"Oh, that's all right," said Peter, repressing a smile. "Kicking dogs is rather a specialty of mine, and it isn't often I get the chance to attend to two of them in one evening. I wouldn't give the episode another thought." The little man gave a sudden fierce laugh. "Oh, certainly not! It's a mere bagatelle for a candidate for Mayor to get a hand-out like that from a gathering of voters!" "Mayor! I beg your pardon! Of course I didn't quite understand." Whereupon Peter begged to introduce himself as an ardent amateur statesman, a student of good government from New Hampshire to New Zealand and from Plato to Lincoln Steffens, who had--er--come to Hunston hoping to see something of the fight for reform. The candidate, in turn, produced cards. It became apparent that he bore the name of J. Pinkney Hare. And the upshot of the colloquy was that the two young men presently found themselves invited to call upon Candidate Hare next morning, and learn something of the situation. "I'll be delighted," accepted Peter promptly,--"delighted." "That's settled then. Good-night--and thanks awf'ly for your assistance." He pivoted on his trim heels, abruptly, and went away up the side street. Peter turned to Varney with a faint grin. "That chap gets his first lesson in the art of being a reformer to-morrow. Curious, wasn't it?--stumbling right into the heart of the agitation an hour after we hit the town." Varney, who had followed Peter's activities of the last five minutes with considerable disapproval, did not answer his smile. "Give me a hasty sketch of your conception of a quiet onlooker, will you, Peter?" "Tush!" said Peter. "Why, can't you see that this sort of thing will make the finest kind of blind? St! Here's our little friend coming back again." "I say," called the voice of J. Pinkney Hare out of the gloom. "Yes?" said Peter. The candidate drew nearer. "Our city is not plentifully supplied with amusements," he began in his somewhat pompous manner. "It just occurred to me that, in lieu of anything better, you gentlemen might care to go home with me now. I should be happy to have you--and to reciprocate your courtesy in any way within my power." Peter, doubtless remembering the slow time he had been having on the yacht, brightened instantly and visibly. "Why, _thanks_. I'll be awfully glad to come. I--er--I'm tremendously interested in your situation here, I assure you." Then, catching a warning glance from Varney, who politely declined the invitation, he apologized to the candidate and drew his captain briefly aside. "I'll pick up all the information I can--understand?" he murmured hurriedly. "And don't you worry. A little flurry in politics will make the best sort of a cover for you while you sneak around after Mary."