dred and eighty…six…some of 'em can be bought； most of 'em are waiting to see which way the cat jumps； so as to jump with her。〃
〃Then we've got five hundred and twelve； and it takes five hundred and ninety…seven to elect；〃 said Merriweather； the instant the last word was out of Larkin's mouth。 Merriweather was a mite of a man； could hardly have weighed more than a hundred pounds； had a bulging forehead； was bald and gray at the temples； eyes brown as walnut juice and quick and keen as a rat…terrier's。 His expression was the gambler'scalm； watchful； indifferent； pallid； as from years of nights under the gas…light in close； hot rooms； with the cards sliding from the faro box hour after hour。
〃Eighty…five shortthat's right；〃 assented Larkin。 Then； with a look at Culver： 〃And some of 'em'll come mighty high。〃
〃Where are you going to do business with them？〃 inquired Merriweather。 〃Here？〃
〃Right here in this room； where I've done it many's the time before；〃 replied Larkin。 〃To…morrow night Conkey Sedgwick and my boy Tom'll begin steerin' 'em in one at a time about eight o'clock。〃
〃Then I'll turn the money over to you at seven to…morrow night；〃 said Culver。 〃I've got it in a safe place。〃
〃Not one of the banks； I hope；〃 said Merriweather。
〃We noted your suggestions on that point； and on all the others；〃 Culver answered with gracious condescension。 〃That's why I brought cash in small denominations and didn't go near anybody with it。〃
Larkin rose。 〃I've got to get to work。 See you here to…morrow night at seven； Mr。 Culverseven sharp。 I guess it'll be Judge Graney on the third ballot。 On the first ballot the organization'll vote solid for Graney； and my fellows'll vote for John Frankfort。 On the second ballot half my Frankfort crowd'll switch over to Graney。 On the third I'll put the rest of 'em over； and that'll be enough to electprobably the Scarborough crowd'll see it's no use and let us make it unanimous。 The losers are always hot for harmony。〃
〃That sounds well；〃 said Merriweatherhis was a voice that left his hearers doubtful whether he meant what his words said or the reverse。
Culver looked with secret admiration from one man to the other； and continued to think of them and to admire； after they had gone。 He felt important； sitting in and by proxy directing the councils of these powerful men； these holders and manipulators of the secret strings whereto were attached puppet peoples and puppet politicians。 Seven years behind the scenes with Dumont's most private affairs had given him a thoroughgoing contempt for the mass of mankind。 Did he not sit beside the master； at the innermost wheels； deep at the very heart of the intricate mechanism？ Did not that position make him a sort of master； at any rate far superior to the princeliest puppet？
At five the next afternoonthe afternoon of the day before the conventionhe was at the Eyrie； and sent a servant to say to Mrs。 Dumont that he would like to see her。 She came down to him in the library。
〃I'm only troubling you for a moment；〃 he said。
〃I'll relieve you of my package。〃
〃Very well；〃 said Pauline。 〃I haven't thought of it since day before yesterday。 I'll bring it down to you。〃
She left him in the library and went up the stairsshe had been reading everything that was published about the coming convention； and the evident surprise of all the politicians at the strength Scarborough was mustering for ex…Governor Bowen had put her in high good humor。 She cautioned herself that he could not carry the convention； but his showing was a moral victoryand what a superb personal triumph！ With everything against himmoney and the machine and the skilful confusing of the issues by his crafty opponentshe had rallied about him almost all that was really intelligent in his party； and he had demonstrated that he had on his side a mass of the voters large out of all proportion to the number of delegates he had wrested away from the machinenearly three hundred； when everybody had supposed the machine would retain all but a handful。
Money！ Her lips curled scornfullyout here； in her own home； among these simple people； the brutal power of money was master just as in New York； among a people crazed by the passion for luxury and display。
She was kneeling before the safe； was working the combination； paper in hand。 The knob clicked as the rings fell into place； she turned the bolt and swung the door open。 She reached into the safe。 Suddenly she drew her hand back and sat up on the floor； looking at the package。 〃Why； it's for use in the convention！〃 she exclaimed。
She did not move for several minutes； when she did； it was to examine the time lock； to reset it； to close the door and bolt it and throw the lock off the combination。 Then she rose and slowly descended to the library。 As she reappeared； empty…handed； Culver started violently and scrutinized her face。 Its expression put him in a panic。 〃Mrs。 Dumont！〃 he exclaimed wildly。
〃Has it been stolen？〃
She shook her head。 〃No；〃 she said。 〃It's there。〃
Trembling from weakness in the reaction； he leaned against the table； wiping his sweating brow with sweating hands。
〃But；〃 she went on； 〃it must stay there。〃
He looked open…mouthed at her。
〃You have brought the money out here for use in the convention；〃 she went on with perfect calmness。 〃You have tried to make me a partner in that vile business。 AndI refuse to play the part assigned me。 I shall keep the money until the convention is over。〃
He looked round like a terror…stricken drowning man； about to sink for the last time。
〃I'm ruined！ I'm ruined！〃 he almost screamed。
〃No；〃 she said； still calm。 〃You will not be ruined； though you deserve to be。 But I understand why you have become callous to the commonplace decencies of life； and I shall see to it that no harm comes to you。〃
〃Mr。 Dumont willDESTROY me！ You don't realize； Mrs。 Dumont。 Vast property interests are at stake on the result of this conventionthat's our cause。 And you are imperiling it！〃
〃Imperiling a cause that needs lies and bribes to save it？〃 she said ironically。 〃Please calm yourself； Mr。 Culver。 You certainly can't be blamed for putting your money in a safe place。 I take the responsibility for the rest。 And when you tell Mr。 Dumont exactly what happened； you will not be blamed or injured in any way。〃
〃I shall telegraph him at once；〃 he warned her。
〃Certainly；〃 said Pauline。 〃He might blame you severely for failing to do that。〃
He paused in his pacing up and down the room。 He flung his arms toward her； his eyes blazing。
〃I WILL have it！〃 he exclaimed。 〃Do you hear me； I WILL！ I'll bring men from down…town and have the safe blown open。 The money is not yoursit is〃
She advanced to the bell。
〃Another word； Mr。 Culver； and I'll have the servants show you the door。 Yours is a strange courageto dare to speak thus to me when your head should be hanging in shame for trying to make such base use of me and my courtesy and friendliness。〃
His arms dropped； and he lowered his head。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 he said humbly。 〃I'm not myself。 I think I'm going insane。 PITY me！〃
Pauline looked at him sadly。 〃I wish I had the right to。 ButI SYMPATHIZE； and I'm sorryso sorryto have to do this。〃 A pause； then〃Good afternoon； Mr。 Culver。〃 And she moved toward the door。 At the threshold she turned。 〃I must say one thing furtherTHE CONVENTION MUST NOT BE PUT OFF。 If it is adjourned to…morrow without making nominations； I shall understand that you are getting the money elsewhere。 AndI shall be compelled to put such facts as I know in the possession ofof those you came to injure。〃 And she was gone。
Culver went to Merriweather's office and sent out for him and Larkin。 When they arrived he shut the doors and told them what had happenedand in his manner there was not left a trace of the New Yorker and ambassador condescending to westerners and underlings。 Larkin cursed； Merriweather gave no outward sign。 Presently Merriweather said： 〃Larkin； you must adjourn the convention over to…morrow。 Culver can go to Chicago and get back with the money by to…morrow night。〃
〃No use；〃 groaned Culver。 And he told them the last part of his talk with Mrs。 Dumont。
〃She thought of that！〃 said Merriweather； and he looked the impartial admiration of the connoisseur of cleverness。
〃But she'd never carry out her threatnever in the world！〃 persisted Larkin。
〃If you had seen her when she said it； and if you'd known her as long as I have； you wouldn't say that；〃 replied Culver。 〃We must try to get the money here； right awayat the banks。〃
〃All shut；〃 said Merriweather 〃I wonder how much cash there is at the Woolens and the Oil and Steel offices？ We must get together as much as we canquietly。〃 And he rapidly outlined a program that put all three at work within fifteen minutes。 They met again at seven。 Culver had twenty…six hundred dollars； Larkin thirty…one hundred； Merriweather； who had kept for himself the most difficult task； had only twelve hundred。
〃Sixty…nine hundred；〃 said Merriweather； eying the heap； of paper in packages and silver in bags。
〃Better than nothing；〃 suggested Culver； with a pitiful atte