Joan looked, perhaps, a little disappointed. But she said she guessed so; and they made their way down to join the others. After every one had eaten till there was no more eat in them, there was a general tendency to take things easy. The dishes had to be washed in the brook; and the girls undertook to do that. Dick Hoover found some horseshoes, and started a game of quoits. Wint would have taken a hand; but Jack Routt drew him aside and said: “I’d like a little talk with you, Wint. Mind?” Wint was surprised; but he didn’t say so. “All right,” he agreed. “Shoot.” Routt offered him a cigar, and Wint took it, and they walked slowly away from the others, back toward the Caves. Routt came to the point without preliminaries. “It’s like this, Wint,” he said frankly. “A good many people have been telling me I ought to get into politics.” Wint had ears to hear; and he had heard something of this. But he pretended ignorance, and only said: “I thought you were in politics. Thought you were linked up with Amos.” “I have been, in the past,” Routt agreed. “But the trouble with that is, if you tie up with a big man, you get only what he chooses to give you. I’ve been advised to strike out for myself.” Wint said: “I think that’s good advice. It ought to help your law practice, too.” “Matter of fact,” said Routt. “They’re telling me I ought to run against you.” “Against me?” Wint seemed only mildly interested. “For Mayor?” “Yes. On the wet issue. You know my ideas on that. I’m not on your side of the fence there at all.” “Well, I don’t find fault with any man’s ideas, Jack.” “The trouble is this,” Routt explained. “You and I are pretty good friends. Always have been. I don’t want to start anything that will spoil that friendship.” Wint laughed and said: “Good Lord, Jack; I guess there’s no fear of that.” “By God, I knew you’d say so!” Routt exclaimed. “Just the same. I was leary. You know what kind of a fellow I am. When I go into a thing, I go in with both feet. If I run against you, Wint, I’ll give you a fight.” “Go to it. We’ll show Hardiston some action.” “I’ll lam it into you, Wint.” “Well, I can give as good as you send,” Wint promised cheerfully. “The only thing is,” Routt explained, “I just want an understanding with you first; that is, I want you to know there’s nothing personal in anything I may say. It’s politics, Wint; and if I go in, it will be hot politics. If you’ll promise to take it as that and nothing else.” Wint said easily: “I don’t suppose you can tell Hardiston anything about me that it doesn’t already know.” Routt grasped his hand. “Attaboy, Wint,” he exclaimed. “You’re a good sport. By God, I believe I’ll go into it!” “Come ahead. It’s no private fight,” Wint assured him. “The only thing is, I wanted to know first. I want you to know I’m on the level with you personally.” “Well, I should say I know that, Jack.” Routt thrust out his hand. “Shake on it, Wint.”