“He is friendly, too.” Ridgway laughed as he recalled their battle over who should be the nominee. “But his conscience rules him. It’s a free and liberal conscience, generally speaking—nothing Puritan about it, but a distinctive product of the West. Yet, he would not have me for senator at any price.”
“Why?”
“Didn’t think I was fit to represent the people; said if I went in, it would be to use the office for my personal profit.”
“Wasn’t he right?”
“More or less. If I were elected, I would build up my machine, of course, but I would see the people got a show, too.”
She nodded agreement. “I don’t think you would make a bad senator.”
“I would be a live wire, anyhow. Sam had other objections to me. He thought I had been using too much money in this campaign.”
“And have you?” she asked, curious to see how he would defend himself.
“Yes. I had to if I were going to stand any chance. It wasn’t from choice. I didn’t really want to be senator. I can’t afford to give the time to it, but I couldn’t afford to let Harley name the man either. I was between the devil and the deep sea.”
“Then, really, Mr. Yesler came to your rescue.”