Also the President of the Anaconda, from whom Senator Gruff had letters every week, described the Hanway sentiment in Anaconda regions as invincible.
The National Convention, in the interests of Senator Hanway and over the objection of the friends of Governor Obstinate, had been fixed for the last of May.

This was a help; Senator Hanway's forces were organized and Governor Obstinate's were not.

The less space permitted that candidate and his henchmen, the better for Senator Hanway.

As Senator Gruff and Richard sat together in Senator Hanway's study one morning, the Senator pointed out on the map a sufficient number of States, and each certain to send a Hanway delegation, to carry the nomination.
"If the convention were held to-morrow," observed Senator Gruff, "we would win.

The effort now must be to head off encroachments by Governor Obstinate." The above came on an occasion when Senator Gruff was in a confidential mood.