I'm going to be captain; can you tell me of any better fellow for the place ?" demanded Shuffles, who, putting aside the jesting manner in which he had commenced the discussion, now assumed an earnest and impudent tone.
"Didn't you hear what Lowington said when he wound up his speech ?" asked Wilton.
"What ?" "About vetoing our choice if it was not a proper one." "What of it ?" asked Shuffles, innocently.
"Don't you think he would veto you ?" "Me! Not he! Lowington knows that I'm smart; I was too smart for him once, and he knows it.

He won't veto me.

We have been the best of friends lately." "I don't believe he'll have a chance to veto you," said Wilton.
"What do you mean ?" "I don't believe you will be elected." "I know I shall, if we manage it right.

Let us look at it," continued Shuffles, as he took a pencil from his pocket.

"Got a piece of paper ?" Monroe gave him a piece of paper, and the wire-puller began to make his calculations.
"Eighty-seven votes," said he, writing the number on the paper.
"Necessary to a choice, forty-four.