check-book, he began to
run through the stubs, jotting figures on a pad.

"I've spent three thousand dollars already," he said at last. "Three
thousand legitimate dollars. I've never footed it up before, and it's
rather staggering. Of course, the big items--the assessments of the
local committee and the other county committees--I had kept in mind.
What I have not realized was the constant drain of small amounts for
this and that,--printing, lithographs, bands, flag-raisings, you know
what. And treats--why, I spent over seventy-five dollars in bar money
alone the day of the Pioneers' picnic, while the County Fair meant the
price of a good horse. It's a good thing for me that the torchlight
idiocy has gone out. Still, the 'Shelby Base-ball Club' is as big a
nuisance. Three thousand legitimate dollars," he repeated. "We now
come to the illegitimate."

The older man winced. Shelby was too frank for him at times. While he
recognized that vote-buying was of occasion necessary for party
success, he made it his boast between his conscience and himself that
he had never directly taken part in it. So now he hemmed, and merely
said:--

"We're fighting a mercenary foe."

Shelby bent for an instant to his figures. Then, with offhand
abruptness:--

"There's something I never told you. When I went into this campaign I
mortgaged my real estate holdings here in town. I tell you now because
I must negotiate a loan on my share in the Eureka, and of course you
are the man to approach."

Bowers started.

"Is it that bad, Ross?"

"Yes; it's that bad. Money's the argument now."

"Suppose--suppose you lose?"

Shelby considered the possibility.

"Then I'm ruined. But I shan't lose. I shall win."

There was less buoyancy when Bowers had left; more studying of the
check-book, much reflection and calculation. Money, money, money; the
thought hounded him.

Down in the Temple carriage drive the worried man could see a boy
holding a mettlesome saddle horse, caparisoned for a woman's use. In
fair weather it stood there at this hour every day. To-day it was
suggestive. Shelby sprang to his telephone.

CHAPTER IV

With the stable boy's assurance that within ten minutes his horse would
stand at the curb, Shelby locked his door against surprise, and, with
an eye on the Temple driveway, made a rapid change to his riding
clothes, which he was accustomed to keep by him for emergencies. As he
finished, Ruth, l