"
"Oh, Ruef's too smart for Langdon," said Aleta. "Every Sunday night he,
Schmitz and Big Jim Gallagher hold a caucus. Gallagher is Ruef's
representative on the Board. They figure out what will occur at Monday's
session of the Supervisors. It's all cut and dried."
"It can't last long," Frank mused. "They're getting too much money.
Those fellows who used to earn from $75 to $100 a month are spending
five times that amount. Schmitz is building a palace. He rides around in
his automobile with a liveried chauffeur. He's going to Europe
they say."
The girl glanced up at him half furtively. "Perhaps I'll go to Europe,
too."
"What?" Frank eyed her startled. "Not with--"
"Yes, my friend, the Supervisor." Her tone was defiant. "Why shouldn't
I?"
"Don't--Aleta."
"But, why not?"
He was silent. But his eyes were on her, pleadingly.
"Would you care, Frank? Would you care--at all?"
"You know I would," he spoke half angrily. The girl traced patterns with
her fork upon the table cloth.
[Illustration: "I am going South," Francisco told his son. "I cannot
bear this."]
CHAPTER LXXXII
AT BAY
On May 21, the United Railway Company received a franchise to electrize
any of its street-car routes, "where grades permitted.
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