Bud returned to find Miss Langdon and Norton still in the room. New buoyancy, new courage, thrilled in his veins. He would give this Congressman the battle of his life for this prize, of that he was confident. "I have an engagement with Mrs. Holcomb, Senator Holcomb's wife," she said, "so I must hurry away, but I expect to be back to see father." "I think I'll just wait," suggested Norton. "I have to see the Senator as soon as possible, and he ought to return from that ways and means committee meeting pretty soon." When Carolina had gone a slight feeling of constraint settled over the two. "The Senator's pretty busy these days with his naval base matter coming up, isn't he?" "Yes; keeps him pretty busy receiving delegations from Altacoola and Gulf City and patting them both on the back," said Haines. "Had a man from Gulf City in this morning with some pretty strong arguments." The secretary watched Norton keenly to note the effect of this hint in favor of Gulf City." "Gulf City!" Norton sneered. "Shucks! Who'd put a naval base on a bunch of mud flats? I reckon those Gulf City fellows are wasting their time." "Think so?" suggested Haines. "Are you absolutely sure?" Norton started. "Why, you don't mean to tell me," he exclaimed, "that Senator Langdon would vote for Gulf City for the naval base?" "I don't mean to tell you anything, Congressman," was the cool rejoinder. "It's not my business. The Senator's the one who does the talking." An ugly sneer wrinkled the Congressman's face. "Well, I'm glad he attends to his own business and doesn't trust too many people," he said pointedly. The secretary smiled in puzzling fashion. "That's exactly why I don't talk, Congressman," he said pleasantly. "The Senator doesn't trust too many people. If he did, there might be too much money made out of land speculation. Senator Langdon doesn't happen to be one of those Senators who care for that kind of thing." "I suppose you think you're pretty strong with the Senator," ventured the Mississippian. "Tell you the truth, I haven't thought very much about it," replied Haines, "but, if you come right down to it, I guess I am pretty strong." "Suppose you've influenced him in the naval base business, then." Still the secretary smiled, keeping his temper under the adroit attack. "Well, I think he'd listen to me with considerable interest." "But you're for Altacoola, of course." Haines shook his head.