and make a speech."

"Another speech?" said Abel.

"My dear fellow, you are now a speech-maker by profession. Now that you
are in Congress, you will never be free from the oratorical liability.
Wherever two or three are gathered together, and you are one of them,
you'll have to return thanks, and wave the glorious flag of our country.
And you'll have to begin very soon."

CHAPTER LXVII.

WIRES.

General Belch was right. Abel had to begin very soon. The committee met
and called the meetings. The members of the committee, each in his own
district, consulted with various people, whom they found generally at
corner groceries. They were large, coarse-featured, hulking men, and were
all named Jim, or Tom, or Ned.

"What'll you have, Jim?"

"Well, Sir, it's so early in the day, that I can't go any thing stronger
than brandy."

"Two cocktails--stiff," was the word of the gentleman to the bar-keeper.

The companions took their glasses, and sat down behind a heavy screen.

"Well, Sir, what's the word? I see there's going to be more meetin's."

"Yes, Jim. Bodley has resigned."

"Who's the man, Mr. Slugby?" asked Jim, as if to bring matters to a
point.

"Mr. Abel Newt has been mentioned," replied the gentleman with the
diamond ring, which he had slipped into his waistcoat pocket before the
interview.

Jim cocked his eye at his glass, which was nearly empty.

"Here! another cocktail," cried Mr. Slugby to the bar-tender.

"Son of old Newt that bust t'other day?"

"The same."

"Well, I s'pose it's all right," said Jim, as he began his second
tumbler.

"Oh yes; he's all right. He understands things, and he's coming down
rather strong. By-the-by, I've never paid you that ten dollars."

And Mr. Slugby pulled out a bill of that amount and handed it to Jim, who
received it as if he were pleased, but did not precisely recall any such
amount as owing to him.

"I suppose the boys will be thirsty," said Mr. Enos Slugby.

"There never's nothin' to make a man thirsty ekal to a 'lection,"
answered Jim, with his huge features grinning.

"Well, the fellows work well, and deserve it. Here, you needn't go out of
your district, you know, and this will be enough." He handed more money
to his companion. "Have 'em up in time, and don't let them get high until
after the election of delegates. It was thought that perhaps Mr. Musher
and I had better go to the Convention. It's just possible, Jim, that some
of Bodley's f