words with his important
confreres, when it came to vital issues. He preferred, in his
grandiloquent way, to call a spade a spade.

"Now that sounds like very good sense to me," said Butler, sinking a
little lower in his chair for comfort's sake, and concealing his
true mood in regard to all this. "The boys could easily make that
investigation last three weeks, I should think. They're slow enough with
everything else, if me memory doesn't fail me." At the same time he was
cogitating as to how to inject the personality of Cowperwood and his
speedy prosecution without appearing to be neglecting the general
welfare of the local party too much.

"Yes, that isn't a bad idea," said Mollenhauer, solemnly, blowing a ring
of smoke, and thinking how to keep Cowperwood's especial offense from
coming up at this conference and until after he had seen him.

"We ought to map out our program very carefully," continued Senator
Simpson, "so that if we are compelled to act we can do so very quickly.
I believe myself that this thing is certain to come to an issue within
a week, if not sooner, and we have no time to lose. If my advice were
followed now, I should have the mayor write the treasurer a letter
asking for information, and the treasurer write the mayor his answer,
and also have the mayor, with the authority of the common council,
suspend the treasurer for the time being--I think we have the authority
to do that--or, at least, take over his principal duties but without for
the time being, anyhow, making any of these transactions public--until
we have to, of course. We ought to be ready with these letters to show
to the newspapers at once, in case this action is forced upon us."

"I could have those letters prepared, if you gentlemen have no
objection," put in Mollenhauer, quietly, but quickly.

"Well, that strikes me as sinsible," said Butler, easily. "It's about
the only thing we can do under the circumstances, unless we could find
some one else to blame it on, and I have a suggestion to make in that
direction. Maybe we're not as helpless as we might be, all things
considered."

There was a slight gleam of triumph in his eye as he said this, at
the same time that there was a slight shadow of disappointment in
Mollenhauer's. So Butler knew, and probably Simpson, too.

"Just what do you mean?" asked the Senator, looking at Butler
interestedly. He knew nothing of the sixty-thousand-dollar check
transaction. He had not followe