'Go right to th' point an' they'll say yes or no." Beth laughed merrily, and the boy smiled as he wielded his brush with delicate strokes.
"Ye mustn't mind me, miss," said Will Rogers, in a deprecating tone.
"I'm--I'm sommut broke up an' discouraged, an' ain't th' man I used to be.

Nell knows that, an' she orter came herself; but it jes' made her cry to think o' it, an' so I says I'll come an' do the best I kin." Beth was really interested now.
"Sit down on this bench, Mr.Rogers," she said, "and I'll listen to whatever you have to say." He sat down willingly, bent forward as he rested upon the garden bench, and twirled his hat slowly in his hands.
"'Taint easy, ye know, miss, to say some things, an' this is one o' the hardest," he began.
"Go on," said Beth, encouragingly, for old Will had suddenly stopped short and seemed unable to proceed.
"They say, miss, as you folks is a-spendin' uv a lot o' money on this election, a-gittin' votes, an' sich like," he said, in an altered tone.
"It costs a little to run a political campaign," acknowledged Beth.
"They say money's bein' poured out liken water--to git votes," he persisted.
"Well, Mr.Rogers ?" "Well, thet's how it started, ye see.

We're so agonizin' poor, Nell thought we orter git some o' the money while it's goin'." The girl was much amused.

Such frankness was both unusual and refreshing.
"Have you a vote to sell ?" she asked.
He did not answer at once, but sat slowly twirling his hat.
"That's jet' what Nell thought ye'd ask," he said, finally, "an' she knew if ye did it was all up with our plan.

Guess I'll be goin', miss." He rose slowly from his seat, but the girl did not intend to lose any of the fun this queer individual might yet furnish.
"Sit down, Mr.Rogers," she said, "and tell me why you can't answer my questions ?" "I guess I'll hev to speak out an' tell all," said he, his voice trembling a little, "although I thought fer a minnit I could see my way without.