“Nobody knows, but fellers that pertends to be wise figgers he’s for Bowman—jest so’s to be for anybody Brown is against.”
“Huh!” says Mark. “What d’you calc’late ’u’d happen if Brown and Wiggins was to make up f-friends and work for the same man?”
“It couldn’t happen,” says the man, “but if it did, with the batch of delegates each one of ’em controls in the convention, the man they agreed on would have a walk-away.”
“Hum!” says Mark. “Is Brown awful strong for Whittaker?”
“Whittaker’s best friend he’s got. Why, Whittaker lent him the money to go into business first, and has always been befriendin’ him, and two year ago Brown up and married Whittaker’s sister.”
“So,” says Mark, “there hain’t much danger of his switchin’ to Bowman?”
“He jest couldn’t,” says the man.
“Hum!” says Mark. “Int’restin’ to hear. Much obliged, mister.”
We walked on, and all of a sudden Mark chuckled right out. “Binney,” says he, “we don’t need to go listenin’ to what those f-f-fellers is talkin’ about. I know.”
“Shucks!” says I.