“The secretary—will call—the roll—of the counties.” And then intensity hung again in the air. Hale called off the names of the counties.

“DeWitt?”

“Eighteen votes No!”

“Logan?”

“Thirteen votes Aye, eleven votes No.”

The Sprague men clapped their hands.

“Mason?”

“Eighteen votes Aye!!”

Randolph turned and knit his brows. Then he smiled again. He was keeping tab on his knee.

“Moultrie?”