contest we had last night," said
his honor.

"It seemed to be earnest," said Peter.

"It's just as well our friend here sprang your nomination on us as a
surprise, for if we had known, we should not have put up an opposition
candidate. You are just the sort of a man we want to represent us in the
convention."

"I have never met my colleagues," said Peter. "What kind of men are
they?"

So he got Gallagher's opinion, and Dennis's opinion. Then he wanted to
know about the candidates, asking questions about them at considerable
length. The intentions of the other city delegates were next introduced.
Finally the probable planks of the platform were brought up. While they
were still under discussion Gallagher said the sitting of his court
compelled him to leave.

"I'll come in some time when I have more to spare."

Gallagher went to his court, and found a man waiting for him there.

"He's either very simple or very deep," said Gallagher. "He did nothing
but ask questions; and try my best I could not get him to show his hand,
nor commit himself. It will be bad if there's a split in a solid
delegation!"

"I hope it will be a lesson to you to have things better arranged."

"Blunkers would have it that way, and he's not the kind of man to
offend. We all thought he would win."

"Oh, let them have their fights," said the man crossly; "but it's your
business to see that the right men are put up, so that it doesn't make
any difference which side wins."

"Well," said Gallagher, "I've done all I could to put things straight.
I've made peace, and got Moriarty on our side, and I've talked to this
Stirling, and made out a strong case for Catlin, without seeming to care
which man gets the nomination."

"Is there any way of putting pressure on him?"

"Not that I can find out. He's a young lawyer, who has no business."

"Then he's a man we don't need to conciliate, if he won't behave?"

"No. I can't say that. He's made himself very popular round here by that
case and by being friendly to people. I don't think, if he's going into
politics, that it will do to fight him."

"He's such a green hand that we ought to be able to down him."

"He's new, but he's a pretty cool, knowing chap, I think. I had one
experience with him, which showed me that any man who picked him up for
a fool would drop him quick." Then he told how Dennis's fine had been
remitted.

In the next few weeks Peter met a good many men who wanted to talk
po