"Hello!"
"Is Mrs. Bennington at home?" asked a voice, unfamiliar to her ears.
"There are two. Which one do you wish?"
"Mrs. John Bennington."
"This is Mrs. John Bennington speaking. What is it?"
There was a pause.
"I have something very important to communicate to you. In the first place, you must use your influence in making Mr. Warrington withdraw his name as a candidate for nomination."
"Who is this speaking?" she asked sharply.
"Mr. McQuade."
The receiver nearly fell from her hand. McQuade? What in the world—