“Lutcher took it. And he’d seen me before he took it. Then he got up and says: ‘Hello, Jim. Have a drink?’ “So I told him to come along.” He stopped; it was evident that his story was done. Wint nodded. “Well, that’s plain enough,” he agreed. “It’s my evidence against theirs,” Radabaugh reminded him. “But that’s the way it’s got to be.” “Your evidence is good enough for me.” “Sure. But he’ll fight.” “We can’t help that,” Wint reminded him. “All we can do is--soak him.” There was a sudden heat in his voice; and Radabaugh eyed him curiously and asked: “In earnest, ain’t you?” “Absolutely,” said Wint. “Well, it never hurt any, to be in earnest. Go to it, boss.” * * * * * Hardiston talked it over that day, and wondered what Wint would do. Most people thought he would sentence Lutcher; some declared he would wait till after election, for fear of influencing the vote. Sam O’Brien laughed at this view. “Wint wasn’t ever afraid of anything,” he declared. “Why man, you make me laugh. He’ll soak Lutcher so hard Lutcher’ll need to be wrung out like a sponge.” There were others who were loyal to Wint; and there were some few--not very vociferous except among those of like views--who were loyal to Lutcher. But for the most part, people waited. Waited for Kite to come home. This was his fight; that was understood. Lutcher was his man. He came on the early morning train next day; and his coming was marked. Lutcher met him at the train. They came up the hill from the station together, and went to the Bazaar, and were alone there for a little while. Routt joined them presently. Routt would represent Lutcher in court, he said. But Kite laughed at that. “It will never come to court, man,” he told Routt. “You know that.” “I’m not so sure,” Jack objected. “Then we’ll smash that young rip, flat as an egg,” said Kite harshly, with a gesture of his clenched fist. “But he’ll crawl, I say.” Lutcher got up. “I’m willing to see that,” he declared amiably. “Come along and stage the show.” So they went down to the fire-engine house together, and they found the council room where Wint held court crowded with Hardiston folk who wanted to see what was going to happen. Radabaugh was there; and he told them Wint was in his office, in the rear. Kite bade Routt and Lutcher sit down. “I want to see the Mayor,” he told Radabaugh, in a peremptory tone. “Take me in.” Radabaugh shifted the bulge in his cheek, and told Kite to stay where he was. “I’ll see if he wants to see you,” he said, and went into Wint’s office. A moment later, he appeared at the door and beckoned to Kite, and there was an instant’s hush in the big room as every one watched Kite go in. Then they began to whisper and talk together; and instantly were still again, trying to hear what Wint and Kite were saying. Radabaugh had shut the door behind Kite and stood, with his back against it, indolently studying the crowd.