them while they waited, the
principal actors in this farce were miles away, chasing each
other about in electric cabs, which at a distance of twenty miles
or more from Brocklebank Hall collided and threw the aspiring
occupants out in a deep wood. Thus doth fate pursue the over-
ambitious and wreck their plans.

"When the chauffeurs returned from the farmhouse whence they
had gone for help in extricating their machines, Allingham, the
aristocrat, lay prone on the ground with his head in the lap of
her who had been his whilom opponent for the mayor's chair. A
sight fit for the gods, truly--and also for the voters of
Roma.

"The couple, erstwhile at swords' points, but now tucked
cosily together in one electric cab, were later brought back to
Roma at one o'clock in the morning--she none the worse for her
skillful evasion of the platform contest, and he with a slight
scalp wound only, to show that he had been worsted.

"It remains now for the voters of Roma to consider whether
such candidates as these are to be considered fit to be trusted
with the affairs of our enterprising young city--and to vote
accordingly."

CHAPTER IX

Election Day

Election day dawned bright and clear and all Roma was up early, actively
interested for once in the outcome of the day's work. The polling places
were lively at seven o'clock and from that hour they grew more and more
crowded, as men and women of all parties swarmed to deposit their
ballots according to the Australian system. Never before in the history
of the town had so many voters been out on the day of a municipal
election.

The women had opened coffee-rooms for the day close by all the important
voting booths, and wives and daughters of the most prominent men in
town served the steaming beverage by turns throughout the election hours
free to all who might come. Moreover, they saw to it that no voter who
mustered under the City Reform Club banner, was neglected. It would be
too much to assume that the liquor stands were outdone, but at least the
"Progressive Workers" were the means of sending many men home sober that
day, and of rescuing a few of the tempted ones.

The leaders of the different parties were here, there and everywhere,
looking after the interests of their respective candidates, talking,
persuading, urging or buying the dilatory or vacillating vote. And the
women found, ea