Stirling?" in a
bewildered way. Thomas had served the club many years, but he had never
heard of that cocktail.

"Well, Thomas," said Peter, "if you don't have that in stock, make it
seven Blackthorns."

Then presently eight men packed themselves into the elevator, and a
moment later were sitting in one of the private dining-rooms. For an
hour and a half they chatted over the meal, very much as if it were
nothing more than a social dinner. But the moment the servant had passed
the cigars and light, and had withdrawn, the chat suddenly ceased, and a
silence came for a moment Then a man said:

"It's a pity it can't please all, but the majority's got to rule."

"Yes," promptly said another, "this is really a Maguire ratification
meeting."

"There's nothing else to do," affirmed a third.

But a fourth said: "Then what are we here for?"

No one seemed to find an answer. After a moment's silence, the original
speaker said:

"It's the only way we can be sure of winning."

"He gives us every pledge," echoed the second.

"And we've agreed, anyways, so we are bound," continued the first
speaker.

Peter took his cigar out of his mouth. "Who are bound?" he asked,
quietly.

"Why, the organization is--the party," said Number Two, with a
"deny-it-if-you-dare" in his voice.

"I don't see how we can back out now, Stirling," said Number One.

"Who wants to?" said another. "The Labor party promises to support us on
our local nominations, and Maguire is not merely a Democrat, but he
gives us every pledge."

"There's no good of talking of anything else anyhow," said Number One,
"for there will be a clean majority for Maguire in the convention."

"And no other candidate can poll fifty votes on the first ballot," said
Number Two.

Then they all looked at Peter, and became silent. Peter puffed his cigar
thoughtfully.

"What do you say?" said Number One.

Peter merely shook his head.

"But I tell you it's done," cried one of the men, a little excitedly.
"It's too late to backslide! We want to please you, Stirling, but we
can't this time. We must do what's right for the party."

"I'm not letting my own feeling decide it," said Peter. "I'm thinking of
the party. For every vote the Labor people give Maguire, the support of
that party will lose us a Democratic vote."

"But we can't win with a triangular fight. The Republicans will simply
walk over the course."

If Peter had been a hot-headed reformer, he would have s