ion is
considered, it seems to me very wrong to find fault because the chief of
our former antagonists has seen the error of his ways and become one of
us. Mr. Bassett, I do not understand your intimation concernin' myself.
I shall adjourn this meetin' until next Friday evenin', gentlemen.
Meanwhile, let us remember that we ARE gentlemen.'

"He thumped the desk once, and parades out of the buildin', dignified
as Julius Caesar. The rest of us toddled along after him, all talkin' at
once. Bassett and Ellis glowered at each other and hove out hints about
what would happen afore they got through. 'Twas half-past ten afore I
got to bed that night, and Sarah J.--that's Mrs. Stitt--kept me awake
another hour explainin' whys and wherefores.

"For the next three days nobody done anything but knock off work and
talk club politics. You'd see 'em on the corners and in the post office
and camped on the meetin'-house steps, arguin' and jawin'. Dan and Gaius
was hurryin' around, moppin' their foreheads and lookin' worried. On
Thursday there was all sorts of rumors afloat. Finally they all simmered
down to one, and that one was what made me stop Stingy Gabe on the
street and ask for my bearin's.

"'Mr. Holway,' says I, 'is it true that Dan and Gaius have resigned and
agreed to vote for somebody else?'

"He nodded, grand and complacent.

"'Then who's the somebody?' says I. 'For the land sakes! tell me. It's
as big a miracle as the prodigal son.'

"I remember now that the prodigal son ain't a miracle, but I was excited
then.

"'Stitt,' says he, 'I am the "somebody," as you call it. I have decided
to let my own wishes and inclinations count for nothin' in this affair,
and to accept the office of president myself. It will be announced at
the meetin'.'

"I whistled. 'By gum!' says I. 'You've got a great head, Mr. Holway, and
I give you public credit for it. It's the only course that ain't full of
breakers. Did you think of it yourself?'

"He colored up a little. 'Why, no, not exactly,' he says. 'The fact is,
the credit belongs to our new member, Mr. Gale.'

"'To JOTHAM?' says I, astonished.

"'Yes. He suggested my candidacy, as a compromise. Said that he, for
one, would be proud to vote for me. Mr. Gale seems thoroughly repentant,
a changed man. I am counting on him for great things in the future.'

"So the fuss seemed settled, thanks to the last person on earth you'd
expect would be peacemaker. But that afternoon I met Dariu