"Oh, yes, you have, Morty," returned Mr. Brotherton, expansively. "The Governor wants me to be sure you vote for Van Dorn--that's about all there is in the convention. Old Linen Pants is to name the delegates to the State and congressional conventions--they're trying to let the old man down easy--not to beat him out of his State and congressional leadership." The young man thought for a moment then smiled up into the big moon-face of Brotherton--"All right, Georgie, I suppose I'll have to cast my unfettered vote for Van Dorn, though as a sporting proposition my sympathies are with the other side." "Well, say--you orter 'a' heard a talk I heard Doc Nesbit give this afternoon. That old sinner will be shouting on the mourner's bench soon--if he doesn't check up." Morty looked up from his magazine to say: "George--it's Laura. A man couldn't go with her through all she's gone through without being more of a man for it. When I took a turn in the mining business last spring I found that the people down in South Harvey just naturally love her to death. They'll do more or less for Grant Adams. He's getting the men organized and they look up to him in a way. But they get right down on their marrow bones and love Laura." Morty smiled reflectively: "I kind of got the habit myself once--and I seem someway never to have got over it--much! But, she won't even look my way. She takes my money--for her kindergarten. But that is all. She won't let me take her home in my trap, nor let me buy her lunch--why she pays more attention to Grant Adams with his steel claw than to my strong right arm! About all she lets me do is distribute flower seeds. George," he concluded ruefully, "I've toted around enough touch-me-nots and coxcomb seeds this spring for that girl to paint South Harvey ringed, streaked and striped." There the conversation switched to Captain Morton's stock company, and the endeavor to get the Household Horse on the market. The young man listened and smiled, was interested, as George Brotherton intended he should be. But Morty went out saying that he had no money but his allowance--which was six months overdrawn--and there the matter rested.