"Don't fret yoreself none, Araminty," said the man, reassuring her with a brusque but not ungentle hand on her trembling arm. Then he turned with regained composure to Saul, as he inquired: "Does ther Carrs proffer ter drap tha'r hell-bent detarmination ter penitenshery me or hang met?" Somewhat dubiously Fulton shook his head in negation. "I reckon they 'low ye'd only mistrust 'em ef they proffered _thet_. All they proposes is thet ontil this election's over an' sottled--not jest at ther polls, but sottled fer good an' all--thar won't be no hand raised erginst you ner yourn. I reckon ye kin bide yore time thet long, an' when this racket's over ye'll be plum free ter settle yore own scores." He paused, then added insinuatingly, "Every week a trial's put off hit gits harder fer ther prosecution. Witnesses gits scattered like an' men kinderly disremembers things." Asa Gregory, confronted with a new and complicated problem, sank back into his seat and his attitude became one of deep meditation. He glanced at the bowl of his dead pipe, leaned forward and drew a burning fagot from the fire for its relighting; then, at length, he spoke with a judicial deliberation. "This hyar's a solid Republican deestrick. We don't need no truce ter make us vote ther ticket." The messenger from the outer world shook a dubious head. "Votin' ther ticket hain't enough. Thar's ergoin' ter be a heap of fancy mathematics in tallyin' thet vote all over ther State. Up hyar we've got ter make up fer any deefault down below. We kain't do thet without we all stands solid. Ef thar's any bickerin' them crooks'll turn hit ter account, but ef we elects our man he hain't ergoin' ter fergit us." "So fur es thet goes," mused Asa, "I hain't a'seekin' no favours from ther Governor." "Why hain't ye?" Saul lowered his voice a little for added effect. "Ye faces a murder trial, don't ye? I reckon a Republican Governor, next time, mout be right willin' ter grant ye a pardon ef ye laid by yore own grievances fer ther good of ther party--hit wouldn't be no more'n fa'r jestice." "What guaranty does these enemies of mine offer me?" inquired Asa coolly. "Does they aim ter meet me half way?" "Hit's like this," Saul spoke now with undisguised excitement: "Ther boys air holdin' a rally ternight over at ther incline.... A big lawyer from Loueyville is makin' a speech thar.... They wants thet I shell fotch ye back along with me--an' thet ye shan't tote no rifle-gun ner no weepin' of airy sort. Tom Carr'll be thar too--unarmed." At the name Asa Gregory flinched as if he had been smitten in the face, but the messenger went persuasively on: