“'As a compliment to our newest member,' says the chairman, smilin' philanthropic.
“When the votes was in the hat, the tellers retired to the amusement room to count up. It took a long time. I see the Conservatives and Progressives nudgin' each other and winkin' back and forth. Five minutes, then ten, then fifteen.
“And all of a sudden the biggest row bu'st loose in that amusement room that ever you heard. Rattlety—bang! Biff! Smash! The door flew open, and in rolled Bassett and Ellis, all legs and arms. Gabe and some of the rest hauled 'em apart and held 'em so, but the language them two hove at each other was enough to bring down a judgment.
“'Gentlemen! gentlemen!' hollers poor Gabe. 'What in the world? I am astounded! I—'
“'You miserable traitor!' shrieks Gaius, wavin' a fist at Dan.
“'You low-down hound!' whoops Dan back at him.
“'Silence!' bellers Gabe, poundin' thunder storms on the desk. 'Will some one explain why these maniacs are—Ah, Mr. Gale—thank goodness, YOU at least are sane!'
“Jotham walks to the front of the platform. He was holdin' the hat and a slip of paper with the result set down on it.
“'Ladies and feller members,' says he, 'there's been some surprisin' votin' done in this election. Things ain't gone as we cal'lated they would, somehow. Mr. Holway, your election wa'n't unanimous, after all.'
“The way he said it made most everybody think Gabe was elected, anyhow, and I guess Holway thought so himself, for he smiled forgivin' and says: