Bancroft saw that the Congressman was worried by the possibility of such effective opposition. On the instant an idea was projected into his mind, born of his own secret anxiety and his knowledge of Baxter's reputation. It came so suddenly and so vividly that it took him unawares, sending a telltale light into his eyes and across his usually impassive countenance. His lids were quickly lowered, but Baxter had already seen the revealing flash and was wondering what it might mean. The banker hesitated for a moment, his thoughts confused by the force of the bolt which had shot into his mind. "Of course I don't know anything about it," he went on cautiously, the other watching him for signs of self-betrayal, "but it looks to me as if Conrad might be acting as Ned Castleton's agent, so that Ned won't have to be mixed up in it. That would take away the chance of Mrs. Turner's trying to make her husband block the game. And Conrad is violently opposed to you. He handles you without gloves, and is doing all he can against your nomination. He says he'll bolt you if you get it, and that if the other side puts up Martinez he'll jump in and fight for him with both feet and his spurs on." The smile faded from Baxter's face, and his left eyelid drooped lower than usual--a sign that his mind was busy with some knotty problem. But he was not considering the pros and cons of the Castleton money. He was wondering why that sudden purpose had flashed in Bancroft's eyes, why he had shown that momentary discomposure, and why he was now dwelling so much more strongly on the fact of Conrad's opposition. He drew his chair nearer and in confidential tones began to inquire about the young cattleman: "Has Conrad got much influence?" "Yes; a good deal. He's a bright, energetic fellow, and he's made lots of friends." "Know anything about him, Aleck?" "Not much. Ned Castleton ran across him in San Francisco, I believe, where he was agent for one of the big cattle ranches in southern California. He's been their superintendent at Socorro Springs for two years, and he's put the ranch in better shape and made it pay better, in spite of the drought, than anybody else they've had since their father died." "But where'd he come from before Castleton got him?" "I don't know, except in a general way. I guess he's mostly run along with the cattle business in Colorado and California and New Mexico." "You really think his opposition to me down here is important?"