"I have, but not that way—where's Trenton whom we've been talking of all summer?"
"He's out of it—consumption, the doctor says—anyway he's going South."
"Then there's but one other man," said Ordway, decisively, "and that's Baxter."
"Me?" said Baxter softly, "you mean me, do you say?" His chuckle shook the buggy until it creaked upon its rusty wheels. "I can't," he added, with a burst of humour, "to tell the truth, I'm afraid."
"Afraid?" repeated Ordway, "you're afraid of Jasper Trend?"
"No," said Baxter, "it ain't Jasper—it's my wife."
He winked slowly as he caught Ordway's eyes, and then picking up the reins, made a movement as if to turn back to Tappahannock. "So you're dead sure then that you can't be talked over?" he asked.
"As sure as you are," returned Ordway promptly; then as the buggy started back in the direction from which it had come, he went over to Banks, who had risen to his feet and was leaning heavily against the cherry tree, with the long blade of grass still between his teeth.
"What do you think of their wanting to make me Mayor, Banks?" he inquired, with a laugh.
Banks started from his gloomy reverie. "Mayor!" he exclaimed almost with animation. "Why, they've shown jolly good sense, that's what I think!"