"No, reckon not; but they look to you to loosen him up. But let me tell you," Rankin hastened on, as if he had pleasanter information, "you know Bromley, when he got good an' goin', let loose a lot of his money--just sowed it 'round freely fer two or three weeks, an' it kind o' made up fer the mistakes he was makin' on the stump. But now he's done just what I knowed he'd do--here with election a week off, he's got skeered an' froze up stiff an' cold, tighter'n a mill race in January--not a red cent 'ill he bleed now, an' the whole push is sore on 'im. But I knowed he'd do it, I knowed it, from the very first." Rankin chuckled at his own prophetic instinct. "So you see, we'd ought to take advantage of the situation. If I had a little money to use judiciously, I'd have 'em licked to a stand-still a week from to-night." Rankin rubbed his palms in the enthusiasm he would have felt in such a triumphant finish to his campaign, while Garwood's heart beat a little higher as he thought of the security he would feel in the possession of a campaign fund. The little wave of excitement brought on a return of his cough. "An' now, Jerry," Rankin resumed, "I'll tell you why I sent fer you." He drew his chair closer to Garwood, and laid his hand on Garwood's knee. "My God, man!" he exclaimed, suddenly. "You been sittin' here in clothes as wet as that?" "Oh, go on," said Garwood. "Let's hear what you have to say. Don't mind me, I'm all right." "Well, I'll make it short," said Rankin. "An' then we'll go down to Chris's. What I want to suggest is this--I hate to do it, but it's a groun'hog case, an' you an' me's ol' friends"-- "Go on," urged Garwood. "Well," Rankin continued, with a reluctance, "I don't like to--but here goes. We've got to have money--an' I thought--well, that you might jus' go to old man Harkness an' make a little touch--fer a thousand, say--" Garwood had already begun shaking his head vigorously. "No, Jim, no," he said; "not for all the world. It's impossible; I can't think of it. You can understand my position--I just can't do it, that's all. We've got to find some other way." "Well," said Rankin, flinging up his hands as if he were flinging up the problem, "all right; you find the other way. I've been here rackin' what few brains I've got fer a week, an' I can't think of any other way. God knows I've spent all I've got as it is." He settled back in his chair and plunged his hands deep in his empty pockets. "Yes, I know, Jim, and I appreciate it--but--I'll tell you." Garwood sat and thought intently an instant, knitting his strong brows. "No, I won't tell you either, but I think I can raise it--I'll see you to-morrow morning. I think I know of a place." "All right, Jerry," said Rankin, getting up; "I don't care where you get it--jus' so's you get it. I only want to see you landed high an' dry out of the wet, my boy, that's all." And he hit Garwood on the shoulder.