eat. "Officer!" he'd shout (he was a red-faced,
ignorant fellow... a typical barroom politician), "I demand that you put
that man out of here." And the cop actually laid his hand on Montague's
shoulder; if he'd ever been landed on the other side of that railing
the crowd would have torn him to pieces. But the man stayed as cool as
a cucumber. "Officer," he said, "you are aware that I am an election
official, here under the protection of the law; and if you refuse me
that protection you are liable to a sentence in State's prison." Then
he'd quote another paragraph.

JULIA. It's a wonder he ever held them.

JACK. He did it; he made them throw out forty-seven ballots... and
thirty-eight of them were Tammany ballots, too. There was one time
when I thought the gang was going to break loose, and I sneaked out and
telephoned for help. Then I came back and spoke up for him. I wanted
them to know there'd be one witness. You should have seen the grateful
look that Montague gave me.

LAURA. I can imagine it.

JULIA. And how did it end?

JACK. Why, you see, we kept them there till eleven o'clock at night, and
by that time everybody knew that Tammany had won, and the ballots were
not needed. So the old Judge patted us on the back and told us we were
heroes, and invited us out to get drunk with him. Montague and I walked
home together through the election din, and got acquainted. I don't know
that I ever met a man I took to more quickly.

LAURA. You are making a Socialist out of him, of course?

JACK. Oh, he's coming on. But he is not the sort of man to take his
ideas from any one else... he wants to see for himself. He hasn't
been in New York long, you know... he comes from the South... from
Mississippi.

LAURA. [Startled.] From Mississippi! What's his first name?

JACK. Allan.

LAURA. [Betraying emotion.] Allan Montague!

JACK. Do you know him?

LAURA. Yes; I know him very well, indeed. Oh... I didn't... that is... I
have not seen him for a long time. [Recovering her poise.] Is he surely
coming?

JACK. He generally keeps his engagements.

JULIA. How did you come to know him?

LAURA. He's Ollie Montague's brother.

JACK. Who's Ollie Montague?

LAURA. He's one of those pretty boys that everybody knows in society; he
brought his brother up from the South to introduce him. He was in some
business deal or other with my father. Then he seemed to drop out of
everything, and nobody sees him any more. I don't know why