the county's money fer the term; if Maxim's elected, Florenheim's bank
gits it. Florenheim laid down the cash fer Maxim's nomination, and the
Washington National fixed it fer Singleton. And it's big money, don't
you git no wrong idea about _that_!"

"Vote a Republican," said Toby politely.

A look of pain appeared upon the brow of the committee-man.

"I reckon I ain't hardly made myself clear," he observed, somewhat
plaintively. "Now here, you listen: I reckon it would be kind of resky
to trust you boys to scratch the ticket--it's a mixed up business,
anyway--"

"Vote a straight!" cried Pietro, nodding his head,
cheerfully. "_Yess!_ I teach Leo; yess, teach all these"--he
waved his hands to indicate the melancholy listeners--"teach them
all. Stamp in a circle by that eagle. Vote a Republican!"

"What I was goin' to say," went on the official, exhibiting tokens of
impatience and perturbation, "was that if we _should_ make any
switch this year, I guess you boys would have to switch straight."

"'Tis true!" was the hearty response. "Vote a straight
Republican. Republican eternall!"

Pixley wiped his forehead with a dirty handkerchief, and scratched his
head. "See here," he said, after a pause, to Toby. "I've got to go
down to Collins's saloon, and I'd like to have you come along. Feel
like going?"