Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work

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Mr. Hopkins was noticeable by his absence, and this was due not so much

to his cowardice as to an unfortunate accident.

Neither Squiers nor Hopkins knew just how their secret had leaked out,

for Patsy's presence in the dentist's office had not been disclosed; so

each one suspected the other of culpable foolishness if not downright

rascality. After Uncle John's visit Erastus stormed over to Squiers's

office and found his accomplice boiling with indignation at having been

trapped in a criminal undertaking.

As the two men angrily faced each other they could not think of any

gentle words to say, and Dr. Squiers became so excited by the other's

reproaches that he indulged in careless gestures. One of these gestures

bumped against the Honorable Erastus's right eye with such force that

the eye was badly injured.

The candidate for re-election, therefore, wakened on election morning

with the damaged optic swollen shut and sadly discolored. Realizing that

this unfortunate condition would not win votes, Mr. Hopkins remained at

home all day and nagged his long-suffering spouse, whose tongue was her

only defence.

The Representative had promptly telephoned to Marshall at Fairview

telling him not to vote the men as arranged. He was not especially

charmed with the manager's brief reply:

"Don't be alarmed. We're not _all_ fools!"

"I guess, 'Rast," remarked Mary Hopkins, looking at her damaged and

irritable husband with a blending of curiosity and contempt, "that

you're 'bout at the end of your rope."

"You wait," said Erastus, grimly. "This thing ain't over yet."

The day passed very quietly and without any especial incident. A full

vote was polled, and by sundown the fate of the candidates had been

decided. But the counting seemed to progress slowly and the group

assembled around the telephone in Kenneth's library thought the returns

would never arrive.

The Republican Committee had given Mr. Forbes a table showing what the

vote of each precinct should be, according to their canvass.

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