Only, later, he proposed to shake Stener out if he could.

But this preliminary work had to be done by some one, and it might as well be Stener.

At the same time, as he saw, this work had to be done very carefully, because naturally his superiors were watchful, and if they found him dabbling in affairs of this kind to his own advantage, they might make it impossible for him to continue politically in a position where he could help himself just the same.

Any outside organization such as a street-railway company already in existence had a right to appeal to the city council for privileges which would naturally further its and the city's growth, and, other things being equal, these could not be refused.

It would not do for him to appear, however, both as a shareholder and president of the council.