Commission.

"That Kurfeldt is going to be a nuisance," said Pell

"I can't say yet. He evidently has no idea of what our aim is. Perhaps,
though, when we really get to work, he'll prove useful."

Peter had a call the next day from Rivington. It was made up of thanks,
of college chat, and of inquiry as to duties. Peter outlined the
preliminary work, drafted the "Inquiries" and other printed papers
necessary to be sent out before the first meeting, and told him about
the procedure at the meetings.

"I know I shall get into all kinds of pickles," said Ray. "I write such
a bad hand that often I can't read it myself. How the deuce am I to take
down evidence?"

"I shall make notes for my own use, and you will be welcome to them, if
they will help you."

"Thanks, Peter. That's like you."

The Commission began its inquiry, on the date fixed, and met three times
a week from that time on. Peter did not try to push himself forward, but
he was by far the best prepared on the subject, and was able to suggest
the best sources of information. He asked good questions, too, of the
various witnesses summoned. Finally he was the one regular attendant,
and therefore was the one appealed to for information elicited at
previous meetings. He found the politician his best helper. Pell was
useful when he attended, which was not very often, and even this
intermittent attendance ceased in June. "I'm going to Newport," he
explained, and did not appear again till late in the fall. The
contractor really took no part in the proceedings beyond a fairly
frequent attendance, and an occasional fit of attention whenever the
inquiry related to building. The labor-agitator proved quite a good man.
He had, it is true, no memory, and caused them to waste much time in
reading over the minutes of previous meetings. But he was in earnest,
and proved to be perfectly reasonable as soon as he found that the
commissioners' duties were to inquire and not to make speeches. Peter
walked home with him several times, and they spent evenings together in
Peter's rooms, talking over the evidence, and the possibilities.

Peter met a great many different men in the course of the inquiry;
landlords, real-estate agents, architects, engineers, builders,
plumbers, health officials, doctors and tenants. In many cases he went
to see these persons after they had been before the Commission, and
talked with them, finding that they were quite willing to give facts in
private