e.

"Misther Stirling," he said, his face expanding into the broadest of
grins, "let me salute the delegate to the State convention."

"Look here, Dennis," said Peter, "you know you had no business to spring
that on me."

"Ah, sir! Shure, when that dirty little spalpeen av a Caggs went back on
us so, what could Oi do? Oi know it's speak to yez Oi ought, but wid de
room yellin' like that it's divilish tryin' to do the right thing quick,
barrin' it's not hittin' some one's head, which always comes natural."

"Well," said Peter, "of course I'm very much pleased to have been
chosen, but I wish it could have been done with less hard feeling."

"Hard feelin,' is it?"

"Yes."

"Shure, the b'ys are as pleased and kindly this mornin' as can be. It's
a fight like that makes them yieldin' an' friendly. Nothin' but a little
head-punchin' could make them in a sweeter mood, an' we'd a given them
that if little Caggs had had any sense in him."

"You mean Gallagher and Blunkers and the rest of them?"

"Av course. That little time last night didn't mean much. No one feels
bad over that. Shure, it's Gallagher was in my place later last night,
an' we had a most friendly time, he treatin' the whole crowd twice.
We've got to fight in the primary to keep the b'ys interested, but it's
seldom that they're not just as friendly the next day."

Peter looked at his wall. He had not liked Gallagher at either time he
had met him. "Still," he thought to himself, "I have no right to prevent
him and Dennis being friends, from the little I've seen."

"Now, sir, about the convention?" said Dennis.

"I suppose Porter is the best man talked of for the nomination,"
remarked Peter.

"Begobs, sir, that he's not," said Dennis. "It's Justice Gallagher was
tellin' me himself that he was a poor kind av creature, wid a strong
objection to saloons."

Peter's eye lost its last suggestion of doubt. "Oh, Justice Gallagher
told you that?" he asked. "When?"

"Last night."

"After the primary?"

"Av course."

"Whom does he favor?"

"Catlin."

"Well, Dennis, you've made me a delegate, but I've got to vote my own
way."

"Shure, sir, Oi'd not have yez do any thin' else. It's yezself knows
better than me. Oi was only tellin' yez what the Justice--"

A knock at the door interrupted him. It proved to be Gallagher, who
greeted them both in a hearty, friendly way. Peter brought another chair
from his bedroom.

"Well, Mr. Stirling, that was a fine