + +"And probably they have been right under our noses, all the time," said +Bailey. + +"Or over them," returned the chief. "You say you went upstairs." + +"Yes. They can't be here," replied Allingham. "Not on the top floor. But +there are tenements over opposite." + +"We'll take 'em all in, if necessary," said the chief. "What do you say +to my coming up here tonight and meeting you two. I'll have a dozen +plain-clothes men happen around, and we'll do a little looking around +here quietly, between nine and twelve." + +"Great," said Armstrong. + +"I'll have the office open at eight-thirty," said Allingham. + +The chief came alone, however, at a quarter of nine, greeting Bailey and +Allingham confidently. + +"Where are your men?" asked Allingham, fearful lest the chief's courage +had given out. + +"You didn't think I'd arouse the suspicion of the whole neighborhood by +bringing a whole posse up here with me?" retorted the official. "They're +scattered around the square, nosing about quietly. If they can pick up +anything it mightn't come amiss. We'd all better saunter around a +little, first. We'll go over to Erlich's drug-store and have a soda. A +couple of my men will fall in with us there. Later we'll go into the +saloon across the way. Before we get out, they'll all be with us, or +outside the building--see?" + +And they were; but previous to this, several of the men had made errands +into the various blocks in that section, but had added no bits of +information to their scanty stock. Several quiet families were surprised +by the appearance at their doors of strange men on strange errands, but +not a clue could be obtained that fastened suspicion on anyone. It +seemed pretty clear that there were no kidnaped women in the block +opposite, nor in the row of blocks on the side where John Allingham had +his office. They went in and out of every block that was not locked upon +the street, and invaded every floor, but without avail. Their search +lasted until twelve, when the plain-clothes men dropped off quietly and +went home. + +"Tomorrow we'll investigate the places where we can't get into tonight, +and the blocks back of this one. There is an apartment house back of us, +isn't there?" + +"I don't know," answered Allingham. "I never go over onto Collins +Avenue. But--yes, there is a block or two there. We didn't get around +there tonight?" + +"Tut-tut, one thing at a time," answered the chief. "The note came in at +your front window, you said. It wouldn't have been likely to fly over +from a street behind you--would it?" + +"I'm not so sure of that!" muttered Bailey; and when the chief had gone, +he added: "I'm going to sneak around into Collins Avenue before I go +home, and sort of get the lay of the land. Come, too?" + +"I'll join you in a minute," answered Allingham. "I'm not sure I closed +the windows to my back office. Wait for me." + +"No; I'll stroll round there and be taking a look," answered Bailey. +"You can meet me at a little drug-store there is around the corner." He +strolled away and his friend went upstairs to his office. He opened the +door with his latch-key, as quietly as possible, meaning just to take a +look, and make things secure for the night, but-- + +There, under the bright electric light, stood--Gertrude Van Deusen. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +A Daring Escape + + +"Gertrude!" he cried, springing forward; and neither of them realized +that he was holding both her hands in his strong, eager clasp. + +"Yes," she answered. "It is I." + +"But what--where--where have you been?" stammered Allingham. "How did +you get here?" + +"Through your back window," said Gertrude, "to answer the last question +first. The other needs a longer answer; but if you'll come with me I can +show you the place and get poor Mary out--for she is 'ill and in +prison.' But you'd better get help, for the place where we've been +confined is watched, I should say." + +"I'll get Bailey. Please sit down and wait quietly." And Allingham led +her to his most comfortable chair. "I'll be back in two minutes." And he +went out, clicking the latch together after him. + +"A prisoner again," said Gertrude to herself. "But this time a safe one, +thank God." + +It was hardly sixty seconds before Allingham was around the corner and +entering the drug-store where Bailey had promised to be. He was there, +waiting. + +"O, Bailey, she is safe. She is found. She is in my office," said +Allingham, in a low, rapid tone. + +"Mary? Thank God!--where?" said Bailey. + +"Mary?--no, Gertrude--Miss Van Deusen, I mean," he stammered, +wonderingly. "Mary Snow is still incarcerated somewhere about here. Come +quick. I'll telephone for the chief again. He cannot have got to bed +yet." + +By this time they were upstairs and at Allingham's door, for they had +not done their talking standing still. Allingham produced his key. "We +must get them both home tonight," he said, and opened the door. + +"O, Bailey!" cried Gertrude, coming forward impulsively. "I'm so glad +you've come." + +And then Bailey answered, "O, Gertie," and throwing his arms around her, +kissed her affectionately on the brow. "O, Gertie, where have you been? +And where is Mary?" + +"And how did you get here?" Allingham wanted to ask this question, but +the sight of that kiss had seemed to paralyze him. It was Bailey, then, +who had won her love--Bailey, on whom life showered every blessing, whom +all women loved, whom everybody admired. And he--what a fool he was! + +So he only went to the telephone and called up the private residence of +the chief of police. + +"Got in? I was afraid you'd gone to bed," he said. "Well, Miss Van +Deusen is in this office--what? Yes--I say, Miss Van Deusen is here. +Yes, in my office. How? I don't know myself yet. But we must get Miss +Snow at once. Come up quick. Can you get your men? Yes, all right. We'll +wait for you. Good-by." + +"Hurry up, Jack," said Bailey. "Gertie's story's waiting for you. Now, +old girl, go ahead." + +"Nice, respectful way to address your mayor," laughed Gertrude, to whom +the world had suddenly become a broader and brighter place than ever. +"Well, then here goes." + +She began at the beginning of her story and told how she and Mary Snow +had set out for Newton Fitzgerald's sick bed; how they had been trapped, +and how the days had dragged in the flat. + +"We wrote a score of notes on leaves torn from Mary's diary," she went +on, "and tucked them out of the top of the window and under the bottom +of the door. But nothing ever came of them." + +Allingham handed her the slip of washed-out paper that still lay on his +desk. + +"That floated in here this afternoon," he said. "It's the first clue +we've had." + +"We've been searching this neighborhood tonight," added Bailey. "We'd +have got you tomorrow, sure." + +"Then I wish I'd waited," said Gertrude. "Look at my hands." She held +them, palms out. They were all red and swollen. Allingham had an insane +desire to snatch and kiss them, but Bailey regarded them coolly enough. + +"Rough on you, Gert. How did that happen?" he asked. + +"Well, after trying every means we could think of to get some word to +the outside world, we decided to make our escape somehow. We tore up the +sheets and blankets and twisted them into a strong cable. This we +fastened securely to the kitchen pipes, and with our nail-files we +managed to saw away the copper netting that had been nailed across the +window frames, and then to pry up the lower sash. We had planned to come +down, both of us, on this, last night; but Mary was taken ill yesterday, +and I wouldn't come without her. Today she seemed worse instead of +better, and I came down for help." + +"You came down that rope--yourself?" said Allingham. + +"Yes--like any convict, escaping from state's prison," answered +Gertrude. "Of course I had no idea where I should land, nor into what +hands I might fall. I was sure we were watched, but believed only from +the front door--" + +"Go on," said Bailey, impatiently. "Did you leave Mary alone in that +flat?" + +"Of course," answered Gertrude. "What else was there to do? But instead +of landing in the enemy's camp, I found myself in the hands of a good +Samaritan." She smiled at Allingham, and his heart sang foolishly. "When +my feet struck bottom I found myself where I expected to be--at the +bottom of the light-well. I looked around me for some way of escape, and +saw an open window. I came through it--and here I am." + +"Why don't that man come along?" said Bailey, impatiently--"with Mary +sick up there and alone--Oh, here he is;" and the chief of police +entered, eager to seize Miss Van Deusen's hand and hear her story of +the kidnaping and escape. + +"Half a dozen men are waiting outside," he said, when she had told him +the main facts. "There is no need of wasting further time. Come." + +They all filed out, Gertrude leading the way with Bailey, who assumed +the care of her with such an air of possession that Allingham's heart +sank again. It was but a few moments before they were ascending the +stairs of the apartment house--the elevator ceasing to run after one +o'clock. Gertrude led the way to the further end of the corridor. As +they approached it, the dark figure of a man skulked out of the shadow +and leapt through the open window. + +"Quick! After him!" cried Bailey. "A man just went through that window." + +Two of the policemen ran to the window and onto the fire-escape which +led down and out. But before they had reached it, the fleeing figure +had gone in at an open window on the fifth floor, and escaped, and +before the pursuers had discovered this, the pursued was downstairs, out +and on a trolley car, safely out of harm's way. + +Upstairs Bailey was impatiently trying to ring the bell, and they were +shaking the door, trying to rouse Mary Snow. But she was lying in a dead +faint inside, having heard their approach and overtaxed her strength in +trying to reach the door. + +"Break it," ordered the chief. It was but a moment before the half dozen +men had the door down, and they all walked in. + +"O, Mary!" cried Gertrude. "She has fainted. Carry her in there," and +she pointed to the bedroom. Bailey was beside the prostrate girl in a +moment, and already had her in his arms. He followed Gertrude into the +adjoining room and laid her on the bed. + +"Now, go out," commanded Gertrude, seeing that he still hung over her +secretary. "I must be alone with her a few minutes. I'll call you as +soon as she is able to see you." + +He went reluctantly and joined the others in their examination of the +place. In the meantime, Gertrude administered simple restoratives to +Mary, and she was able to open her eyes. + +"It's all right," cried Gertrude smilingly. "I reached safety and we're +going out the moment you're able. So hurry up, please." + +"Where's Bailey?" was Mary's only reply. + +"Just outside; I'll call him," answered Gertrude, wondering at this +reception of her news. But she stepped to the door and motioned to +Armstrong, who was hovering outside. He came in and closed the door. + +"Mary!" he cried in a voice that Gertrude had never heard. + +"Bailey!" Mary answered, reaching out both hands. + +Then a great light dawned in Gertrude's mind. She went out softly--but +they did not even look to see what had become of her. + + + + +Chapter XXIII + +The Hearts of the People + + +There was great excitement in Roma the following morning, when the +people read in head-lines that occupied half or more of the first page +of the morning paper, + + THE MAYOR IS FOUND + +Newspaper reporters had reached the Van Deusen residence before the two +women did, and they did not leave until the story of their ten days' +adventure (wonderfully simple from their point of view) had been told. +The presses waited while the facts were properly embellished and each +paper vied with the other to get the longest and most readable, if not +the most startling story. + +It seemed almost inconceivable that two prominent women could have been +imprisoned in the center of the town and concealed for ten days--and yet +it had been done; and now that they were restored to their friends--and +the public--once more, that there should not be the slightest clue to +the persons behind the plot. + +"It is the most successful trick ever perpetrated," announced the +_Atlas_, "and one no sane man would ever have admitted possible. The +mayor has not seen a human being, except Miss Snow, nor heard any other +human voice for ten days. No detective has yet found who sent her the +message signed by Newton Fitzgerald, nor can they discover who was at +the elevator to receive them when they mounted to their place of +concealment, the regular incumbent having already proved an alibi. +They met in the drug-store, but no one recognized or noticed them. The +plot was carefully laid and successfully carried out, By whom, is at +present, a mystery." + +By nine o'clock the Mayor was at her desk, with Mary Snow in her office. +Friends tried to deter her, on the plea of needed rest, but she only +laughed at them. + +"Rest? What else have I done but rest, for ten days past?" she asked. + +"Worry, I should hope," answered her cousin Jessica. "I'm sure the rest +are nearly worn out with worrying about you." + +"I didn't worry--not so very much," said Gertrude. "I felt sure we were +confined only to make me resign--or to give them a chance at the mayor's +office, to get some nefarious contract through, or to secrete evidence +in the street railway case, and I'm in a hurry to get down there and +find out just what they have been doing." + +"We felt sure our kidnapers wouldn't dare to do us any real harm," added +Mary. "They've seen that we had plenty to eat and we have not suffered +in any way. As Gertrude says, we've done nothing but rest." + +"Well, I suppose you'll have to go then," said Jessica. "But you'll just +have to hold a reception all day. Every man, woman and child will be +there to shake hands with you and congratulate you." + +But the citizens did not wait for them to reach their office. Before +Gertrude's carriage appeared in the square in front of the city hall, +the citizens had unharnessed the horses and were drawing her, as if she +had been some princess royal and they her subjects. + +Men that voted against her, men that had denounced her in private and +public, joined the procession and helped to give her such a welcome as +to bring tears to her eyes and choke her utterance. + +When they reached the square, it was full of the surging, shouting +populace who crowded about, seizing her hands and demonstrating in every +possible way their joy at her return. If any of her captors had been +looking on, he could not have doubted whether the town would be friendly +to him just then. + +They reached the City Hall at last, but even then, the mayor was not +allowed to get out. + +"Speech, speech," they were crying all about her; and Gertrude stood up, +choking back her tears and trying to speak. This was what it meant to +reach the popular heart, at last. + +"Friends," she said, "I cannot tell you what this welcome means to us. +Never again can I feel discouragement or lose faith in the people of +Roma. You are showing me that I am as dear to you as you are to me. I +cannot say more. Your welcome thrills me to the heart, and it seems to +me I can never outlive this moment of joyous welcome. Let us go now--to +our homes, our offices, our stores; and while we thank God that he has +brought us out from the shadow into the light of day, let us ask Him, +all humbly, for help in making our beloved Roma a fairer, a better, a +purer city--a city of ideals realized and lofty purposes fulfilled." + +She sat down exhausted and the crowd saw that she was near to +over-taxing her strength. They began to disperse, but one cried out: + +"The little secretary, too. Three cheers for Mary Snow!" + +They were given spontaneously, ringing to the echo, and Mary, blushing +and tremulous, rose and thanked them. Then the crowd parted to let the +two women descend and go up to the hall. Had they been men and the same +feeling prevailed, the mayor would have been carried in on broad +shoulders, and amid shouts and cheers; but although the thought occurred +to the leaders of the good-natured mob, there was something about her +that made them remember the old Senator. + +"She's not the kind for that," they said, and stood with bared heads +while she passed in and out of sight. + +"Oh, but it's good to get back here," said Mary, as they found +themselves once more in the mayor's rooms. "I shall be glad to buckle +down to work again." + +But there was little chance for "buckling down" that day. Even as she +spoke, Bailey Armstrong was beside Mary Snow with warm greetings and +Allingham was exchanging salutations with the Mayor herself. A stream of +others were coming in, all the employees about the place, and hundreds +of others, who wanted to clasp the hands of the returned prisoners, and +assure them of their loyal support. + +The women of the city began to arrive about ten o'clock, the +"Progressives" arriving at that hour in a body, and everyone of them +clasping and kissing the Mayor as, it is safe to say, no incumbent of +that office was ever hugged and kissed before--at least, during office +hours. + +"O, Gertrude," said Mrs. Blake, "we would never have put you in, if we'd +known what it would bring you." + +"To think we were letting you in for kidnaping and imprisonment," said +Mrs. Turner. + +"Like a criminal--or step-child," added Mrs. Mason. + +"O, Gertie!" cried the fluffy woman known as Bella, "and I brought it on +by telling you all that stuff my laundress told me. Rudolph says I did." +And she burst into tears. + +"Don't cry, Bella," said the mayor, soothingly. "I was finding things +out, anyway. It would have been just the same in the end." + +"But Rudolph says--" insisted the weeping one, when the push from behind +carried her on out into the corridors. + +Club-women, patriotic women, stay-at-home women were followed by women +from the poorer classes who had waited until their morning's work was +done before coming to tell the Mayor how glad they were to have her +back. Then noon came, bringing young women from the stores and offices +and factories, all eager to add their bit of welcome; and the school +children, to shake her hand and go home and tell of this wonderful day, +which afterward became a memory for a lifetime. When four o'clock came, +Gertrude prepared to go home; to rest and sleep in her own bed, worn out +with the welcome of thousands of her people. Mary Snow had already +succumbed to the demand on her energies and had gone an hour before. + +"It's worth the whole gamut of experience," Gertrude said to herself as +she closed her desk, "just to find out what it is to get at the heart of +the American people. It's a great experience, and I shall be a better +woman for it, all my days." + +A step on the bare floor behind her. She looked up. + +"I haven't had a chance to tell you in words how very, very glad I am," +said Allingham, holding out his hand. "But--you know--" + +"Yes," she said, taking it; "I know." + +"Excuse me," said a voice, and a burly form pushed in from the outer +office; "but I couldn't go home until I came to have one word with you, +Miss Van Deusen. You don't--you can't believe I had anything to do with +getting you into that scrape?" + +"No, Newton, I never believed it for a minute," said the mayor, "not +after I realized you were not there, sick and in trouble. I know you too +well." + +"Thank you," said Fitzgerald. "I'm ready to go on the witness stand for +you, any time. More than that, I'll run down the rascals that played you +such a d--d trick, if it takes the last cent I've got." + + + + +Chapter XXIV + +An Honest Confession + + +At the first possible moment, Gertrude and Mary went carefully through +the books and papers in their private desks. The first discovery they +made was that all notes and papers pertaining to Vickery and the +Boulevard Railway Company were missing, thus destroying every bit of +evidence, beyond their spoken word, in that particular case. Other +documents were missing also, and the trail of the corrupt politician was +over all. She sent for Robert Joyce, the district attorney, and Bailey +Armstrong, as city solicitor, and they held counsel together until the +lengthening shadows drove them home. But not until they had sent for +Otis H. Mann, and put the case strongly to him. That functionary was, +however, as smooth and oily as ever, disclaiming all knowledge of +everything. + +"I assure you, gentlemen," he said, "and you, madam, that only the most +perfunctory of routine work has been done in this office while I was +acting-mayor. It was our one object to let things slide along as easily +as possible until the real mayor should return. We desired no radical +changes, and on the other hand, as few breaks in the regular routine of +city affairs as possible. I desired, above all, to be a faithful servant +to the people--to--in short, ah--" + +"How about those contracts you negotiated with Watts?" broke in Joyce. + +"And McAlister's new job--under the name of Peter Grayson?" added +Bailey. + +Mann's face was a shade more purple for an instant, but he went on, +unctuously. + +"The man who suddenly becomes the head of a city has a great +responsibility--especially if he has been, in a sense, shut out from the +confidence of its mayor up to the time of his incumbency. He cannot +expect to please everyone. He will be called 'demagogue' by the opposite +party; his motives will be misconstrued; his honesty brought in +question, his principles--" + +"O, spare us," interrupted Bailey. "While you were the head of this +office, some important testimony has disappeared; private papers +belonging to the mayor and her secretary were taken away, and several +other questionable things were done. We called you here now, to explain +these things; and if you cannot produce them, to say why. The least +thing a man in your position can do is to institute a hearty search for +the missing papers, and to act in accord with us in leaving no stone +unturned to find them." + +"Gentlemen," said the chairman of the board of aldermen, rising and +laying his hand impressively across his heart, "I will swear to you that +the mayor's desk and her secretary's were turned over to her exactly as +I found them. If anything has been taken from them, the robbery occurred +either before I came or after I went out." + +"And you are willing to pledge yourself to aid in discovering the thief, +whoever and wherever he may be?" said Bailey, regarding Mann narrowly. + +"On my word of honor," replied the chairman; and he could not help it if +his words and tone sounded rather bombastic. "But, I am sorry, my dear +lady--but I have a very important engagement at this hour--a personal +matter, very dear to my heart, which compels me to ask you to excuse me +now. I shall be glad to call upon you tomorrow morning, at any hour you +may name." + +"Can you make it nine o'clock," asked Gertrude--"or even earlier?" + +"Yes, we must get definitely to work tomorrow morning," added Joyce. + +"Certainly, nine--or half past eight, if you choose," said Mann. "In the +meantime I will try to recall the minutest particulars of my connection +with this office. I am sure, my dear lady, you do not need to be assured +of my loyalty to you--nor to my native city. And now--I bid you +good-day." He bowed impressively and was gone. + +"All the same, I don't like the cut of his jib," murmured Bailey. + +"Oh, he's too much of a trimmer to go back on us now," said Joyce. +"Public sentiment is all on our side now, and election day's coming." + +Gertrude smiled. "I can't imagine why anybody should trim his sails to +get an office," she said. + +"Well, see what a dangerous thing it is to cultivate a taste for +politics," retorted Bailey. "There's no knowledge where it may lead +you." + +"Oh, Miss Van Deusen will have a walkover when her turn for election +comes again." + +Gertrude remembered this remark as she sat in her library that evening, +alone for the first time since she had set forth to call on Newton +Fitzgerald. + +"Having set my hand to the plough," (her favorite expression) "I suppose +I must not look back," she soliloquized, "until the end of the furrow is +reached. But I may look forward, and--if I live through the next few +months, I wonder if anything or anybody can persuade me to be a +candidate the second time. I don't think so now. But how much more I +know than I did last year!--only, of course, I cannot own it to any +living soul. John Allingham ought to have beaten me. I wonder if he will +run next year?" But in her heart she knew very well he would not oppose +her again. "He would make an ideal mayor. Upright, honorable, +fearless--and afraid of nothing but doing wrong. Ah, well--should it +always take a man to deal with men--or shouldn't it? I don't know." + +The maid entered. + +"A man wishes to see you, Miss Van Deusen," said she. "He says he must +talk to you personally. His name is Fitzgerald. But if you're too tired, +Miss Van Deusen, I'll make him wait. If you'll excuse my saying so--you +are too worn-down. These people ask too much of you." + +"Show him right in here, Lizzie," answered Gertrude. "And don't worry +about me. I'm all right, now I am home." + +A moment later Fitzgerald entered and stood, hat in hand. + +"Excuse me, Miss Van Deusen," he began apologetically. "I've got +something to confess--and I can't wait until morning--it'll be too late +then." + +"Go on," said Gertrude kindly. "Just trouble to shut that door into the +hall, please, and then come over here by me." + +The man did as he was told, and drew a chair near enough to her to be +heard in low tones. + +"Miss Van Deusen," he began; "it's just as I told you; I didn't know +anything about the message they sent you, nor about the trap they set +for you. But I have been knowing a good deal, and now--he's running +away--and I'll be d----d if I won't tell you!" + +"Sh--sh--who's running away?" interrupted Gertrude. "Calm yourself, +Newton, and tell me." + +"Mann--the dirty whelp, after lining his pockets, and doing you all the +harm he dares," he went on. "I've stood for him all I will. I've +supported him and his cliques, and given house-room to his workers; and +now he's--" + +Gertrude saw it was useless to try to calm him, and wisely decided to +let him work off his excitement by telling his story in his own way. + +"And it's because Otis H. Mann, the people's friend, as he calls +himself," explained Fitzgerald, impulsively, "has left town, bag and +baggage, and will sail for foreign ports as soon as he strikes New York, +that I'm telling." + +"Tell me all you know, Newton. I've been wanting a good long talk with +you for a long time. Begin at the beginning, please." + +"Well, of course you know I'm a democrat. I've always voted with that +party, and would have done so last fall, even against you--if it hadn't +been for the job they put up on you. Yes--I mean the night before +election. They talked it all over in a little room back of my saloon. +The boss was there himself that night--" + +"You mean Burke?" interrupted Gertrude. + +"No--Mann. Burke's under his orders every time. Whatever Burke done, it +was Mann behind him; and when Burke got a rake-off of a thousand, Mann +got two. As I'm tellin' you, they arranged the whole affair in my rooms. +There was Mann and Burke, and McAdoo, and one or two others, and myself. +I ain't claiming to be any better than the rest. I was there--not that I +was ag'in you, but because it was my room, and my liquor, and I'd always +been in their confabs. I didn't approve of them electric cabs and +seizing you by main force, as it were, and rushing you out into the +country; but Mann and Burke were determined to have it--and when I saw +they were bound to do it, anyhow, I just had to agree; and to see that +nothing happened to you, I went along, too. If they'd tried any funny +business with you, I'd--well, I took my irons along." + +"Newton!" cried Gertrude. "Were you there? You!" + +"Yes," replied the man, grimly. "I was your chauffeur. I wouldn't trust +you to anyone else. I ain't forgot all you and your father done for me +when I was a kid." + +"Newton, you've a queer sense of gratitude," she laughed, for the +situation seemed not without humor. "You ran away with me to protect +me." + +"That's about the size of it. I didn't know what the others might do; I +did know I should bring you in safely." + +"Where did you get that cab?" she asked him. + +"It was one I ran all last summer out to my summer place at Itosco. It's +stored there now. The other we got at Bonborough from a friend of +Mann's. His chauffeur ran that. The third man was McAdoo." + +"Then it was you who brought me--and Mr. Allingham--home?" + +"Yes'm. And it was Mann's friend's machine that was wrecked; and they +had hard work to get the remains of it dragged off and hidden before +morning; but Mann is a slick one. As soon as we got in we reported to +him and he had his men out there with plenty to help. But it's more +about Mann I want to tell you. It ain't Vickery, you want to haul into +court. It's Mann. He's made more'n a hundred thousand off'n the city. +He's pulled off already over thirty thousand on that Boulevard Railway +scheme. Vickery's only a tool. If you'd bitten his bait and taken what +they offered you, they had it planned that Mann was to be general +manager. That railway would have swallowed up all the others; and then +he was to be president. He means to be a millionaire yet. He will be, if +you don't get him--and quick." + +"Wait; let's call Bailey." She rang up on the telephone. "But you knew +nothing about the trap they caught Miss Snow and me in?" + +"No." He waited until she called up Bailey Armstrong, and requested him +to come to the house at once. + +"No," he went on. "I swear it. They knew I hadn't much sympathy for +their plots against you and got shy of letting me in on them. But +there's a barkeep in my saloon--or was--who kept them posted. When you +telephoned me that day, he put 'em wise right off, quick. Mann was the +one who planned your imprisonment. He thought out all the details--I've +only just found this out--and since his talk with you this afternoon, he +thought you were getting wise, too. So he went right out, got his bag +(which has been packed for some time) and took the night train East. He +owes me a big bill--and more promises than he can ever pay. I've been +getting sick of this kind of thing for weeks; now that he's proved the +biggest kind of a coward, I've come straight to you. And I'm glad I +did." + +"Would you be willing to go into court and swear to all this?" asked +Gertrude. "For that is what it will come to, Newton." + +"All this and more," he answered. "If you can catch the dirty whelp +before he sails for foreign parts, I'll do my part to put him where he +belongs. I'm sick of living the life of a dirty dog. I want to be a +clean man. I want to be a respectable citizen for the sake of my boy and +girl, Miss Van Deusen; and their mother thinks the world of you--and so +do I, when you come to that." + +"I am sure of that," answered Gertrude, smiling again at the thought +that it was his loyalty which made of him her chauffeur on that +memorable ride. "I shall depend on you now." + +Thus it happened that Bailey Armstrong, who would trust no man to go +alone, took the midnight train for the East, accompanied by the sheriff +of Roma; and that, in due course of time, they returned to Roma, +"bringing their sheaves with them" in the form of Otis H. Mann, Esq. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +The Old, Old Story + + +The trial which followed was perhaps the most exciting event in the +history of Roma. The indictment of Mann involved that of eight others, +all more or less prominent in city politics; and when the facts became +known with regards to Mann's connection with all the events narrated by +Fitzgerald, the citizens were unanimous in demanding his punishment. + +Although the documental evidence in the city hall had all been destroyed +or secreted, there were plenty of witnesses ready to testify to what +they knew, as soon as they felt safe in doing so; and although the +stenographer's notes and Mary Snow's record of what took place while +she was secreted in the closet during Vickery's proposals of graft to +the mayor were not to be found, Mary's testimony was admitted. Gertrude +Van Deusen and Newton Fitzgerald were the chief witnesses, however, and +there were few of Mann's minions brave enough to stand by him in this +emergency. The trial was not long, the jury was out fifteen minutes and +the verdict was "guilty." + +When the judge pronounced the penalty, "Ten years in state's prison and +the restitution of every dollar you have taken from or through the +city," Mann collapsed from the red-faced, pompous official, into the +pitiable wretch; and there were few to say a good word for him when +court adjourned and the people gathered in knots to talk over the trial. +The judge's sentence for the rest of the grafters--from one to ten +years' imprisonment and complete restitution--met with hearty approval; +and from that day municipal grafting suddenly declined in Roma, and +honest politics began to be recognized. + +Vickery was heard from soon after in Japan, but the chief offenders +having been convicted, there was no further interest in bringing him--an +outsider and a tool--to justice. The Boulevard Railway scheme was never +heard of more. + +As soon as the trial was fairly over and the delinquents safely lodged +in jail, the Mayor called a meeting of the remaining councilmen. There +were six vacancies--that number of Roma's aldermen being behind the bars +of justice; and their places had to be filled. + +"How shall this be done?" she asked of them, after calling the meeting +to order and stating its object. "The city charter provides for the +filling of vacancies by the mayor; but the fathers who framed this +charter could never have dreamed of this wholesale demand. I place it +before you. Shall we select the best men for the places ourselves--for I +should not dream of appointing any without suggestions from you--or +shall we call a special election, and let these aldermen be chosen by +the people for the unexpired term?" + +There were good arguments on both sides, and every man spoke his +mind--for once, without fear or favor. At last Geoffrey Mason made the +decisive speech: + +"We have come to the crisis of our municipal history. We have rid our +local government of some of the worst demagogues with which any city +ever was cursed; consequently, it is most important that we fill their +places with men of wide views, unusual intelligence and absolute +fearlessness. We are not sure of what the voters may do if an election +be called just now; but we are reasonably sure that we can pick out six +men who will help make our system of government a model of its kind +instead of a reproach and a by-word. Let us make our own selections--or, +rather, help our mayor to make hers--and show this town what can be done +with an honest and sane council, every man of whom has at heart the +framing of a model municipality and the development of an ideal city. To +this end, I move that the mayor, assisted by the entire council, shall +fill the vacancies in our board." + +This motion was carried without further debate, and some of the best and +most public-spirited men in Roma were put into the vacant places. At +last Gertrude had a city council which was in full sympathy with her, +and ready to further every good project she had under consideration. + +At the first meeting of the completed council, they voted to adopt the +new ordinance which was to provide for open bids on all contracts, to be +signed by the mayor in the presence of his council; and also to pass +others vital to the best interests of the city. It would be impossible, +when they should have finished remodeling their city charter, for City +Hall to be again the temple of the money-changers. + +"We are going to experience a spasm of virtue now that will astonish the +world," said Armstrong, as he sat at lunch with Allingham at the Union +Club next day. "Let's hope it will swing the whole length of the +pendulum from the point where it started last January. You must confess, +the experiment of putting in a woman for mayor has been rather a +successful one, on the whole." + +"I do," answered Allingham. "I'll admit it freely. But then, Gertrude +Van Deusen is an exceptional woman." + +"One of the greatest," said Bailey. + +"Shall I offer my congratulations now?" asked Allingham, after a slight +pause. + +"How did you hear?" said Bailey, quickly. "Who told you?" + +"I've seen it all along," answered Allingham. "No one has told me. Yes, +she's a fine woman--the noblest I ever saw." + +"Mary?--yes," said Bailey. "As fine as Gertrude, every bit." + +"What?" gasped the other; "Mary Snow?" + +"Why, yes, man," retorted Bailey. "What's the matter with you? Of course +it's Mary Snow." + +"Not Gertrude--Miss Van Deusen?" said Allingham, in strained tones. + +"Well, for one who is so sharp as to 'see it all along,' I must say +you're a little off the mark," answered Bailey. "I've been engaged to +Mary Snow ever since the night we found them in the flat, but she's +determined not to have it announced until her time is up at City Hall. +Gertrude?--yes, she's pure gold. I thought once I loved her, but she was +wiser than I. Mary is the only woman in the world for me." Then, seeing +the look on his friend's face, he exclaimed: + +"See here, Jack, what's the matter? I never dreamed it." + +"Do you believe, Bailey, I stand any show? I confess I"--Allingham +stopped; he could not talk about it, even to Armstrong in this hour of +confidence. + +"'A woman-mayor? In Roma? I'm afraid it wouldn't do!'" quoted Bailey, +teasingly. + +"O, quit," answered Allingham. "That was before I knew her--knew +anything." + +"'A woman's place is at home with her husband,'" Bailey went on with a +wicked glee. + +"And that's where I would put her!" retorted Allingham, with spirit. "At +least, I'd give her the chance." + +"Go in, my boy," said Bailey, reaching out his hand to grasp his +friend's, "I don't know how she feels--she's not easily won, I know; but +try it. Go in and win." + +That afternoon the opportunity presented itself. Allingham walked home +with the Mayor. She usually drove home, but the clear, cool air of the +closing autumn day, coming after long hours in office, had tempted her +to test her pedestrian powers, and she had left City Hall alone. +Allingham, however, appeared at the gates and asked permission to join +her. + +"If you care for a brisk walk of two miles," she answered, genially. "Or +even if you give out and desert me on the road, you may begin. O, how +good it is to shake off the dust of City Hall and take a bit of good, +healthful exercise. Walking is the best way I know to keep the cobwebs +from your mental sky, or to restore your tired nerves and overworked +brain to normal condition." + +"I walk five or six miles every morning," answered Allingham. "I believe +it's the way God meant human beings to get over the ground." + +"Yes," she added. "Mother Nature invented walking, while man invented +carriages and cars and motors. How are Blatchley and Watts getting on +with--but there, I chose to walk just to get away from the cares of +office; and here I am bringing them along with me. Let's be just a boy +and girl walking home from school together," she added, whimsically. + +"Or man and woman walking through life together," he amended quickly. + +She did not answer. The crises of her life did not usually find her so +unprepared. They walked a little way in silence; then he spoke again. + +"I love you, I want you. Won't you walk with me 'still farther on?'" + +They had come to a shaded walk across a little bridge, and by a common +impulse they lingered a little here. While she waited, a sudden vision +came before her eyes--and her heart, which had been in a tumult at his +first words, grew calm and cold. She saw, not the impassioned, tender +man on the bridge, speaking in low, musical tones of love and devotion +and his need of her; but the strong, self-sufficient, young chairman in +his office of the Municipal League--the man who had seemed to her to +have the least comprehension of the complex modern woman of anyone she +had ever met. + +"No, no," she said, drawing away from hm. "You do not know what you are +saying. It cannot be." + +"I know that our lives can never be complete while they run apart," he +answered from the depths of his emotion. "I know that you need me as +much as I need you--and because we are meant for each other: because God +made us for each other." + +"You do not know what you are saying," she replied, moving on briskly in +the direction of home. "You happen to be drawn towards me now--by force +of propinquity, perhaps; or because you were good enough to worry about +me during my exile--" + +"As though I could help it," he cried; "O, God, those days and nights of +uncertainty!" + +"But when you go home and think this over, you will thank me," she went +on. "We are not fitted for each other. We are not meant for each other. +I am what you call an advanced woman--your women-folks go farther and +call me strong-minded. I have been brought up that way, and all my +associations in life have developed that spirit within me. You have +always looked upon women as inferior beings--Oh, yes, you have. You, +too, were brought up that way. Even now you would tell me I am an +exceptional woman--if I let you." + +"You are," interrupted Allingham. "By Heaven, you are." + +"But if I were to marry you," she pursued, still talking to the young +man she had seen that morning a year ago in the Municipal League rooms, +"you would soon resent my attitude towards life; you would want to +restrict my life, to surround me with invisible limitations, such as +you believe all femininity should be hedged with. I couldn't endure it. +I never had to, and I couldn't submit to being estimated every day and +in the intimacy of home life--according to the old-fashioned standards +that narrow a woman's heart and mind until they hold nothing but +pettiness and smallness and meanness of spirit. Because I couldn't, I +should make you the most unhappy of men." + +"But, Gertrude, hear me," he pleaded. "The past year has been a +revelation. You have been a revelation to me." + +"Yes, I," she retorted. "Not the eternal principles of manhood and +womanhood, walking together--different and yet alike--only I--" + +"I swear to you," he cried, "I have come to see that a woman may be all +womanly and yet be as much a power and a worker in the world as her +husband; that her place is where she can be of the greatest help to +humanity." + +"No," said Gertrude firmly, for his expression as he spoke the last +sentence, was that of the man who had scorned the proposition of a woman +for mayor--"no; we are radically opposed to each other. We are not just +a boy and girl who might grow together in spite of all differences. We +are a man and woman of strong opinions, just as unlike as possible. We +should quarrel fearfully; and life is given us for something better than +bickering and growing to hate each other. No, I say--no." + +"Perhaps I'd better leave you here," said Allingham, coldly, when she +stopped. And raising his hat, he turned down a side street. Somehow the +charm of the long walk had fled and Gertrude hurried her steps, too, +taking the shortest route to Van Deusen Hall. But when she was safely +sheltered by the four walls of her own room, the strong-willed mayor of +Roma threw herself on the bed and indulged in a good cry. For deep down +in her heart, she knew she had done wrong--a wrong to the man who loved +her--a wrong to her own better nature. + +Later she went down to her dinner and faced the world again, cool and +dignified; and no one could have dreamed that under her smiling exterior +she was hiding a heartache. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +Retrospect and Prophecy + + +Just two years after the luncheon of the "Progressive Workers," at which +the first proposition was made to elect a woman-mayor, the executive +board met again to discuss plans for the coming winter. For the first +time in many months Gertrude Van Deusen was with them. She had been +obliged to forego club-meetings for the most part, unless she would +neglect the affairs of her office, and she had all the woman's +conscientious scruples about routine and detail. + +"Well," said Mrs. Mason, who was president this year, "we can claim +credit for a lot of good work in the past year or two. At last, we are +a power in the city in fact, as well as in name." + +"Yes," said Mrs. Bateman, "we are a recognized factor in public affairs. +The chairman of the Municipal League came to me the other day to know +what we propose to do about the winter campaign in politics and in +civics." + +"They know they can't do much without us," murmured the fluffy little +woman in a new blue gown. "My husband says so." + +"One doesn't wonder," said Cornelia Jewett, "when one looks over the +city. We have our markets inspected, have shut up saloons and worse +places, have put two women on the school board, cleaned the streets, +established vacation schools and playgrounds, and elected a mayor." + +"And by electing our mayor, have cleaned up the city pretty thoroughly +from corruption," added Mrs. Turner. "For if Burke had been elected, +things would have gone from bad to worse; if Allingham--well, I'm a +little afraid of our men's doctrine of _laissez-faire_." + +"Oh, I think Mr. Allingham would have done just as good work as has been +done," said Gertrude, speaking for the first time. "He is both fearless +and conscientious, and the moment he saw any sign of graft, he would +have attacked it with courage and skill--and with less spectacular +consequences than we did, perhaps," she added, smiling. + +"I do not believe it," answered Mrs. Bateman. "He has developed +wonderfully and is a man to be depended upon now; but it took you, +Gertrude, to educate him." + +The Mayor looked up quickly. The little episode on the bridge had never +been told or repeated. Did anybody mistrust? But Mrs. Bateman kept on: + +"There are thousands of good men who need awakening as to what women may +do in the way of cleaning up a city, both literally and metaphorically. +It takes both the man and the woman to make the model home; why not the +model city?" + +"We are going to have the honor of electing you again this winter, +Gertrude?" asked Mrs. Mason. "May we announce it?" + +"I scarcely think so," answered Gertrude. "I have done my full duty. I +have given two years of the hardest work of which I am capable to my +city. I stepped in as an emergency candidate; but now we shall find no +difficulty in finding a candidate. Indeed, I may say that one is already +being considered, although his name I must not tell." + +"O, it's a shame that our men would think of setting up an opposition +candidate," cried the fluffy lady, "after the splendid way you've +filled the breach. My husband shall never countenance it in the world." + +"Don't get excited, Bella," soothed Gertrude. "I may as well tell you, +for it is a matter of considerable pride to me, that the regular +committee from the Republican party has already waited upon me and asked +me to accept the nomination again--" + +She was interrupted by a vigorous clapping of hands. + +"But the more I think it over, the more I feel that I did right in +saying no," she went on. "I realize that I was an experiment--happily +successful. But I believe it will be better all round now, to return to +our normal condition, with a man in the mayor's chair." + +"Only he must be a good one," said Mrs. Stillman, "one who will carry on +your policy. And I can think of several who might be willing, now that +you have performed the Herculean task--and who will keep the Augean +stables clean." + +"Rather than see them put a demagogue into my place I would try to keep +it," answered Gertrude. "But with such good men in City Hall as we now +have, there is no longer need for a woman there. I bespeak your +co-operation for my successor, whose name shall be known in a few days, +although I do not think he has consented yet. But when he does, and the +candidate is announced, you must all work to elect him. Then I shall +retire to private life--thank Heaven!" + +"You aren't going to follow Mary Snow's example, are you?" asked the +fluffy woman, saucily. "My husband says they are the happiest couple and +the best mated, he ever saw." + +"Your husband is right, Bella," said Gertrude. "Now, my friends, I must +go. I have some work waiting in my office and two or three appointments +to be made." + +"Do you suppose she'd let us make her the next president of the P. +W.'s?" asked Bella, when the mayor left the room. + +"Bless you, no!" answered Mrs. Bateman. "What would a woman who has been +mayor of a city want of our little club-presidency? Let her take the +rest she has earned. She needs it; she is looking worn and pale." + +"No wonder. I wish she would marry some nice man," answered the +irrepressible Bella. + +"There isn't any good enough for her," said Mrs. Mason shortly. "Now, +ladies, if there is any business to be done, let's get at it." + +When Gertrude arrived at her office John Allingham was waiting for her. +She had not seen him alone for months, except for the few brief moments +when he had been forced to consult her in regard to some detail of his +department work. He looked anxiously at her when she entered the room, +not dreaming that her heart was leaping in her bosom at sight of him. + +"I want to see you alone a few minutes," he began. + +The stenographer rose mechanically and withdrew, closing the door behind +her. + +"See here,--what is this about your retiring from office," he asked. +"You mustn't do it." + +"Mustn't I?" she asked. + +"By no means," he answered decisively. "You have everything in good +running order, your enemies routed, the grafters where they belong, a +year of steady improvement under the new order of things,--and the +public all with you. It is not right for you to leave now." + +"Yes, it is," she answered, getting control of herself. "And it is time +for you to take my place." + +"I can't,--I have no desire to be mayor. You have proved your fitness +for the post," he went on earnestly. "You have proved what a woman can +do. Now keep on." + +"No," she answered. "I want you to prove what you can do. The committee +have asked you to stand?" + +"Yes,--but then,--you should take another two years to fully establish +and carry out the work you have begun. You see I have completely revised +my ideas concerning a woman for mayor." + +"Yes, thank you," she replied. "But, listen. I have, under God, had a +successful term; I have been able to put through several changes for the +better--with the help of good men like you. I am--yes, I admit it,--I am +popular today with the people. But popularity is an uncertain thing, +and there is no telling how soon it may wane. I am wise in letting go, +while I am on the top-wave. Now, honestly, don't you think so?" + +"If popularity is all you think of, yes," answered Allingham. "But it +isn't." + +"No, it isn't," she admitted. "But if you must have the truth, I'll go +farther and say, the innovation of trying a woman for mayor was an +experiment. The new broom has swept clean, and people are pleased so +far. But the natural and right way of cities is to have a man at the +helm. Between you and me, it is the fore-ordained method of nature to +keep the man at the head of things, to take the brunt, to face the +danger. Say what you will, the woman was not meant for this kind of +thing. As we go on with our municipal life the realization of this is +going to grow upon the people. While they are fully appreciative of all +I have tried to do, there will develop the old desire for a man at the +helm--and then comes discontent. Indeed, I can already see signs of it. +You are the right man for the place. I shall always be thankful for the +experience I have had; but I want no more." She smiled up at him. "I am +more than content to pass it along,--not alone because the burden is +heavy, and I am growing selfish,--but because you are the right man for +mayor of Roma." + +"Then if it is your wish," Allingham replied, "I will consent." He rose +to go. "If only we might stand at the head together," he said. "With you +to give a man courage--" + +Gertrude interrupted him. "We should not be in accord. We could never +agree. Don't talk about it." She rang the bell for the stenographer, and +Allingham turned to go. + +"May I say," she added, relenting at the expression on his face, "that +you have done splendid work in your department? You have achieved the +wonderful feat of improving our streets and keeping expenses down at the +same time." + +"That was not difficult," he answered, "where the opposite had been the +practice for so long. I'm going down now to inspect that street we are +laying out just back of your place. I'm sorry there had to be blasting." + +"The street will be all the more picturesque when it's done," she +replied. "Good afternoon, and thank you, for what you promised." + +"O, I wonder if I can hold out," she said to herself as he went out. "If +he had said another word, I should have given in,--but he didn't." + +Still, that he would say it some other time, she knew. Then she would +have to say yes. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +A Heart's Awakening + + +There were the afternoon letters to dictate, which took her nearly an +hour; and there were callers who kept her in the office until nearly +five o'clock. When they had all left she sat for a moment, resting and +reviewing the events of the day. + +"I wonder if I've done right," she queried. "He will succeed me and do +great things for Roma, but O, I wish I could help him. I wish I dared +let myself love him as he deserves. I wish I were one of the softer, +clinging women, made to love a man and to depend on him for happiness. +After all, they are the fortunate ones. But,--what am I saying? Brace +up, Gertrude Van Deusen; don't be a sentimental girl! You've prided +yourself on your independence of mind and heart. At your age, to be +thinking of a man,--and one whose ideal is so far from what you know +yourself to be! I'll go to Europe this winter and stay a year. I'll soon +get back to my old spirit, and cease to think--" + +The telephone rang. + +"Well?" she asked. + +"There's been an explosion down back of your house among the +street-department's tools," some one was saying. "Two men were hit by +flying rocks and hurt, we fear badly. One of them was a laborer,--" + +"And the other?" asked Gertrude quickly, her heart divining the truth. + +"Was Commissioner Allingham. He had just come to inspect the work. May +we take them to your house until we can get the ambulance and the +doctors?" + +"Take them there at once," she responded. "Get the doctors, but don't +call the ambulances yet--until we know what to do with the men. I'll be +right down." + +She flew to her closet and hurried into her coat. At the door, her +carriage waited and she gave orders to drive as fast as possible. Then +she sat back against the luxurious cushions, trying to control the +terror that had come suddenly upon her spirit. She no longer doubted and +hesitated. The shock had revealed the depths of her own heart which she +had not sounded. She came in a moment to know that love is not a feeling +to be analyzed or nurtured or trained into growth; the thing she had +been repressing and torturing into subjection suddenly became a divine, +reverential passion. + +As they drove through the tree-shaded streets she trembled lest John +Allingham might already have crossed the mysterious boundary which +separates the living from the dead, and she would meet only a life-long +sorrow at her door,--a sorrow which would crown her life with +sanctifying, uplifting influences, even though it crushed her heart and +benumbed her soul. But even that, she realized, was infinitely better +than the starving of love with which she had been cheating herself. She +bent her head and prayed while the carriage rolled rapidly on under the +overarching elms and up the graveled driveway to her house. + +Once within she passed rapidly upstairs, unfastening her wraps as she +did so, and going towards the rooms where she knew the injured men would +be carried. They had been taken, she was told, to her father's old room, +where the doctor was already with them. Dared she go in? + +Throwing her wraps in at the door to her own apartment, she turned again +towards the sick-chamber. And then she stood face to face with John +Allingham. + +"John," she sobbed. "O, John." + +Taken by itself, it was a meaningless sentence; but it satisfied him. He +held out his arms and she nestled into them. + +"You are really not fit to walk alone," she smiled up at him after an +eloquent moment. "Ask me again to walk with you." + +So it fell out that on the eve of the next mayor's inaugural, there was +a wedding; and all of Roma rejoiced with the couple who pronounced the +holy vows. For the loving heart of the woman was to stand alongside the +strong desire of the man; and all Roma would be guided and helped by the +two. + +----------------------------------------------------------------------- + +AZALEA + +By ELIA W. PEATTIE + +The first book of the "Blue Ridge" Series + +Azalea is the heroine of a good, wholesome story that will appeal to +every mother as the sort of book she would like her daughter to read. In +the homy McBirneys of Mt. Tennyson, down in the Blue Ridge country, and +their hearty mountain neighbors, girl readers will find new friends they +will be glad to make old friends. + +This book marks a distinct advance in the quality of books offered for +girls. 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