“No reason ’t I know of, ’cept they’re fixed.”
“Well, they’re not fixed until after I’ve seen them.”
“But,” protested Hal, “you don’t know those fellows, Aunt Sarah.”
“Then,” she replied quickly, “I’ll make their acquaintance. Besides, I know their mothers, and I guess their mothers will have the last say. I’ll try it on anyway.”
“Oh, Aunt Sarah! this is not a contest between the mothers of the boys.”
“All right! Make it a contest between their aunts if you like. But the time has come when I’m going to interfere. Chick, give me the rest of those names.”
When her request had been complied with, Miss Halpert went over again with the two boys the entire list and checked up those who were surely for and those who were surely against the second sergeant, and divided the doubtful ones according to the probabilities; and Hal was still one vote short. Then Chick had an idea.
“Where you got Fred Lewis?” he asked.
“He’s against me,” replied Hal. “He works at the Barriscale, and he’s one of Ben’s right-hand men.”