Harwood's mind was on the political situation.

As he sat in the minister's library he knew that in upper chambers of the State House, and in hotels and boarding-houses, members of the majority in twos and threes, or here and there a dozen, were speculating and plotting.

The deadlock was becoming intolerable.

Interest in the result was keen in all parts of the country, and the New York and Chicago newspapers had sent special representatives to watch the fight.

Dan was sick of the sight and sound of it.