"They're sure to.We ？nished the last canvass yesterday，and according to our figures Forbes has about eighteen votes the best of us.That's getting it down pretty close，but we may as well make up our minds we're beaten if we don't vote the men over at the mill.Marshall could have got me a hundred if necessary，but sixty—six is more than enough.Say Forbes has twice eighteen for his plurality，instead of eighteen；these sixty—six for me would wipe that out and let us win in a walk."When Hopkins ceased there was a brief silence.Perhaps Dr.Squiers was thinking.
"I simply must have those votes，Doc，"resumed the Representative."It's the only way I can win.""You've made a bungle of a the whole campaign，"saidSquiers，bitterly.
"That's a lie.I've done a lot of clever work.But these infernalb city girls came down here and stirred up all the trouble.""You made a mistake pushing that sign issue.The girls beat you on that.""If it hadn't been signs it might have been something worse.But I ain't beaten yet，Doc.Squiers.This deal is going to win.It's a trick the boarding—school misses won't understand until after they've cut their eye—teeth in politics.""There's a pretty heavy penalty against false registration，"observed the dentist，gloomily.
"There's no penalty unless we're found out，and there ain't the ghost of a chance of that.The books are in your hands；I got all the clerks fixed.Not a question will even be raised.I know it.Do you suppose I'd risk state's prison myself，if I wasn't sure？""Look here，'Rast，"said Squiers，doggedlyc，"you're making a tool of me in this campaign.Why should I be used and abused just to elect Erastus Hopkins，I'd like to know.You sacri？ced me when I might have been Sheriff.""You're well paid for that，Doc.""And now you want me to put my neck in a noosea for your advantage.I won't do it，'Rast，and that's a fact."Mr.Hopkins coughed.
"How much，Doc？"he inquired.The dentist was silent.
"State the ？gure.But for mercy's sakeb don't bleed me any more than you can help.This ？ght has cost me a pretty pennyc already.""I don't want your money，"growled Squiers.
"Yes you do，Doc.I know you better than you know yourself.The trouble with you is，you'll want too much."Squiers laughed bitterly.
"Is Marshall to be trusted？"he asked.
"Of course.If he said a word he'd lose his job as manager.Marshall's all right.There's nothing to worry about，Doc."Patsy's tooth wasn't aching a bit.But her heart was throbbing as madly as the tooth ever did，and fortunately there was no pain connected with the throbbing—only joy.
"It ought to be worth two thousand dollars，'Rast，"said the dentist.
"What！In addition to all other expenses？"
"Why，man；it means the election.It means your whole future.If you're defeated now，you're a back numberd in thisdistrict，and you know it.""It's too much，Doc.On my word it is.""It's too little，come to think of ita.I'll make it three thousand.""Doc！""If you don't close withb me，'Rast，by the jumping Jupiter，I'll make it four thousand，"cried the dentist，with exasperationc.
"Say twenty—？ve hundred，Doc."
"Right on the nail.Give me your check here—this minute.""And you'll enter the names in the books？""Before you leave the of？ce.Have you got the list？""Yes；in my pocket，"said Mr.Hopkins.
"Then make out your check and I'll get the books."There was a stir behind the partition and a sound of chairs scraping the floor.Patsy slid out the door and flew down the stairs at the imminentd danger of breaking her neck.James was seated in the buggy outside，engaged in ruminatione.
Patsy bounded in beside him and startled him."Drive for your life！"she cried."Drive for home！"He whipped up the spirited horse and they dashed away.
Presently the man asked，with a grin："Did it hurt much，Miss Patsy？""Did what hurt，James？""The tooth pullin'，Miss Patsy.""The tooth wasn't pulled，"answered the girl，sweetly."It didn't need it，James.The only thing that was pulled was the Honorable Erastus's leg."