s silence for a moment. Then Josiah
Dimick sprang up and waved his hat.

"That's the way to talk!" he shouted. "That's a MAN! Three cheers for
Cap'n Whittaker! Come on, everybody!"

But everybody did not "come on." The cheers were feeble. It was evident
that the majority of those present did not know how to meet this
unexpected contingency. It had taken them by surprise and they were
undecided. The uproar of argument and question began again, louder than
ever. The bewildered moderator thumped his desk and shouted feebly for
order. Tad Simpson took the floor and, in a few words and at the top of
his lungs, nominated Alonzo Snow. Abel Leonard seconded the nomination.
There were yells of "Question! Question!" and "Vote! Vote!"

Eben Salters was recognized by the chair. Captain Salters made few
speeches, and when he did make one it was because he had something to
say.

"Mr. Moderator," he said, "I, for one, hate to vote just now. It isn't
that the school committee is so important of itself. But I do think that
the rights of a father with his child IS pretty important, and our vote
for Cap'n Whittaker--and most of you know I intended votin' for him
and have been workin' for him--might seem like an indorsement of his
position. This whole thing is a big surprise to me. I don't feel yet
that we know enough of the inside facts to give such an indorsement. I'd
like to see this Thomas man before I decide to give it--or not to give
it, either. It's a queer thing to come up at town meetin', but it's up.
Hadn't we better adjourn until next week?"

He sat down. The meeting was demoralized. Some were shouting for
adjournment, others to "Vote it out." A straw would turn the scale and
the straw was forthcoming. While Captain Cy was speaking the door had
silently opened and two men entered the hall and sought seclusion in a
corner. Now one of these men came forward--the Honorable Heman Atkins.

Mr. Atkins walked solemnly to the front, amidst a burst of recognition.
Many of the voters rose to receive him. It was customary, when the great
man condescended to attend such gatherings, to offer him a seat on the
platform. This the obsequious Knowles proceeded to do. Asaph was
too overcome by the disclosure of "John Smith's" identity and by Mr.
Simpson's attack on his friend to remember even his manners. He did not
rise, but sat stonily staring.

The moderator's gavel descended "Order!" he roared. "Order, I say!
Congressman Atkins is goi