e had no
interest in politics. In fact, he scarcely knew the meaning of the word.
Politics and religion were mysteries for which he had little but
contempt. He used to say that politicians were grafters and preachers
fakers, though he did believe that Cavanaugh, who was a devout
Methodist, was, while deluded, decidedly sincere. He heard Dora's voice
down-stairs as she timidly asked her aunt if she might go to bed.

"Have you washed the dishes and put them up?" Jane asked.

"Yes, 'm," the child said, and John heard her ascending the stairs to
her room back of his. She used no light, and he heard her bare feet
softly treading the floor as she undressed in the dark. Soon all was
quiet in her room, and he plunged again into his work.

Finally it was concluded, and he folded the sheets on which he had
written so clearly and so accurately and went to bed. It was an hour
before he went to sleep. He could still hear the low mumbling, broken by
laughter, below, but that did not disturb him. It was his figures and
estimates squirming like living things in his brain that kept him awake
till near midnight.

The next morning he decided to walk to the Square, that he might stop at
Cavanaugh's cottage and hand him the papers.

The little house of only six rooms stood in another part of the town's
edge. Close behind it was a swamp filled with willow-trees and bracken,
and farther beyond lay a strip of woodland that sloped down from a
rugged mountain range. There was a white paling fence in front, a few
fruit-trees at the sides, and a grape-arbor and vegetable-garden behind.
Mrs. Cavanaugh, a portly woman near her husband's age, was on the tiny
porch, sweeping, and she looked up and smiled as John entered the gate.

"Sam's just gone down to the swamp to see what's become of our two
hens," she said. "He'll be back in a few minutes. He'd like to see you.
He thinks a lot of you, John."

"I haven't time to wait," John explained, taking the papers from his
pocket and handing them to her. "Give these to him. He will know all
about them."

"I know-- I understand. They are the bid on that court-house." She
smiled broadly. "Sam was awfully set back. He told me all about it last
night. He admits he was hasty, but, la me! he is so anxious to land that
contract that he can hardly sleep. You see, he thinks maybe it is our
one chance to lay by a little. You see, Sam hasn't the heart to charge
stiff prices here among Ridgeville folks, but he