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added half aggressively； and yet with the air of hurrying over a
compromising and inexplicable weakness； 〃the long and short of it is I've
got a little girl down at the Convent of Santa Clara； and have hadthere！
I've been taking care of herGOOD care； too； boysfor some time。 And
now I want to put things square for her for the future。 See？ I want to make
over to her all my property it's nigh on to seventy…five thousand dollars；
for Bob Snelling put me up to getting those water lots a year agoand； you
see； I'll have to have regular guardians； trustees； or whatever you call 'em；
to take care of the money for her。〃
〃Who's her father？〃 asked the Mayor。
〃What's that to do with it？〃 she said impetuously。
〃Everythingbecause he's her natural guardian。〃
〃Suppose he isn't known？ Say dead； for instance。〃
〃Dead will do；〃 said the Mayor gravely。 〃Yes； dead will do；〃 repeated
Colonel Pendleton。 After a pause； in which the two men seemed to have
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buried this vague relative； the Mayor looked keenly at the woman。
〃Kate； have you and Bob Ridley had a quarrel？〃
〃Bob Ridley knows too much to quarrel with me；〃 she said briefly。
〃Then you are doing this for no motive other than that which you tell
me？〃
〃Certainly。 That's motive enoughain't it？〃
〃Yes。〃 The Mayor took his feet off his companion's chair and sat
upright。 Colonel Pendleton did the same； also removing his cigar from his
lips。 〃I suppose you'll think this thing over？〃 he added。
〃NoI want it done NOWright herein this office。〃
〃But you know it will be irrevocable。〃
〃That's what I want itsomething might happen afterwards。〃
〃But you are leaving nothing for yourself； and if you are going to
devote everything to this daughter and lead a different life； you'll〃
〃Who said I was？〃
The two men paused； and looked at her。 〃Look here； boys； you don't
understand。 From the day that paper is signed； I've nothing to do with the
child。 She passes out of my hands into yours； to be schooled； educated；
and made a rich girl out ofand never to know who or what or where I am。
She doesn't know now。 I haven't given her and myself away in that style
you bet！ She thinks I'm only a friend。 She hasn't seen me more than once
or twice； and not to know me again。 Why； I was down there the other day；
and passed her walking out with the Sisters and the other scholars； and she
didn't know methough one of the Sisters did。 But they're mumTHEY
are； and don't let on。 Why； now I think of it； YOU were down there； Jack；
presiding in big style as Mr。 Mayor at the exercises。 You must have
noticed her。 Little thing； about ninelot of hair； the same color as mine；
and brown eyes。 White and yellow sash。 Had a necklace on of real pearls I
gave her。 I BOUGHT THEM； you understand； myself at Tucker'sgave
two hundred and fifty dollars for themand a big bouquet of white
rosebuds and lilacs I sent her。〃
〃I remember her now on the platform；〃 said the Mayor gravely。 〃So
that is your child？〃
〃You betno slouch either。 But that's neither here nor there。 What I
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want now is you and Harry to look after her and her property the same as
if I didn't live。 More than that； as if I had NEVER LIVED。 I've come to
you two boys； because I reckon you're square men and won't give me
away。 But I want to fix it even firmer than that。 I want you to take hold of
this trust not as Jack Hammersley； but as the MAYOR OF SAN
FRANCISCO！ And when you make way for a new Mayor； HE takes up
the trust by virtue of his office； you see； so there's a trustee all along。 I
reckon there'll always be a San Francisco and always a Mayorat least till
the child's of age； and it gives her from the start a father； and a pretty big
one too。 Of course the new man isn't to know the why and wherefore of
this。 It's enough for him to take on that duty with his others； without
asking questions。 And he's only got to invest that money and pay it out as
it's wanted； and consult Harry at times。〃
The two men looked at each other with approving intelligence。 〃But
have you thought of a successor for ME； in case somebody shoots me on
sight any time in the next ten years？〃 asked Pendleton； with a gravity
equal to her own。
〃I reckon； as you're President of the El Dorado Bank； you'll make that
a part of every president's duty too。 You'll get the directors to agree to it；
just as Jack here will get the Common Council to make it the Mayor's
business。〃
The two men had risen to their feet； and； after exchanging glances；
gazed at her silently。 Presently the Mayor said：
〃It can be done； Kate； and we'll do it for youeh； Harry？〃
〃Count me in；〃 said Pendleton； nodding。 〃But you'll want a third man。〃
〃What's that for？〃
〃The casting vote in case of any difficulty。〃
The woman's face fell。 〃I reckoned to keep it a secret with only you
two；〃 she said half bitterly。
〃No matter。 We'll find some one to act； or you'll think of somebody
and let us know。〃
〃But I wanted to finish this thing right here；〃 she said impatiently。 She
was silent for a moment； with her arched black brows knitted。 Then she
said abruptly； 〃Who's that smart little chap that let me in？ He looks as if he
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might be trusted。〃
〃That's Paul Hathaway； my secretary。 He's sensible； but too young。
Stop！ I don't know about that。 There's no legal age necessary； and he's got
an awfully old head on him；〃 said the Mayor thoughtfully。
〃And I say his youth's in his favor；〃 said Colonel Pendleton； promptly。
〃He's been brought up in San Francisco； and he's got no dd old…fashioned
Eastern notions to get rid of； and will drop into this as a matter of business；
without prying about or wondering。 I'LL serve with him。〃
〃Call him in！〃 said the woman。
He came。 Very luminous of eye； and composed of lip and brow。 Yet
with the same suggestion of 〃making believe〃 very much； as if to offset
the possible munching of forbidden cakes and apples in his own room； or
the hidden presence of some still in his pocket。
The Mayor explained