s Tompkins,
Bassett's right-hand man.

"'Bailey,' says he, 'you're a Conservative, ain't you? You're for Dan
through thick and thin?'

"'Why!' says I, 'I understand Dan and Gaius are both out of it now, and
it's settled on Holway. Dan's promised to vote for him.'

"'HE has,' says Tompkins, with a wink, 'but the rest of us ain't. We
pledged our votes to Dan Bassett, and we ain't the kind to go back on
our word. Dan himself'll vote for Gabe; so'll Gaius and his reg'lar
tribe. That'll make twelve, countin' Holway's own.'

"'Make seventeen, you mean,' says I. 'Gaius and his crowd's fifteen and
Dan's sixteen and Gabe's seven--'

"He winked again, and interrupted me. 'You're countin' wrong, my boy,'
says he. 'Five of Gaius's folks come from the old billiard-room gang.
Just suppose somethin' happened to make that five vote, on the quiet,
for Bassett. Then--'

"A customer come in then, and Tompkins had to leave; but afore he went
he got me to one side and whispers:

"'Keep mum, old man, and vote straight for Dan. We'll show old Holway
that we can't be led around by the nose.'

"'Tompkins,' says I, 'I know your head well enough to be sartin that it
didn't work this out by itself. And why are you so sure of the billiard
roomers? Who put you up to this?'

"He rapped the side of his nose. 'The smartest politician in this
town,' says he, 'and the oldest--J. W. Gale, Esq.! S-s-sh-h! Don't say
nothin'.'

"I didn't say nothin'. I was past talk. And that evenin' as I went past
the billiard room on my way home, who should come out of it but Gaius
Ellis, and HE looked as happy as Tompkins had.

"Friday night that clubroom was filled. Every member was there, and most
of 'em had fetched their wives and families along to see the fun. There
was whisperin' and secrecy everywheres. Honorable Gabe took the chair
and makes announcements that the shebang is open for business.

"Up gets Dave Bassett and all but sheds tears. He says that he made up
his mind to vote, not for himself, but for the founder and patron of
the club, the Honorable Atkinson Holway. He spread it over Gabe thick
as sugar on a youngster's cake. And when he set down all hands applauded
like fury. But I noticed that he hadn't spoke for nary Conservative but
himself.

"Then Gaius Ellis rises and sobs similar. He's stopped votin' for
himself, too. His ballot is for that grand and good man, Gabriel
Atkinson Holway, Esq. More applause and hurrahs.

"And then who sh