ould get up but Jotham Gale. He talks humble, like a
has-been that knows he's a back number, but he says it's his privilege
to cast his fust vote in that club for Mr. Holway, South Orham's pride.
Nobody was expectin' him to say anything, and the cheers pretty nigh
broke the winders.

"Gabe was turrible affected by the soft soap, you could see that. He
fairly sobbed as he sprinkled gratitude and acceptances. When the agony
was over, he says the votin' can begin.

"I cal'lated he expected somebody'd move to make it unanimous, but they
didn't. So the blank ballots was handed around, and the pencils got
busy. Gabe app'ints three tellers, Bassett and Ellis, of course, for
two--and the third, Jotham Gale.

"'As a compliment to our newest member,' says the chairman, smilin'
philanthropic.

"When the votes was in the hat, the tellers retired to the amusement
room to count up. It took a long time. I see the Conservatives and
Progressives nudgin' each other and winkin' back and forth. Five
minutes, then ten, then fifteen.

"And all of a sudden the biggest row bu'st loose in that amusement room
that ever you heard. Rattlety--bang! Biff! Smash! The door flew open,
and in rolled Bassett and Ellis, all legs and arms. Gabe and some of the
rest hauled 'em apart and held 'em so, but the language them two hove at
each other was enough to bring down a judgment.

"'Gentlemen! gentlemen!' hollers poor Gabe. 'What in the world? I am
astounded! I--'

"'You miserable traitor!' shrieks Gaius, wavin' a fist at Dan.

"'You low-down hound!' whoops Dan back at him.

"'Silence!' bellers Gabe, poundin' thunder storms on the desk. 'Will
some one explain why these maniacs are--Ah, Mr. Gale--thank goodness,
YOU at least are sane!'

"Jotham walks to the front of the platform. He was holdin' the hat and a
slip of paper with the result set down on it.

"'Ladies and feller members,' says he, 'there's been some surprisin'
votin' done in this election. Things ain't gone as we cal'lated they
would, somehow. Mr. Holway, your election wa'n't unanimous, after all.'

"The way he said it made most everybody think Gabe was elected, anyhow,
and I guess Holway thought so himself, for he smiled forgivin' and says:

"'Never mind, Mr. Gale,' says he. 'A unanimous vote was perhaps too much
to expect. Go on.'

"'Yes,' says Jotham. 'Well, here's the way it stands. I'll read it to
you.'

"He fixes his specs and reads like this:

"'Number of votes cast, 3