Amos grinned. “Have it so, Chase. Have it so.” He puffed hard at his pipe, looked at the other. “Well--does it look like the swing was coming in Hardiston?”

Chase stiffened self-consciously. “The town has demanded that I run for Mayor--and--I consented.”

“That was a public-spirited thing to do, Chase. With all your business to hinder you--take your time....”

“I was glad to do it. A man owes it.... If there is a demand for him, he must respond.”

“Sure! Sure thing! And you’ve responded noble, Chase.”

“I’ve made a straightforward campaign.”

“First-class campaign. You figure you’ve got a chance?”

Chase’s confidence returned. “I’m going to win, Amos. Nothing can stop me. I’ll be the next Mayor of Hardiston--sure.”

Amos looked thoughtful. “I ain’t in touch--myself.” He puffed at his pipe. “Gergue says you’ll win--barring an accident.”

“There will be no accident.”

“Eh?”

“I intend to see to it that there is no accident.”

Amos nodded. “Well,” he commented, “that’s your privilege.”

Chase leaned forward. “Congressman,” he said seriously, “it’s a bad plan to stay away from home so long. You get out of touch with affairs here. You ought to--you need some ally here to watch over your interests.”

Amos looked up quickly. “Now, I never thought of that,” he declared.

Chase clapped his hand on his knee. “It’s right. You can’t tell what the people are thinking unless you live among them--as I do, sir.”

Amos considered this statement, and then he remarked: “Take this wet and dry business, for instance. Now, me--I’m so far away I don’t rightly know what the folks here are thinking. But you--” He hesitated. “How does it strike you, Chase?”

“It’s the big issue here.”

“How? County’s dry.”

“But the town isn’t. The law is not enforced here.”

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