imaginative touch of a baffled detective, while Mrs. Bowers's shots
in the stilly night passed into the province of undisputed fact. The
circumstance that the widow had only that morning seen the destroyer of
homes walking abroad unmaimed, was but touching evidence that the
husband had been too grief-crazed to send a bullet to the mark. The
widow almost remembered that the destroyer had limped; therefore the
injured man must have resorted to natural weapons. Doubtless the
beginning of proceedings for an absolute divorce hung fire only because
this was a legal holiday.

As the clock in the town hall struck ten the good women parted company,
and the now able-bodied scandal careered bravely into the world.
Tinctured by personal equation, the respective variants of Mrs. Bowers
and Mrs. Weatherwax had minor differences in the dramatic grouping of
detail, but they were variants, nevertheless, and adhered in all
essentials to the notable fabric these ladies had joined forces to
erect.

Early in the morning the Hon. Seneca Bowers returned to his home for a
warmer overcoat, and met the petrifying version of his wife. His first
thought was of its bearing on the election.

"True or untrue, Eliza," he declared, energetically, "this servant's
chatter must go no farther."

"But if he's a bad man--" began Mrs. Bowers, uneasily.

"I'm not concerned with his morals; it's the party I'm thinking of.
Not one soul must you tell--understand that clearly--not one soul."

"I--I did tell one--just one."

"In God's name, who?" cried her husband.

"Don't swear, Seneca. And you a church member."

"Who? Who?"

"Mrs. W--W--" It was impossible to articulate that tongue-worrying
name with her lord glaring at her so dreadfully.

The man blenched.

"Not old Weatherwax!"

"Y-yes."

Bowers's jaw hung flaccid. This phenomenon continuing, Mrs. Bowers
took alarm.

"You've not gone and had a stroke, have you?" she wavered timidly,
feeling for his pulse.

Bowers revived with a grunt, and bolted for the door. His buggy wheel
protested stridently as he cramped the vehicle at the horse-block,
reassuring Mrs. Bowers that his natural force was not abated; and his
flight down town affronted the ordinance against reckless driving which
he himself had framed.

Shelby, unnaturally pale, but composed, was issuing from his office
staircase, and joined him directly at the curb.

"Jump in," said Bowers, making room.

"No time now."

"