etition. While the
increase in fee to new saloons will do the same."

"By ----, yer right," said Blunkers.

"That's too good a name to use that way," said Peter, but more as if he
were stating a fact than reproving.

Blunkers laughed good-naturedly. "Yer'll be gittin' usen to close up
yet, Mister Stirling. Yer too good for us."

Peter looked at him. "Blunkers," he said warmly, "no man is too good not
to tell the truth to any one whom he thinks it will help."

"Shake," said Blunkers. Then he turned to the men at the tables. "Step
up, boys," he called. "I sets it up dis time to drink der health of der
feller dat don't drink."

The boys drank

CHAPTER XXI.

A POLITICAL DINNER.

Peter had only a month for work after reaching his own conclusions,
before the meeting of the convention, but in that month he worked hard.
As the result, a rumor, carrying dismay to the party leaders, became
current.

"What's this I hear?" said Gallagher's former interviewer to that
gentleman. "They say Schlurger says he intends to vote for Porter, and
Kennedy's getting cold?"

"If you'll go through the sixth you'll hear more than that."

"What do you mean?"

"There was a torchlight last night, of nearly every voter in the ward,
and nothing but Stirling prevented them from making the three delegates
pledge themselves to vote for Porter. He said they must go unbound."

The interviewer's next remark is best represented by several "blank
its," no allusion however being intended to bed-coverings. Then he cited
the lower regions to know what it all meant.

"It means that that chap Stirling has got to be fixed, and fixed big. I
thought I knew how to wire pull, and manage men, but he's taken hold and
just runs it as he wants. It's he makes all the trouble."

The interviewer left the court, and five minutes later was in Stirling's
office.

"My name's Green," he said. "I'm a delegate to the convention, and one
of the committee who has the arranging of the special train and
accommodations at Saratoga."

"I'm glad you came in," said Peter. "I bought my ticket yesterday, and
the man at headquarters said he'd see that I was assigned a room at the
United States."

"There'll be no trouble about the arrangements. What I want to see you
for, is to ask if you won't dine with me this evening? There's to be
several of the delegates and some big men there, to talk over the
situation."

"I should like to," said Peter.

The man pulle