but he did not like to do it. It seemed to savor of traps,
and Peter had never liked traps. Still--he did want to know if the
managers on Porter's side would stoop to buy his support by some
bargain. As Peter hesitated, weighing the pros and cons, Maguire spoke
again.

"What does the other side offer you?"

Peter spoke quickly. "They haven't offered me anything, but advice. That
is, Costell said he'd try and help me on some legislation I want--"

"Special?" interrupted Maguire.

"No, General. I've talked about it with Porter as well"

"Oh! Indeed?"

"I'm really anxious to get that. Otherwise I want nothing."

"Whew," said the Senator to himself. "That was a narrow squeak. If he
hadn't spoken so quickly, I should have shown my hand before the call. I
wonder if he got any inkling?" He never dreamed that Peter had spoken
quickly to save that very disclosure.

"I needn't say, Mr. Stirling, that if you can see your way to nominate
Porter, we shall not forget it. Nor will he. He isn't the kind of man
who forgets his friends. Many a man in to-morrow's convention would give
anything for the privilege we offer you."

"Well," said Peter, "I realize the honor offered me, but I don't see my
way to take it. It will please me better to see him nominated by some
one who has really stood close to him, than to gain his favor by doing
it myself."

"Think twice, Mr. Stirling."

"If you would rather, I will not give you my answer till to-morrow
morning?"

"I would," said Maguire rising, "Try and make it favorable. It's a great
chance to do good for yourself and for your side. Good-night."

Peter closed his door, and looked about for a bit of blank wall. But on
second thought he sat down on his window-sill, and, filling his pipe,
tried to draw conclusions as well as smoke from it.

"I wonder," he pondered to himself, "how much of that was Maguire, and
how much Porter? Ought I, for the sake of doing my best for my ward, to
have let him go on? Has an agent any right to refuse what will help is
client, even if it comes by setting pitfalls?"

Rap, rap, rap.

"Come in," called Peter, forgetting he had turned down his light.

The door opened and Mr. Costell came in. "Having a quiet smoke?" he
asked.

"Yes. I haven't a cigar to offer you. Can you join me in a pipe?"

"I haven't come to that yet. Suppose you try one of my cigars." Costell
sat down on the window-ledge by Peter.

"Thank you," said Peter. "I like a cigar, but