by told his whereabouts, and requested the prompt services of Jasper
Hinchey and three or four kindred spirits, ringing off after certain
mysterious, though concise, directions regarding a concert hall in the
Flats, which he meant shortly to utilize.

He had barely hung up the receiver when a telegraph messenger from town
brought a despatch for Kiska. Shelby's breath shortened at sight of the
yellow envelope, but he mustered a specious unconcern, telling the boy
that the foreman's return, though certain, was not within immediate
prospect, and volunteered to receipt for the message himself--an offer
readily embraced by the lad, who, without a glance, pocketed the book in
which Shelby scrawled Kiska's own name, and fared away with a head aflame
from the bonfires of the coming night.

The envelope was loosely gummed, and gave under gentle persuasion.
Shelby threw a glance from either window of the narrow room, and drew the
paper from its cover. It was from Hilliard at Centreport, and announced
that he had missed his train. The reader's delight was qualified by the
succeeding statement that he should come by the canal, and that the men
were to be in readiness.

"He's hired a launch or tug," commented Shelby. "Horses aren't to be had
to-day for rubies or fine gold."

He replaced the message, sealed the envelope, and flung it on the table,
catching sight of Kiska, as he did so, striding along the canal bank
toward the office. The big Pole burst into the room a moment later, his
simple face aglow at the meeting, and sputtered broken excuses for
keeping his preserver waiting. Shelby shook both his grimy hands, and
smilingly supposed that Kiska had made up his mind how he should vote.
Kiska's English was uncertain, but there was no misreading his
gesticulation.

"And Little Poland?" insinuated the candidate, blandly.

"Leetle Poland ees ein beeg vote," Kiska eagerly assured him; "joost ein
beeg vote for Meester Shelby. Whan you save me, Meester Heelyard he say
eef anybody no want to vote for you, he can joost valk aus de qvarry."

"Very kind of him," said Shelby. "Now, since you all know your own
minds, I'd take it as a favor if you would get to the polls at the
earliest possible moment. The voting promises to be heavy toward the
close, and I don't care to have my friends inconvenienced. By the way,
Kiska," he broke off carelessly "there's a telegram for you over there.
It came not ten minutes ago."

By dint o