as extra clerks during the spring rush of work. He dropped in on the chief of police to get Murphy on the force; he saw the city clerk about a good fellow who had to be taken care of; he even followed the long hall to the court house wing, where he whispered an instant to Judge Peters and had a friend excused from the jury.
And then he called on the mayor. A lieutenant of police, in gold stripes and stars, the velvet cuffs of his blue coat scrupulously brushed, was just going in. When the officer came out, the big policeman standing guard at the door raised his hand in a semi-military salute, and he kept a finger at his forehead until Malachi entered, thus declaring his abiding faith in the alderman's political star, and his concern for his own official one.
The mayor sat at his great, square desk, with that look of nervous weariness Chicago gives the faces of its successful men, though the morning was young and the day's strain scarce begun.
"Well, Alderman," he said with a sigh, "what can I do for you?"
"Misther May'r," said Nolan, "I come fer to ask a favor."
