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t　after　that　how　long　do　you　think　they　will　have　any　use　for　youhow　long？〃

〃Not　very　long；　maybe；〃　replied　Gilgan；　simply　and　contemplatively；　〃but　the　world　is　the　world；　and　we　have　to　take　it　as　we　find　it。〃

〃Quite　so；〃　replied　Cowperwood；　undismayed；　〃but　Chicago　is　Chicago；　and　I　will　be　here　as　long　as　they　will。　　Fighting　me　in　this　fashionbuilding　elevated　roads　to　cut　into　my　profits　and　giving　franchises　to　rival　companiesisn't　going　to　get　me　out　or　seriously　injure　me；　either。　　I'm　here　to　stay；　and　the　political　situation　as　it　is　to…day　isn't　going　to　remain　the　same　forever　and　ever。　　Now；　you　are　an　ambitious　man；　I　can　see　that。　　You're　not　in　politics　for　your　healththat　I　know。　　Tell　me　exactly　what　it　is　you　want　and　whether　I　can't　get　it　for　you　as　quick　if　not　quicker　than　these　other　fellows？　What　is　it　I　can　do　for　you　that　will　make　you　see　that　my　side　is　just　as　good　as　theirs　and　better？　I　am　playing　a　legitimate　game　in　Chicago。　　I've　been　building　up　an　excellent　street…car　service。　　I　don't　want　to　be　annoyed　every　fifteen　minutes　by　a　rival　company　coming　into　the　field。　　Now；　what　can　I　do　to　straighten　this　out？　Isn't　there　some　way　that　you　and　I　can　come　together　without　fighting　at　every　step？　Can't　you　suggest　some　programme　we　can　both　follow　that　will　make　things　easier？〃

Cowperwood　paused；　and　Gilgan　thought　for　a　long　time。　　It　was　true；　as　Cowperwood　said；　that　he　was　not　in　politics　for　his　health。　　The　situation；　as　at　present　conditioned；　was　not　inherently　favorable　for　the　brilliant　programme　he　had　originally　mapped　out　for　himself。　　Tiernan；　Kerrigan；　and　Edstrom　were　friendly　as　yet；　but　they　were　already　making　extravagant　demands；　and　the　reformers　those　who　had　been　led　by　the　newspapers　to　believe　that　Cowperwood　was　a　scoundrel　and　all　his　works　vilewere　demanding　that　a　strictly　moral　programme　be　adhered　to　in　all　the　doings　of　council；　and　that　no　jobs；　contracts；　or　deals　of　any　kind　be　entered　into　without　the　full　knowledge　of　the　newspapers　and　of　the　public。　Gilgan；　even　after　the　first　post…election　conference　with　his　colleagues；　had　begun　to　feel　that　he　was　between　the　devil　and　the　deep　sea；　but　he　was　feeling　his　way；　and　not　inclined　to　be　in　too　much　of　a　hurry。

〃It's　rather　a　flat　proposition　you're　makin'　me；〃　he　said　softly；　after　a　time；　〃askin'　me　to　throw　down　me　friends　the　moment　I've　won　a　victory　for　'em。　　It's　not　the　way　I've　been　used　to　playin'　politics。　　There　may　be　a　lot　of　truth　in　what　you　say。　　Still；　a　man　can't　be　jumpin'　around　like　a　cat　in　a　bag。　　He　has　to　be　faithful　to　somebody　sometime。〃　Mr。　Gilgan　paused；　considerably　nonplussed　by　his　own　position。

〃Well；〃　replied　Cowperwood；　sympathetically；　〃think　it　over。　　It's　difficult　business；　this　business　of　politics。　　I'm　in　it；　for　one；　only　because　I　have　to　be。　　If　you　see　any　way　you　can　help　me；　or　I　can　help　you；　let　me　know。　　In　the　mean　time　don't　take　in　bad　part　what　I've　just　said。　　I'm　in　the　position　of　a　man　with　his　hack　to　the　wall。　　I'm　fighting　for　my　life。　　Naturally；　I'm　going　to　fight。　　But　you　and　I　needn't　be　the　worse　friends　for　that。　　We　may　become　the　best　of　friends　yet。〃

〃It's　well　I　know　that；〃　said　Gilgan；　〃and　it's　the　best　of　friends　I'd　like　to　be　with　you。　　But　even　if　I　could　take　care　of　the　aldermen；　which　I　couldn't　alone　as　yet；　there's　the　mayor。　　I　don't　know　him　at　all　except　to　say　how…do…ye…do　now　and　then；　but　he's　very　much　opposed　to　you；　as　I　understand　it。　　He'll　be　running　around　most　likely　and　talking　in　the　papers。　　A　man　like　that　can　do　a　good　deal。〃

〃I　may　be　able　to　arrange　for　that；〃　replied　Cowperwood。　　〃Perhaps　Mr。　Sluss　can　be　reached。　　It　may　be　that　he　isn't　as　opposed　to　me　as　he　thinks　he　is。　　You　never　can　tell。〃




Chapter　XXXIX



The　New　Administration

Oliver　Marchbanks；　the　youthful　fox　to　whom　Stimson　had　assigned　the　task　of　trapping　Mr。　Sluss　in　some　legally　unsanctioned　act；　had　by　scurrying　about　finally　pieced　together　enough　of　a　story　to　make　it　exceedingly　unpleasant　for　the　Honorable　Chaffee　in　case　he　were　to　become　the　too　willing　tool　of　Cowperwood's　enemies。　The　principal　agent　in　this　affair　was　a　certain　Claudia　Carlstadtadventuress；　detective　by　disposition；　and　a　sort　of　smiling　prostitute　and　hireling；　who　was　at　the　same　time　a　highly　presentable　and　experienced　individual。　　Needless　to　say；　Cowperwood　knew　nothing　of　these　minor　proceedings；　though　a　genial　nod　from　him　in　the　beginning　had　set　in　motion　the　whole　machinery　of　trespass　in　this　respect。

Claudia　Carlstadtthe　instrument　of　the　Honorable　Chaffee's　undoingwas　blonde；　slender；　notably　fresh　as　yet；　being　only　twenty…six；　and　as　ruthless　and　unconsciously　cruel　as　only　the　avaricious　and　unthinking　typeunthinking　in　the　larger　philosophic　meaning　of　the　wordcan　be。　　To　grasp　the　reason　for　her　being；　one　would　have　had　to　see　the　spiritless　South　Halstead　Street　world　from　which　she　had　sprungone　of　those　neighborhoods　of　old；　cracked；　and　battered　houses　where　slatterns　trudge　to　and　fro　with　beer…cans　and　shutters　swing　on　broken　hinges。　　In　her　youth　Claudia　had　been　made　to　〃rush　the　growler；〃　to　sell　newspapers　at　the　corner　of　Halstead　and　Harrison　streets；　and　to　buy　cocaine　at　the　nearest　drug　store。　　Her　little　dresses　and　underclothing　had　always　been　of　the　poorest　and　shabbiest　materialtorn　and　dirty；　her　ragged　stockings　frequently　showed　the　white　flesh　of　her　thin　little　legs；　and　her　shoes　were　worn　and　cracked；　letting　the　water　and　snow　seep　through　in　winter。　　Her　companions　were　wretched　little　street　boys　of　her　own　neighborhood；　from　whom　she　learned　to　swear　and　to　understand　and　indulge　in　vile　practices；　though；　as　is　often　the　case　with　children；　she　was　not　utterly　depraved　thereby；　at　that。　　At　eleven；　when　her　mother　died；　she　ran　away　from　the　wretched　children's　home　to　which　she　had　been　committed；　and　by　putting　up　a　piteous　tale　she　was　harbored　on　the　West　Side　by　an　Irish　family　whose　two　daughters　were　clerks　in　a　large　retail　store。　　Through　these　Claudia　became　a　cash…girl。　Thereafter　followed　an　individual　career　as　strange　and　checkered　as　anything　that　had　gone　before。　　Sufficient　to　say　that　Claudia's　native　intelligence　was　considerable。　　At　the　age　of　twenty　she　had　managedthrough　her　connections　with　the　son　of　a　shoe　manufacturer　and　with　a　rich　jewelerto　amass　a　little　cash　and　an　extended　wardrobe。　　It　was　then　that　a　handsome　young　Western　Congressman；　newly　elected；　invited　her　to　Washington　to　take　a　position　in　a　government　bureau。　　This　necessitated　a　knowledge　of　stenography　and　typewriting；　which　she　soon　acquired。　　Later　she　was　introduced　by　a　Western　Senator　into　that　form　of　secret　service　which　has　no　connection　with　legitimate　government；　but　which　is　profitable。　　She　was　used　to　extract　secrets　by　flattery　and　cajolery　where　ordinary　bribery　would　not　avail。　　A　matter　of　tracing　the　secret　financial　connections　of　an　Illinois　Congressman　finally　brought　her　back　to　Chicago；　and　here　young　Stimson　encountered　her。　　From　him　she　learned　of　the　political　and　financial　conspiracy　against　Cowperwood；　and　was　in　an　odd　manner　fascinated。　From　her　Congressmen　friends　she　already　knew　something　of　Sluss。　Stimson　indicated　that　it　would　be　worth　two　or　three　thousand　dollars　and　expenses　if　the　mayor　were　successfully　compromised。　Thus　Claudia　Carlstadt　was　gently　navigated　into　Mr。　Sluss's　glowing　life。

The　matter　was　not　so　difficult　of　accomplishment。　　Through　the　Hon。　Joel　Avery；　Marchbanks　secured　a　letter　from　a　political　friend　of　Mr。　Sluss　in　behalf　of　a　young　widowtemporarily　embarrassed；　a　competent　stenographer；　and　the　likewho　wished　a　place　under　the　new　administration。　　Thus　equipped；　Claudia　presented　herself　at　the　mayor's　office　armed　for　the　fray；　as　it　were；　in　a　fetching　black　silk　of　a　strangely　heavy　grain；　her　throat　and　fingers　ornamented　with　simple　pearls；　her　yellow　hair　arranged　about　her　temples　in　exquisite　curls。　　Mr。　Sluss　was　very　busy；　but　made　an　appointment。　　The　next　time　she　appeared　a　yellow　and　red　velvet　rose　had　been　added　to　her　corsage。　　She　was　a　shapely；　full…bosomed　young　woman　who　had　acquired　the　art　of　walking；　sitting；　standing；　and　bending　after　the　most　approved　theories　of　the　Washington　cocotte。　　Mr。　Sluss　was　interested　at　once；　but　circumspect　and　careful。　　He　was　now　mayor　of　a　great　city；　the　cynosure　of　all　eyes。　　It　seemed　to　him　he　remembered　having　already　met　Mrs。　Brandon；　as　the　lady　styled　herself；　and　she　reminded　him　where。　It　had　been　two　years　before　in　the　grill　of　the　Richelieu。　　He　immediately　recalled　details　of　the　interesting　occasion。

〃Ah；　yes；　and　since　then；　as　I　understand　it；　you　married　and　your　husband　died。　　Most　unfortunate。〃

Mr。　Sluss　had　a　large　international　manner　suited；　as　he　thought；　to　a　man　in　so　exalted　a　position。

Mrs。　Brandon　nodded　resignedly。　　Her　eyebrows　and　lashes　were　carefully　darkened　so　as　to　sweeten　the　lines　of　her　face；　and　a　dimple　had　been　made　in　one　cheek　by　the　aid　of　an　orange　stick。　　She　was　the　picture　of　delicate　femininity　appealingly　distressful；　and　yet　to　all　appearance　commercially　competent。

〃At　the　time　I　met　you　you　were　connected　with　the　government　service　in　Washington；　I　believe。〃

〃Yes；　I　had　a　small　place　in　the　Treasury　Department；　but　this　new　administration　put　me　out。〃

She　lifted　her　eyes　and　leaned　forward；　thus　bringing　her　torso　into　a　ravishing　position。　　She　had　the　air　of　one　who　has　done　many　things　besides　work　in　the　Treasury　Department。　　No　least　detail；　as　she　observed；　was　lost　on　Mr。　Sluss。　　He　noted　her　shoes；　which　were　button　patent　leather　with　cloth　tops；　her　gloves；　which　were　glace　black　kid　with　white　stitching　at　the　back　and　fastened　by　dark…gamet　buttons；　the　coral　necklace　worn　on　this　occasion；　and　her　yellow　and　red　velvet　rose。　　Evidently　a　trig　and　hopeful　widow；　even　if　so　recently　bereaved。

〃Let　me　see；〃　mused　Mr。　Sluss；　〃where　are　you　living？　Just　let　me　make　a　note　of　your　address。　　This　is　a　very　nice　letter　from　Mr。　Barry。　　Suppose　you　give　me　a　few　days　to　think　what　I　can　do？　This　is　Tuesday。　　Come　in　again　on　Friday。　　I'll　see　if　anything　suggests　itself。〃

He　s