“But how’s it to be done?  They’re being watched, you know.  They’ve lots of enemies.  Bribery would land them in the penitentiary.”

The girl leaned forward.  “Ah, this isn’t ordinary bribery.  Anyone that wants a franchise or a license hires Ruef as his attorney.  They say he gets as high at $10,000 for a retaining fee ... and they expect to clean the street car company out of a quarter million.”

Prank stared.  “Why—­in God’s name!—­did he tell you this?”

“He loves me.”  There was something like defiance in her answer.  “He wants me to accompany him to Europe—­when he gets the coin.  He says it won’t be long.”

“So”—­Frank was a little nonplussed—­“he wants you to marry him?”

“No,” the girl’s face reddened.  “No, I can’t ... he’s got a wife.”

For a moment there was silence.  Then.  “What did you tell the—­hound, Aleta?”

“He’s not a hound,” she said evenly.  “The wife won’t care.  She runs with other men....”  Her eyes would not meet Frank’s.  “I—­haven’t answered.”

“But—­your mother!”

“Mother’s mind is gone,” Aleta answered, bitterly.  “She doesn’t even recognize me now....  But she’s happy.”  Her laugh rang, mirthless.

“Aleta,” he said, sternly, “do you love this man?”

“No,” she said and stared at him.  “I—­I—­”

“What?”

“I love another—­if you must know all about it.”

“Can’t you—­marry him? Is he too poor?” asked Stanley.

“Poor?” Her eyes were stars; “that wouldn’t matter.  No, he’s not my sort....”

“Does he know?”

“No,” Aleta answered, hastily.  “No, he doesn’t ... and he never will.”

* * * * *

Frank told his father something of the conversation.

“Its an open secret,” said Francisco, “that Ruef and his crew are out for the coin.  I’ll tell you something else you mustn’t print, your paper is determined to expose Ruef.  The managing editor is on his way to Washington to confer with President Roosevelt....  The plan is to borrow Francis Heney and William J. Burns.”

“What?  The pair that has been exposing Senators and land frauds up in Oregon?”

His father nodded.  “Phew!” The young man whistled.  “You were right when you predicted that there was a shakeup coming.”

* * * * *

Frank, expecting startling things to happen, kept his mind alert.  But the months passed uneventfully.  The editor returned from Washington.  No sensational announcement followed the event.  Later it was rumored that Burns had sent operatives to the city.  They were gathering evidence, one understood, but if they did, naught seemed to come of it.  Frank was vaguely disappointed.  Now and then he saw Aleta, but the subject of their former talk was not resumed.  Vaguely he wondered what manner of man was her beloved.

Frank resented the idea that he was above her.  Aleta was good enough for any man.