"Yes，a lot.Tell me what these fool girls are up to，that are plugging for Forbes.I've been away for a week，you know.""Can't say，Mr.Hopkins，I'm sure.Business is prettylively these days，and it keeps me hustlinga.I've no time for politics.""But we've got to wake up，Jim，we Democrats，or they'll give us a run for our moneya.""Oh，this is a Republican district，sir.We can't hope towin it often，and especially in a case like this.""Why not？""Looks to me as if you'd bungledb things，Hopkins.But I'm not interested in this campaign.Excuse me；if there's nothing you want，I've got a preion to ？ll."Mr.Hopkins walked out moodily.It was very evident that Latham had changed front.But they had never been very staunchc friends；and he could ？nd a way to even scores with the little druggist later.
Thompson was behind his desk at the general store when Hopkins walked in.
"Look here，"said the Honorable Representative，angrily，"what's been going on in Elmwood？What's all this plugging for Forbes mean？"Thompson gave him a sour look over the top of his desk."Addressin'them remarks to me，'Rast？""Yes—to you！You've been loafing ond your job，old man，and it won't do—it won't do at all.You should have put a stop toe these things.What right have these girls to interfere in a game like this？""Oh，shut up，'Rast.""Thompson！By crickey，I won't stand this from you.Goin'back on me，eh？""I'm a Republication，'Rast.""So you are，"said Mr.Hopkins slowly，his temper at white heat."And that mortgage is two months overdue.""Go over to the bank and get your money，then.It'swaiting for you，Hopkins—interest and all.Go and get it and let me alone.I'm busy."Perhaps the politician had never been so surprised in his life.Anger gave way to sudden fear，and he scrutinizeda the averted countenance of Thompson carefully.
"Where'd you raise the money，Thompson？"
"None of your business.I raised it."
"Forbes，eh？Forbes has bought you up，I see.Grateful fellow，ain't you—when I loaned you money to keep you from bankruptcy！""You did，Hopkins.You made me your slave，and threatened me every minute，unless I did all your dirty workb.Grateful？You've led me a dog's life.But I'm through with you now—for good and allc."Hopkins turned and walked out without another word.In the dentist's of？ce Dr.Squiers was sharpening and polishing his instruments.
"Hello，Archie."
"Hello，'Rast.'Bout time you was getting back，old man.We're having a big ？ght on our hands，I can tell you.""Tell me more，"said Mr.Hopkins，taking a chair with a sigh of relief at finding one faithful friend."What's up，Archie？""An invasion of girls，mostly.They took us by surprise，the other day，and started a campaign worthy of old political war—horses.There's some shrewd politician behind them，I know，or they wouldn't have nailed us up in our cof？ns with such business—like celerity.""Ta l k s e n s e ，A r c h i e .W h a t h a v e t h e y d o n e ？
What can they do？Pah！Girls！"
"Don't make a mistake，'Rast.That's what I did，before I understood.When I heard that three girls were electioneering for Forbes I just laughed.Then I made a discovery.They're young and rich，and evidently ladies.They're pretty，too，and the men give in at the ？rst attack.They don't try to roasta you.That's their cleverness.They tell what Forbes can do，with all his money，if he's Representative，and they swear he'll do it.""Never mind，"said Hopkins，easily."We'll win the menback again.""But these girls are riding all over the country，talking to farmers'wives，and they're organizing a woman's politicalclub.The club is to meet at Elmhurst and to be fed on the fat of the land；so every woman wants to belong.They've got two expensive automobiles down from the city，with men to make them go，and they're spending money right and left.""That's bad，"said Hopkins，shifting uneasily，"for I haven't much to spend，myself.But most money is fooled awaya in politics.When I spend a cent it counts，I can tell you.""You'll have to spend some，'Rast，to keep your end up.I'm glad you're back，for we Democrats have been getting demoralizedb.Some of the boys are out for Forbes already."Hopkins nodded，busy with his thoughts.
"I've talked with Latham.But he didn't count.And they've bought up Thompson.What else they've done I can't tell yet.But one thing's certain，Doc；we'll win out in a canterc.I'm too old a rat to be caught in a trap like this.I've got resources they don't suspect.""I believe you，'Rast.They've caught on to the outsidefakes to win votes；but they don't know the inside deals yet.""You're right.But I must make a bluffd to offset theirdaylight campaign，so as not to lose ground with the farmers.