“I don’t. But I’ll be snowed under—now. Of course.”
“Well,” said Amos, “that may be so. I ain’t sure. Gergue will know, time he’s talked around a spell. Prob’ly you are—are beat. But I’ve seen men beat before that turned out pretty strong in the end.” He added slowly: “Anyway, licked or unlicked, I’m on your side, Wint. And always was.”
Wint stared at him with a curious, threatening light in his eyes. “What’s the idea? You turned me down cold, in public. Now you come whining around....”
“I’m not whining, Wint,” said Amos cheerfully. “Do you think I’m whining, B. B.?”
B. B. smiled. “Congressman Caretall has his own methods, Wint. I know he seemed to be against you; but I also know that he’s been secretly working for you, that every vote he can swing will go to you. He’s been passing that word around for a week.”
Wint hesitated, looking from one to the other. “I never caught you in a lie, B. B.,” he said.
“It’s true enough,” the editor told him. “You see—” He looked at Amos, then went on: “You see, your father has no use for Amos. And Amos knew it. He also knew your father could do a good deal to help you win this election. But—Chase would not be on your side so long as Amos was with you. Do you see?”
“I see that much,” said Wint. He was thinking hard.
“But your father has been working for you since Amos pretended to have turned against you. Hasn’t he?”
“Yes.”