"Did she agree?" asked Uncle Denny eagerly.
"No," said Jim serenely. "She's in the frame of mind that's to be expected after the life she's lived with Sara. She is afraid of everything. After the election, I shall go to her. She and I have missed enough of each other."
Dennis brought his fist down on his knee. "Then that's settled right, thank God!" he said to the dawn at large.
The next day Mrs. Ames came up to the dam. She was inconsolable that she had not been sent for, to help Pen and Mrs. Flynn's air of superiority was not soothing. Uncle Denny took to Mrs. Ames at once.
"I've done nothing but gad for Mr. Manning, lately," she said.
"How are things going?" asked Mrs. Flynn. "Has Bill Evans got all the money yet?"
"Eh? What's this?" exclaimed Uncle Denny.
"Mrs. Pen thought it would do a lot of good if we could get the farmers' wives to working against Fleckenstein," said Jane. "I've been calling on a lot of them. Bill Evans takes me in his auto."
"Who pays Bill?" asked Uncle Denny. "Ames?"
"He does not, though he honestly offered to," said Jane. "This is a woman's job. Mrs. Flynn is paying for it. And don't you tell Mr. Manning. So far he hasn't asked any questions. Oscar says he's too worried over other things."