"See here, Pusey, let's be frank about this thing. You and I may not have been friends in the past, but--" "I've always treated you fairly since I ran a party organ, haven't I?" Pusey interpolated. "Yes, I think you have, Pusey, and I thank you for it. I've appreciated it. I was, in a way, glad to see you get hold of the _Citizen_, for I knew you could make a newspaper of it; you've got the ability." Pusey glowed, and Garwood continued: "But I've come to see you in your capacity of delegate to a convention before which I am a candidate. I don't want to take up any more of your time than is necessary, but it has occurred to me that if we had a little confidential chat, we might understand each other better, that's all. I haven't come to beg any favors, or any thing of that sort, but merely to see where we stand, what we could expect of each other." "Well, I'm glad you called, Mr. Garwood. I am of course honored"--the editor gave an absurd nod of his head in Garwood's direction by way of a bow. "As I say," Garwood continued, warming, "I've come to see you as a citizen and as a delegate, and to ask you if you can conscientiously support me for renomination. There is no other candidate from this county, and it seems to me that as a matter of local pride you might prefer a man from your home to one from some other county." "Well," Pusey answered, "there is of course that aspect of the case, Mr. Garwood. I do not say that I will not support you, neither do I say I will. I will say this, that if you are nominated I shall support you for election earnestly and heartily; I may be permitted to add, perhaps, effectively. But for the present I prefer not to commit myself. You understand my position, both as a citizen and as an editor. Of course conditions may arise under which I would give you my vote and my support." "May I ask what those conditions are?" Garwood leaned over to ask. "I do not say, mark me," Pusey replied in a corrective tone, "that the conditions exist now, but that they may arise." "Could you indicate them?" "I would prefer, Mr. Garwood, to let events take their own course and shape themselves. The convention has not been called yet, and is some weeks off; there will be ample time. I wish for the present to feel that I am free to pursue the course that seems wise to me--as a citizen and as an editor, you understand."