ep this up
till judgment? There ain't but thirty votin' names in this place--except
the chaps off fishin', and they won't be back till fall. Fifteen is for
you and fifteen for Gaius. Most astonishin' agreement of difference ever
I see. We'll never have a president, at this rate.'

"He winked. 'Won't, hey?' he says. 'Sure you've counted right? I make it
thirty-one.'

"'I don't see how,' says I, puzzled. 'Nobody's left outside the club but
Jotham himself, and he--'

"'That's all right,' he interrupts, winkin' again. 'You be on hand next
Tuesday night. You can't always tell, maybe somethin'll happen.'

"I was on hand, all right, and somethin' did happen, two somethin's, in
fact. We hadn't much more'n got in our seats afore the door opened,
and in walked Gaius Ellis, arm in arm with a man; and the man was the
Honorable Stingy Gabe Atkinson Holway.

"'Gentlemen,' sings out Gaius, bubblin' over with joy, 'I propose three
cheers for our founder, who has returned to us after his long absence.'

"We give the cheers--that is, some of the folks did. Bassett and our
gang wa'n't cheerin' much; they looked as if somebody had passed 'em
a counterfeit note. You see, Gabe Holway was one of the hide-boundest
Progressives afloat, and a blind man could see who'd got him back again
and which way he'd vote. It sartinly looked bad for Bassett now.

"Gaius proposes that, out of compliment, as founder of the club, Mr.
Holway be asked to preside. So he was asked, though the Conservatives
wa'n't very enthusiastic. Gabe took the chair, preached a little sermon
about bein' glad to see his native home once more, and raps for order.

"'If there's no other business afore the meetin',' says he, 'we will
proceed to ballot for president.'

"But it turned out that there was other business. Dan Bassett riz to his
feet and commenced one of the most feelin' addresses ever I listened to.

"Fust he congratulated all hands upon the success of Mr. Holway's
philanthropic scheme for the betterment of South Orham's male citizens.
Jeered at at fust by the unregenerate, it had gone on, winnin' its way
into the hearts of the people, until one by one the said unregenerate
had regenerated, and now the club numbered thirty souls and the
Honorable Atkinson.

"'But,' says Dan, wavin' his arms, 'one man yet remains outside. One
lone man! The chief sinner, you say? Yes, I admit it. But, gentlemen,
a repentant sinner. Alone he sits amid the wreck of his business--