tween antagonizing Peter, and retracting his
consent. "I don't play baby. Not me."

Peter stood thinking for a longer time than the others found
comfortable. Maguire whistled to prove that he was quite at ease, but he
would not have whistled if he had been.

"I think, Mr. Kennedy, that I'll save you from the difficulty by
nominating Mr. Porter myself," said Peter finally.

"Good!" said Maguire; and Kennedy, reaching down into his hip pocket,
produced a version of the holy text not yet included in any
bibliography. Evidently the atmosphere was easier. "About your speech,
Mr. Stirling?" continued the Senator.

"I shall say what I think right."

Something in Peter's voice made Maguire say: "It will be of the usual
kind, of course?"

"I don't know," said Peter, "I shall tell the facts."

"What sort of facts?"

"I shall tell how it is that a delegate of the sixth ward nominates
Porter."

"And that is?"

"I don't see," said Peter, "why I need say it. You know it as well as I
do."

"I know of many reasons why you should do it."

"No," said Peter. "There's only one, and that has been created in the
last ten minutes. Mr. Maguire, if you insist on the sixth ward
nominating Mr. Porter, the sixth ward is going to tell why it does so.
I'm sorry, for I like Porter, but the sixth ward shan't lend itself to a
fraud, if I can help it."

Kennedy had been combining things spiritual and aqueous at his
wash-stand. But his interest in the blending seemed suddenly to cease.
Maguire, too, took his thumbs from their havens of rest, and looked
dissatisfied.

"Look here, Mr. Stirling," he said, "it's much simpler to leave it to
Kennedy. You think you're doing what's right, but you'll only do harm to
us, and to yourself. If you nominate Porter, the city gang won't forgive
you, and unless you can say what we want said, we shall be down on you.
So you'll break with both sides."

"I think that is so. That is why I want some real friend of Porter's to
do it."

Maguire laughed rather a forced laugh. "I suppose we've got to satisfy
you. We'll have Porter nominated by one of our own crowd."

"I think that's best. Good-evening." Peter went to the door.

"Mr. Stirling," called Kennedy. "Won't you stay and take some whisky and
water with us?"

"Thank you," said Peter. "Mr. Costell's in my room and he must be tired
of waiting." He closed the door, and walked away.

The couple looked at each other blankly for a moment.

"The ----