“Why? What’s the matter?”
“I jest heard Sergeant Barry say he’s goin’ to beat my candidate by seven votes. He told the bunch up to the armory. I can’t stan’ that. We’ve got to do somethin’ quick.”
Manning set his glass back deliberately on the counter.
“I don’t believe it!” he said. “He’s just throwing a bluff. Charlie Moore and I went over the whole situation not more than half an hour ago; and the way we figure it Hal will come under the wire with three votes to spare.”
“You countin’ on Stone an’ Hooper?”
“Sure, we’re counting on them.”
“That’s where you’re way off. They’re for Barry.”
“It can’t be. They’re as good as promised for Hal.”
“Well, I heard Stone say, myself, that him and Hooper was for Barry because they had to be.”