“I do not think we can win,” he said, as she left him; “but we ought to make a good showing for your cousin, and I’ll do my very best to help you.”

As she rode home with Uncle John in the afternoon, after a day of really hard work, Patsy sized up the situation and declared that she was satisfied that she had made progress.  She told Mr. Merrick of the mortgage held over Thompson by Mr. Hopkins, and the little man made a mental note of the fact.  He also was satisfied with his day’s work, and agreed to ride over to Fairview the next day with her and carry the war into this, the largest village in Kenneth’s district.

Meantime Louise and Mr. Watson were having some interesting interviews with the farmers’ wives along the Marville road.  The old lawyer knew nearly everyone in this part of the country, for he had lived here all his life.  But he let Louise do the talking and was much pleased at the tact and good nature she displayed in dealing with the widely different types of character she encountered.

Her method was quite simple, and for that reason doubly effective.  She sat down in Mrs. Simmons’s kitchen, where the good woman was ironing, and said: 

“I’m a cousin of Mr. Forbes, up at Elmhurst, you know.  He’s running for a political office, so as to do some good for his county and district, and I’ve come to see if you’ll help me get votes for him.”

“Law sakes, child!” exclaimed Mrs. Simmons, “I ain’t got nuthin’ to do with politics.”

“No; but you’ve got a lot to do with Mr. Simmons, and that’s where we need your help.  You see, Mr. Forbes thinks Mr. Simmons is one of the most important men in this district, and he’s very anxious to win his vote.”

“Why don’t you see Dan, then?  He’s out’n the rye field,” replied the woman.

“It’s because I’m only a girl, and he wouldn’t listen to me,” replied Louise, sweetly.  “But he takes your advice about everything, I hear—­”

“He don’t take it as often as he orter, don’t Dan,” interrupted Mrs. Simmons, pausing to feel whether her iron was hot.

“Perhaps not,” agreed Louise; “but in important things, such as this, he’s sure to listen to you; and we women must stick together if we want to win this election.”

“But I don’t know nothin’ about it,” protested Mrs. Simmons; “an’ I don’t believe Dan does.”

“You don’t need to know much, Mrs. Simmons,” replied the girl.  “What a pretty baby that is!  All you need do is to tell Dan he must vote for Mr. Forbes, and see that he agrees to do so.”

“Why?” was the pointed query.

“Well, there are several reasons.  One is that Mr. Hopkins—­Mr. Erastus Hopkins, you know, is the other candidate, and a person must vote for either one or the other of them.”

“Dan’s a friend o’ ’Rastus,” said the woman, thoughtfully.  “I seen ’em talkin’ together the other day.”

“But this isn’t a matter of friendship; it’s business, and Mr. Forbes is very anxious to have your husband with him.  If Mr. Forbes is elected it means lighter taxes, better roads and good schools.  If Mr. Hopkins is elected it does not mean anything good except for Mr. Hopkins.”