human
Mr. Johnson, how are you to-day?
gpt
Mighty well, Miller; how's things agoin' here?
human
Oh, Hamblin will be elected by a good big majority.
gpt
Don't be sartin on it. I tell you what it is, them Daley fellers is a-workin' like blazes into the hands of t'other party.
human
That's nothing new, for Daley has been working that way all the time, being paid to bolt and come up a stump candidate. He is a bad man, Mr. Johnson.
gpt
Don't know so much about that air; but see here, Miller--let me speak to you privately--he offered to pay my team hire if I'd come down and vote for him.
human
But a farmer worth his forty thousand dollars wouldn't sell his vote!
gpt
Sell my vote! See here, Miller, let's go into this room. There: I can speak to you by ourselves, now. Do you mean to insinuate I'd sell my vote--me, a farmer who can buy the best farm in this 'ere county? No, sir, you've got the wrong man.
human
Why, Mr. Johnson, of course you wouldn't.
gpt
No, I jest wouldn't. But you see this is a good workin' day, and me and my two boys dropped everything to come down to vote. Daley offered to pay for my team if we'd go for him. I don't like him half so well as I do Hamblin; but--er--it kinder seems as if you'd oughter stand the price of our three days' work and team-hire if we vote your ticket.
human
What do you call it worth? Are the boys here?
gpt
Yes, they'll be here in a few minutes; and if you'll give me five dollars--that is, two for the team and a dollar apiece for our three days' work--we'll vote for Hamblin.
human
It's a pretty good price, but I suppose I will have to do it.
gpt
But 'tain't sellin' our votes. I'd scorn doing such a mean trick as that. It's only gettin' pay for lost time.
human
Exactly so, Mr. Johnson; I wouldn't dare offer to buy your votes for fear of offending you. There are your boys--call them.
gpt
Jack, you and Jim must vote for Hamblin; give us your ballots, Miller.