“Suthin’ in what you say, Scattergood.  Calculate I might examine into that tool one of these days.”

“Hain’t much choice between Pazzy Cox and Jim Allen, eh?  Hain’t neither of ’em desirable lawmakers, eh?  That what you was sayin’?”

“Them’s my idees,” said Marvin.

“Too bad we’re forced to take one or t’other.  Now if they was some way for you to step in and run.”

“Hain’t.”

“Sh’u’d think you’d look over them Prohibitionists.  Draw all the best citizens after you.  Set a example to the state....  Step back and look at that there seeder, Marvin.”

Marvin looked at the seeder judicially.  “Calc’late to guarantee it, Scattergood?”

“Put it in writin’,” said Scattergood.

“Calc’late I’ll have to have it.  Considerin’ everything, guess I’ll take it along.”

“Knowed you would, Marvin.  Sich men as you is to be depended on.  Folks realizes it.”

“If I thought they was a call for me to go to the legislature—­”

“Call?” said Scattergood.  “Marvin, I’m tellin’ you it’s dum near a shout.”

“Huh!...  Where could I git to find out about this here Prohibitionist party?”

Presently Marvin Towne and Old Man Bogle went along.  Scattergood gazed after them speculatively, and as he gazed his hands went automatically to his shoes, which he removed to give play to his reflective toes.  “Um!...” he grunted.  “If nothin’ more comes of it I made a profit of three dollar forty on that seeder.”

Pliny Pickett, stage driver, was a frequent caller at Scattergood’s store, first as an employee, but more importantly as a dependable representative who could carry out an order without asking questions, especially when no definite order had been given.

“Pliny,” said Scattergood, “know Marvin Towne, don’t you?  Brought up with him, wasn’t you?”

“Know him like the palm of my hand.”

“Um!...  Strange he hain’t never been talked up for the legislature, Pliny.  Strange there hain’t talk about him on the stagecoach.  Ever hear any?”

“Some, lately.”

“Could hear more, couldn’t you?  If you listened....  Set around the post office, evenin’s, don’t you?”

“Some.”

“Discussin’ topics?  Ever discuss this Prohibition party?”

“I could,” said Pliny.

“Seems like a shame folks here can’t run the man they want for office.  Strike you that way?”

“Certain sure.  Calc’late they want Marvin bad?”

“They could,” said Scattergood.  “G’-by, Pliny.”