nd a cowboy hat, he can
keep back the wheels of time. He hasn't brains enough to last him over
night. Boyle says he sees the signs of a coming storm. I believe I see
them, too."

"Signs?" inquired Hull.

"Yes, the East is taking notice. The big corporations are being held
responsible for their men, their health, and their morals. 'Mexico,'
too, has something up his sleeve. He's acting queer, and this Boyle's
brother is taking a hand, I believe."

"The doctor, eh? Pshaw! let him."

"Do you know him?"

"Not well."

"You get next him quick. He's the coming man in this country, don't
forget it."

Hull grunted rather contemptuously. He himself was a man of considerable
wealth. He was an old timer and cherished the old timer's contempt for
the tenderfoot.

"All right," said Daggett, "you may sniff. I've watched him and I've
discovered this, that what he wants to do he does. He's an old poker
player. He has cleaned out 'Mexico' half a dozen times. He has quit
poker now, they say, and he's got 'Mexico' going queer."

"What's his game?"

"Can't make it out quite. He has turned religious, they say. Spoke here
at a big meeting last spring, quite dramatic, I believe. I wasn't there.
Offered to pay back his ungodly winnings. Of course, no man would listen
to that, so he's putting libraries into the camps and establishing
clubrooms."

"By Jove! it's a good game. But what do the boys, what does 'Mexico'
think of it?"

"Why, that's the strangest part of it. He's got them going his way. He's
a doctor, you know, has nursed a lot of them, and they swear by him.
He's a sign, I tell you. So is 'Mexico.'"

"What about 'Mexico'?"

"Well, you know 'Mexico' has been the head centre of the saloon outfit,
divides the spoil and collects the 'rents.' But I say he's acting
queer."

Hull was at once on the alert. "That's interesting. You are sure of your
facts? It might be all right to corral those chaps. The virtue campaign
is bound to come. A little premature yet, but that doctor fellow is to
be considered."

But the virtue campaign did not immediately begin. The whole political
machinery of both parties was too completely under the control of the
saloon and "red light" influence to be easily emancipated. The business
interests of the little towns along the line were so largely dependent
upon the support of the saloon and the patronage of vice that few had
the courage to openly espouse and seriously champion a campaign for