sts when they realized that they carried that city in their vest
pockets.

At last every chair was occupied. It was a peculiar gathering. It
included judges, politicians, pseudo-business men, several lawyers and
even the Mayor of one of the largest cities in the Mississippi Valley.
Facing them, sat the Old Man and Willowby.

Of the hundred men in the audience not one was at his ease. Most had
come because they were afraid to stay away. Many hoped that they would
not be recognized. The majority doubted the wisdom of such a meeting and
felt that the Old Man was slipping mentally. It was the first time that
many of them had even seen him. He was almost as much of an unknown to
them as the little man sitting next to him. A peculiar silence hung over
the assembly. More than one man fondled the handle of his automatic. No
one seemed to be sure of what was going to happen next. It was a
fortunate thing that the meeting was held at night; with the audience
composed of such men. A daylight gathering would have been impossible.

The Old Man and Willowby held a short whispered conference, and then the
leader of American Racketeers stood up. What had been silence before,
now became the hush of death. The Old Man was going to talk, and
everyone wanted to hear what he had to say. It did not take him long to
start.

"You Big Boys have been running the cities before," he growled, "but
from tonight on we are going to run the country. Congress and the
Supreme Court are going to dance to our music and like it. Our new
friend here has promised to deliver the goods, and he does not want much
in return. I have told him that we will trade, and what I say goes. Now,
you boys listen to Willowby, and remember that I am back of him."

Then he sat down. As far as the records are concerned, that was the
longest speech the Old Man made in his life. The Boys hardly knew what
to do; they felt they should applaud, but not being certain remained
quiet. Then Willowby stood up.

"I do not want very much, gentlemen," he remarked. "I only want to be
the next President of the United States, and I can be, with your help.
Let me show you a picture."

He walked over to the covered picture, pulled a cord and unveiled it and
there, life size, were the Old Man and Willowby shaking hands. Anyone
could tell who they were and what they were doing. That brought the
house down. Everybody felt that it was time for a little noise. Some of
them, who knew the Big B