“He’s the one doubtful man on the city’s delegation,” said the statesman. “It happened through a mistake. It will be very unfortunate if we can’t cast a solid city vote.” Peter talked more in the next few days. He gave the “b’ys” his impressions of the two candidates, in a way which made them trust his conclusions. He saw his two fellow delegates, and argued long and earnestly with them. He went to every saloon-keeper in the district, and discussed the change in the liquor law which was likely to be a prominent issue in the campaign, telling them what he had been able to draw from both candidates about the subject. “Catlin seems to promise you the most,” he told them, “and I don’t want to say he isn’t trying to help you. But if you get the law passed which he promises to sign, you won’t be much better off. In the first place, it will cost you a lot of money, as you know, to pass it; and then it will tempt people to go into the business, so that it will cut your profits that way. Then, you may stir up a big public sentiment against you in the next election, and so lay yourselves open to unfriendly legislation. It is success, or trying to get too much, which has beaten every party, sooner or later, in this country. Look at slavery. If the Southerners had left things as they were under the Missouri Compromise, they never would have stirred up the popular outbreak that destroyed slavery. Now, Porter is said to be unfriendly to you, because he wants a bill to limit the number of licenses, and to increase the fee to new saloons. Don’t you see that is all in your favor, though apparently against you? In the first place, you are established, and the law will be drawn so as to give the old dealer precedence over a new one in granting fresh licenses. This limit will really give the established saloon more trade in the future, by reducing competition. While the increase in fee to new saloons will do the same.” “By ——, yer right,” said Blunkers. “That’s too good a name to use that way,” said Peter, but more as if he were stating a fact than reproving. Blunkers laughed good-naturedly. “Yer’ll be gittin’ usen to close up yet, Mister Stirling. Yer too good for us.” Peter looked at him. “Blunkers,” he said warmly, “no man is too good not to tell the truth to any one whom he thinks it will help.” “Shake,” said Blunkers. Then he turned to the men at the tables. “Step up, boys,” he called. “I sets it up dis time to drink der health of der feller dat don’t drink.” The boys drank CHAPTER XXI. A POLITICAL DINNER. Peter had only a month for work after reaching his own conclusions, before the meeting of the convention, but in that month he worked hard. As the result, a rumor, carrying dismay to the party leaders, became current. “What’s this I hear?” said Gallagher’s former interviewer to that gentleman. “They say Schlurger says he intends to vote for Porter, and Kennedy’s getting cold?” “If you’ll go through the sixth you’ll hear more than that.”