d. 'Yup,' says he. 'I told him.'

"I whistled again. 'What answer did he make?' I asked.

"'Oh, he wa'n't enthusiastic. Seemed to cal'late I'd better shut up my
head and my shop along with it, afore he knocked off one and his club
knocked out t'other.'

"I pitied the old rascal; I couldn't help it.

"'Jotham,' says I, 'I ain't the wust friend you've got in South Orham,
even if I don't play pool much. If I was you I'd clear out of here and
start somewheres else. You can't fight all the best folks in town.'

"He didn't make no answer. Just kept on a-puffin'. I got up to go. Then
he laid his hand on my sleeve.

"'Bailey,' says he, 'when Betsy Mayo was ailin', her sister's tribe was
all for the Faith Cure and her husband's relations was high for patent
medicine. When the Faith Curists got to workin', in would come some of
the patent mediciners and give 'em the bounce. And when THEY went home
for the night, the Faithers would smash all the bottles. Finally they
got so busy fightin' 'mong themselves that Betsy see she was gettin' no
better fast, and sent for the reg'lar doctor. HE done the curin', and
got the pay.'

"'Well,' says I, 'what of it?'

"'Nothin',' says he. 'Only I've been practisin' a considerable spell. So
long. Come in again some time when it's dark and the respectable element
can't see you.'

"I went away thinkin' hard. And next mornin' I hunted up Gabe, and says
I:

"'Mr. Holway,' I says, 'what puzzles me is how you're goin' to elect the
officers for the new club. Put up a Conservative and the Progressives
resign. H'ist the Progressive ensign and the Conservatives'll mutiny. As
for the billiard-roomers--providin' any jine--they've never been known
to vote for anybody but themselves. I can't see no light yet--nothin'
but fog.'

"He winks, sly and profound. 'That's all right,' says he. 'Fisher and I
have planned that. You watch!'

"Sure enough, they had. The minister was mighty popular, so, when 'twas
out that he was candidate to be fust president of the club, all hands
was satisfied. Two vice presidents was named--one bein' Bassett and
t'other Ellis. Secretary was a leadin' Conservative; treasurer a head
Progressive. Officers and crew was happy and mutiny sunk ten fathoms.
ONLY none of the billiard-room gang had jined, and they was the fish we
was really tryin' for.

"'Twas next March afore one of 'em did come into the net, though we'd
have on all kinds of bait--suppers and free ice cream Satur