Wint put his hand up to his neck. “Cut my throat?” he repeated. “I seem to be all here.” “You wouldn’t believe me, Wint. But I warned you.” “Yes, you did.” “What do you say now to this fine friend of yours? Damn the man!” “I say he’s started trouble for himself.” “What do you mean?” “I mean I’m going to prove that when he said Routt would be elected, he was either a fool or a liar.” Chase banged his hand on the table beside him till the lamp jumped in its place, and the shade tilted to one side. Mrs. Chase came bustling in just then, and straightened it, and protested anxiously: “I declare, Winthrop, you’re the hardest man around the house. You do disturb things so. I don’t see--” “Caretall has turned against Wint,” Chase told her. She nodded wisely. “Well, didn’t you always say he would?” “Of course I did. Wint wouldn’t believe me. Now he’s done it.” “He ought to be ashamed of himself,” Mrs. Chase declared. “But I always did think you were wrong, Wint, to be so friendly with a man who had treated your father as he did. He--” “I know you did, mother.” Chase cried: “You take it almighty calmly, Wint. Isn’t there any blood in you, son? Don’t you ever get mad? Damn it, the man ought to be kicked out of town.” Wint laughed good-naturedly. “Oh, I don’t know. He has a right to support Jack if he wants to.” “A right? What have his rights to do with it? By God, I’d have more respect for you if you could get good and mad!” Wint chuckled. “I’ll try to work up a fever if you like. I always want your respect, dad.” Chase said in a softer tone: “You always have it, Wint. You’ve earned it. But it makes my blood boil to see Caretall do this to you. To my son.” “It’s terrible,” Wint agreed whimsically; and Chase protested: “I believe you’re laughing at me.” Wint shook his head anxiously. “No. But I don’t see that it does any good to get excited. I’m aiming to keep my head--and my job.” “You’re going to fight?” “Fight?” Wint echoed. “Why, dad, you won’t be able to see me for dust.” “You’ve waked up at last. You’re not going to sit back and let Routt lie about you, and let Amos trick you.” “I’m going to fight,” said Wint. “Also I’m going to win.” Chase exclaimed: “I believe you can. If you try.” “You know,” said Wint, “in a way I’m glad this has happened.” “Glad?” Chase asked. “For God’s sake, why?” Wint touched his arm in a comradely way. “Because now you and I can line up together. Fight side by side. I’d rather have you with me than Amos.” Chase said, with a sudden humility: “Amos might be able to help you more than I can.” “I’d rather have your personal vote than all the votes Amos can swing.” “You’d have had that, anyway.” “Well, isn’t that worth being crossed by Amos?” Chase said: “But don’t fool yourself, Wint. Don’t imagine this is going to be easy. Caretall is powerful.”