Ten days later a third party made its appearance in the politics of Coldriver, and Marvin Towne was announced as its candidate for the legislature.  It seemed a spontaneous excrescence, but, nevertheless, it caused a visit from that great man and citizen, Lafe Siggins, as well as a call from Mr. Crane, of Crane & Keith.  Both astute gentlemen viewed the situation, and their alarm subsided.  Indeed, both perceived where it could be turned to advantage.  A canvass of the situation showed them that the new Prohibitionists, though they talked loud and long, were made up mainly of the discontented and of a few men always ready to join any novel movement, and promised at best to poll not to exceed forty votes of Coldriver’s registered three hundred and eighty.  It really simplified the situation to Lafe and to Crane, for it removed from circulation forty doubtful votes and left the real battle to be fought between the regulars.  Wherefore Messrs. Siggins and Crane departed from the village in satisfied mood.

Scattergood sat on his piazza as usual, the morning after the portentous visit, and called a greeting to Wade Lumley, dry-goods merchant, as that prominent citizen passed to his place of business.

“How’s the geldin’ this mornin’, Wade?” he asked.

“Feelin’ his oats.  Got to take him out on the road this evenin’.  Time to begin shapin’ him up for the county fair.”

“Three-year-old, hain’t he?”

“Best in the state.”

“Always figgered that till I heard Ren Green talkin’.  Ren calculates he’s got a three-year-old that’ll make any other boss in these parts look like it was built of pine.”

Wade was eager in a moment.  “Willin’ to back them statements with money, is he?”

“Said somethin’ about havin’ a hunderd dollars that wasn’t workin’ otherwise, seems as though,” said Scattergood.  “Jest half a mile from Pettybone’s house to the dam,” he continued, with apparent irrelevance.  “Level road.”

“And my geldin’ kin travel that same road spryer ’n Green’s hoss—­for a hunderd dollars,” said Wade, eagerly.

“Dunno,” said Scattergood.  “Hoss races is uncertain.  G’-by, Wade.  See you later.”

A similar conversation with Ren Green during the day resulted in a meeting between the horsemen, an argument, loud words, and a heated offer to wager money, which was accepted with like heat.

“From Pettybone’s to the dam—­half a mile,” shouted Wade.

“Suits me to a T,” bellowed Ren; “and now you kin step across with me and deposit that there hunderd dollars ag’in’ mine with Briggs of the hotel.”

So, terms and conditions having been arranged, the bets were made, and the money locked in the hotel safe.  News of the matter swept through Coldriver, and for the evening politics were forgotten and excitement ran high.  Next day it arose to a higher pitch, for Town-marshal Pease had forbidden the race to be run through the public streets of Coldriver, viewing it as a menace to life, limb, and the public peace.  Scattergood had conversed sagely with Pease on the duties of a town marshal.