Page 103 (1/2)

It was to Murdock's far-reaching ulation of interests by which almost every man who served the city,

and particularly those who served it badly and expensively, was tied to

Barry by ties closer than those of brotherly love Whether official,

contractor or working-man, they owed job or contract to the influence

that Barry seemed to exercise in the councils of the city It was by

Murdock's advice that the better residence district ell-policed,

well-lighted, well-paved and generally contented with things as they

were By Murdock's suggestion the city's interests were zealously

guarded in the discussions of the council

When a coust body to

listen to a debate on a certain paving contract, they could not help

being ie of materials and methods

displayed by their representatives, and the unanireed that a particular bid was, if not the cheapest, theof those offered What they could not knoas the ingenuity

hich Murdock saved both the brain and the ti its debate beforehand But the coruity between the actual condition of St

Etienne's streets and the wisdoinate and systematize schemes

of plunder for which Barry alone had been incapable, once in a while the