“You write a good ad,” Amos told him; and Wint asked: “You’ve read them?” “I guess everybody’s read them.” “Are they all right?” “First rate. They’ll do.” Wint said impatiently: “I’m sick of the whole thing.” Amos studied him. “Routt getting under your skin?” “No. He’s playing it pretty strong, though.” “I’ll say he is.” “Of course, it’s just politics. He and I are as friendly as ever.” “Oh, sure,” Amos agreed indolently. “He told you so, didn’t he?” “Yes. He came to me, in the beginning.” “I heard so.” “I don’t know how to answer him--the line he’s taking,” Wint explained. “That’s all.” “Don’t have to answer him, do you? Don’t have to answer a lie.” Wint laughed uneasily. “Just the same, he’s stirring people up.” “I never heard of anybody being permanently hurt by a lie but the liar,” said Amos. Wint leaned forward. “I tell you, Amos, I want to be elected. I’ve gone into this; and I want to win. Routt and I are friendly enough; but he started this fight, and I want to beat him. I want to beat him to a whisper. I’d like to see him skunked. I don’t care if he doesn’t get two votes in Hardiston. That’s the way I feel.” His fierce enthusiasm dropped away from him; he said hopelessly: “But I’m darned if I know how to manage it.” Amos nodded slowly. “Sick of it, eh?” “Yes.” The Congressman puffed for a while in silence, thinking; and Wint waited for the other man to speak. At last Amos looked at him and asked curiously: “Wint, you dead set on being Mayor?” Something in his tone put Wint on guard. “Dead set? Why?” he asked. Amos lifted a hand. “Why, just this,” he explained. “I’ve been talking around, here and there. Far as I hear, they’ve heard about you in Columbus. The way it strikes me, right now, if you was to run for the House, say, you could get it; and you’d have a good start up there. That’s all.” Wint laughed uneasily. “That can come later. Maybe.” “Thing is,” said Amos, “if you was to get licked for Mayor, it’d hurt you.” “I’m not going to get licked,” Wint exclaimed. “I’m going to win.” “Well--maybe,” Amos agreed. “Only I just want you to know that if you’d rather try for something else, I’d back you to the limit.” “You mean after election? Next year?” “I couldn’t do much if you was licked.” Wint leaned toward him. “Just what do you mean?” “Just what I say.” “Are you asking me to withdraw?” Wint asked. His heart was in his mouth. “I know you and Routt have always worked together. Do you want me to get out and let him have it?” “I’m not asking you to do a thing. I’m offering you a good excuse to--maybe--dodge a licking.” “I’m not going to get licked,” Wint insisted. “And if there’s a licking waiting for me--by God, I won’t dodge!” Amos looked at him curiously. “Well, that’s all right. I just put the thing up to you.” “But I owe you enough,” said Wint, “so that if you asked me to quit--I’d do it.” “I’m not asking you.” “Then,” Wint declared, “I stick; and I win.”