ool. But a woman for mayor,
indeed!"

"What do you suppose I've just heard?" exclaimed the secretary, hurrying
in again. "Blatchley says the club women of Roma are going into the
campaign with a vengeance,--that they are going to put up a woman--the
daughter of old Senator Van Deusen. I don't believe it.--And yet, wasn't
she one of those women who just went out?"

"She was," replied Allingham. "She is. Whether she will be, remains to
be seen. You can't tell what a woman--"

"Then it's true?" Morgan's tone was incredulous.

"Yes, I suppose so," returned the chairman. "The women are going to turn
in and work. It is possible they may win. But what a thing for Roma to
do! I don't see how we can--"

"Then they came for help from the League?" asked Morgan, still more
incredulously.

"They came," replied Allingham, "to offer to co-operate with us. They
asked no help, come to think of it; they just offered to co-operate and
they seem to have a very definite idea of what they are going to
do,--women!" he finished abruptly, remembering his rash endorsement of
their plans before their unfolding.

"I'm not certain but it would be a good thing for the town," began the
secretary. "A radical change would--"

"Morgan," interrupted his chief, "we should make ourselves ridiculous,
we should be a laughing-stock for the whole state. I shall never
consent," he added, with the more heat when he recalled Gertrude's
confident poise and--how he had already half pledged himself to their
cause.

"I suppose you'll call a meeting of the committee to consider their
plan?" asked Morgan. "If they are really in earnest, these women are a
factor to be seriously considered, whether for or against."

"Oh, yes, I suppose so," answered Allingham, turning back to his desk.
"But I was brought up to believe a woman's place was at home with her
husband and children."

"So was I," said Morgan, who was a privileged friend as well as
secretary. "But the teachings of twenty years ago are out of place
today. Indeed, they are as old-fashioned as they were a hundred years
before. Miss Van Deusen is a magnificent woman,--the fit daughter of the
old Senator."

"You know her?" said Allingham, irrelevantly.

"Well, no, not exactly. I've met her. But my cousins know her well, and
she must be,--from all I hear, a thoroughly womanly woman. And, they all
say, will marry Armstrong."

"Let her keep out of politics, then," growled Allingham. "Look here. A
wom