Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work

Anger

gave way to sudden fear, and he scrutinized the averted countenance of

Thompson carefully.

"Where'd you raise the money, Thompson?"

"None of your business. I raised it."

"Forbes, eh? Forbes has bought you up, I see. Grateful fellow, ain't

you--when I loaned you money to keep you from bankruptcy!"

"You did, Hopkins. You made me your slave, and threatened me every

minute, unless I did all your dirty work. Grateful? You've led me a

dog's life. But I'm through with you now--for good and all."

Hopkins turned and walked out without another word. In the dentist's

office Dr. Squiers was sharpening and polishing his instruments.

"Hello, Archie."

"Hello, 'Rast. 'Bout time you was getting back, old man. We're having a

big fight on our hands, I can tell you."

"Tell me more," said Mr. Hopkins, taking a chair with a sigh of relief

at finding one faithful friend. "What's up, Archie?"

"An invasion of girls, mostly. They took us by surprise, the other day,

and started a campaign worthy of old political war-horses. There's some

shrewd politician behind them, I know, or they wouldn't have nailed us

up in our coffins with such business-like celerity."

"Talk sense, Archie. What have they done? What _can_ they do? Pah!

Girls!"

"Don't make a mistake, 'Rast. That's what I did, before I understood.

When I heard that three girls were electioneering for Forbes I just

laughed. Then I made a discovery. They're young and rich, and evidently

ladies. They're pretty, too, and the men give in at the first attack.

They don't try to roast you. That's their cleverness. They tell what

Forbes can do, with all his money, if he's Representative, and they

swear he'll do it."

"Never mind," said Hopkins, easily. "We'll win the men back again."

"But these girls are riding all over the country, talking to farmers'

wives, and they're organizing a woman's political club. The club is to

meet at Elmhurst and to be fed on the fat of the land; so every woman

wants to belong. They've got two expensive automobiles down from the

city, with men to make them go, and they're spending money right and

left.