The wildest excitement broke out in the Porter delegates. “They’ve beaten us,” screamed Kennedy, as much to himself as to those about. “They’ve used Milton to break our ranks, meaning Catlin all the time.” So in truth, it was. Milton had been put up to draw off Porter’s delegates, but the moment they had begun to turn to Milton, enough New York City delegates had been transferred to Catlin to prevent Milton being chosen. Amid protests and angry words on all sides another ballot was taken: Catlin 256 Porter 118 Milton 110 Before the result was announced. Green was at Peter’s elbow. “Will you move to make it unanimous?” he asked. “Yes.” And Peter made the formal motion, which was carried by acclamation. Half an hour served to choose the Lieutenant-Governor and the rest of the ticket, for the bulk of it had already been slated. The platform was adopted, and the convention dissolved. “Well,” said Kennedy angrily to Peter, “I guess you’ve messed it this time. A man can’t please both sides, but he needn’t get cussed by both.” Peter went out and walked to his hotel. “I’m afraid I did mess it,” he thought, “yet I don’t see what else I could have done.” CHAPTER XXIV. MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND UNDERSTANDINGS. “Did you understand what it all meant, Cousin Anneke?” asked Dorothy, as they were coming downstairs. “No. The man who got so angry seemed to think Mr. Stirling had—” She stopped short. A group of men on the sidewalk were talking, and she paused to hear one say: “To see that young chap Stirling handling Maguire was an eye-opener.” Another man laughed, rather a deep, quiet laugh. “Maguire understands everything but honesty,” he said. “You can always beat him with that.” Miss De Voe would have like to stay and listen, but there were too many men. So the ladies entered the carriage. “At least we know that he said he was trying to tell the truth,” she went on, “and you just heard what that man said. I don’t know why they all laughed.” “He didn’t seem to mind a bit.” “No. Hasn’t he a funny half-embarrassed, half-cool manner?” “He wasn’t embarrassed after he was fairly speaking. You know he was really fine-looking, when he spoke.” “Yes,” said Dorothy. “You said he had a dull, heavy face.” “That was the first time I saw him, Dorothy. It’s a face which varies very much. Oliver, drive to the United States. We will take him home to dinner.” “Oh, good,” cried the youngest. “Then he will tell us why they laughed.” As they drove up to the hotel, Peter had just reached the steps. He turned to the carriage, the moment he saw that they wanted him. “We wish to carry you off to a simple country dinner,” Miss De Voe told him. “I am going to take the special to New York, and that leaves in half an hour.” “Take a later train.” “My ticket wouldn’t be good on it.” Most men Miss De Voe would have snubbed on the spot, but to Peter she said: “Then get another ticket.” “I don’t care to do that,” said Peter.