umber One said:

"Well, that's ended. You've smashed our slate. What have you got in its
place?"

"Porter?" suggested Peter.

"No," said three voices.

"We can't stand any more of him," said Number One.

"He's an honest, square man," said Peter.

"Can't help that. One dose of a man who's got as little gumption as he,
is all we can stand. He may have education, but I'll be hanged if he has
intellect. Why don't you ask us to choose a college professor, and have
done with it."

"Come, Stirling," said the previous questioner, "the thing's been messed
so that we've got to go into convention with just the right man to rally
the delegates. There's only one man we can do it with, and you know it."

Peter rose, and dropped his cigar-stump into the ash-receiver. "I don't
see anything else," he said, gloomily. "Do any of you?"

A moment's silence, and then Number One said: "No."

"Well," said Peter, "I'll take the nomination if necessary, but keep it
back for a time, till we see if something better can't be hit upon."

"No danger," said Number One, holding out his hand, gleefully.

"There's more ways of killing a pig than choking it with butter," said
Number Three, laughing and doing the same.

"It's a pity Costell isn't here," added the previous questioner. "After
you're not yielding to him, he'd never believe we had forced you to take
it."

And that was what actually took place at that very-much-talked-about
dinner.

Peter went downstairs with a very serious look on his face. At the door,
the keeper of it said: "There are six reporters in the strangers' room,
Mr. Stirling, who wish to see you."

A man who had just come in said: "I'm sorry for you, Peter."

Peter smiled quietly. "Tell them our wishes are not mutual." Then he
turned to the newcomer. "It's all right," he said, "so far as the party
is concerned, Hummel. But I'm to foot the bill to do it."

"The devil! You don't mean--?"

Peter nodded his head.

"I'll give twenty-five thousand to the fund," said Hummel, gleefully.
"See if I don't."

"Excuse me, Mr. Stirling," said a man who had just come in.

"Certainly," said Peter promptly, "But I must ask the same favor of you,
as I am going down town at once." Peter had the brutality to pass out of
the front door instantly, leaving the reporter with a disappointed look
on his face.

"If he only would have said something?" groaned the reporter to himself.
"Anything that could be spun into a column. He