ives wrangled at bridge or
five-hundred, fell into the habit of "dropping in at Gwynne's," instead
of going to the Lodge or the dingy back room of some saloon or lawyer's
office. They were at liberty to take off their coats and put their feet
on the railing surrounding the large iron stove that sat well out into
the room. There were even spittoons for such as clung to the old
tradition; and in a short time the large newly built, almost luxurious
room took on somewhat of the character of that forum of an older time,
the corner grocery. Judge Leslie seldom honored these assemblies, as he
was tired at night and rejoiced in a comfortable home; nor did Tom
Colton, whose domestic virtues were pronounced; but Mr. Wheaton came,
and Mr. Haight, Mr. Boutts, and other solid business men old enough to
be Gwynne's father; and they were all deeply interested in Rosewater
first, State politics second, and national affairs once in four years;
or oftener if there was any pyrotechnical departure from routine.
European politics interested them not at all, and if they had any
suspicion of Gwynne's real status, they were too accustomed to minding
their own business to take any liberties with his reserve.

But they were fully alive to the importance of his addition to the
community. He was a large landholder, selling many small farms to
acceptable persons; he spent money freely, buying everything he needed
for his household and farm in Rosewater, instead of sending to the city;
he was studying law with a view to practising in their midst; and now
that Judge Leslie--who proclaimed him a marvel--was threatening to
retire, his keen and cautious fellow-citizens needed nothing more than a
man of first-class legal ability to take care of their great and varied
interests and defend them against the corporation bogie. They found
themselves hinting that he should engage in politics as well, when his
probationary years were over.

When Gwynne shrugged his shoulders one night and remarked bluntly that
he had no desire to work with either of the California machines, and
would unquestionably come a howling cropper if he worked against either,
Mr. Wheaton answered with the nimbleness of a mind already made up, that
he could be sent to Sacramento on an independent ticket--manipulated by
the honest men of Rosewater--to fight such of the frauds and tyrannies
as the State was suffering acutely from at the moment. During reform
spasms the machines were practi