The Argosy, Vol. 61, No. 4 — page 73: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

JUST FOR SPITE. Half an hour before that time both candidates were on the gui vive. Hicks counted off the minutes until three came; then he received a call from Spooner. “They’ve begun counting the votes,” said Hicks’s manager. ‘“Can’t you give me some idea of how I’m coming out?’’ demanded Hicks, wiping the perspiration from his brow and disliking the cold feeling of it upon his fingers. ‘Not a word as yet,’’ was the reply. “You see, it’s so blooming uncertain. The story that you two fellows weren't speaking got around, and seems to have changed a lot of votes. We tried to hush it up, but there was nothing doing. There will be a raft of split tickets on that account.” ‘Call me again the minute there is anything new,” said Hicks. He couldn’t stay in the office. He was restless. He knew it would be half an hour before there would be another report. Suddenly an idea occurred to him. ‘Bertha reminded me again to-day to get that new ax-handle. I’ll go out and get it now to fill in this chunk of time. I can’t sit in this stuffy office.” So Hicks started out. At the hard- ware-store he suddenly saw a familiar fig- ure. Hicks dodged back. The figure was that of Pierce, and Pierce was buy- ing a new ax-handle to take the place of the one Hicks had broken for him. Pierce recognized Hicks at that -~mo- ment, and the two passed each other with a stare. With the new ax-handle in his hand, Hicks rushed back to the office and called Spooner. “T was just calling you,” cried Spoon- er. “It’s all over. The election was a tie. We've asked for a recount. We think on this we can throw out some of Pierce’s votes. Some of the foreign ele- ment in town here voted for him, and there’s generally something irregular to be found about a lot of their ballots.” Hicks was stunned. Atie! He could not understand. Yet, Spooner seemed hopeful, and said there would be a chance for him on the recount. The election was over. He could go 631 home now and hear further particulars. Grabbing up his ax-handle, he ran for the train, and caught it just as it was pulling out. Across the aisle he noticed Pierce, Staring straight ahead with an agitated look. Pierce looked over at Hicks. ‘There was just the flickering of a sarcastic smile in each face as the men made out that each carried a new ax-handle and tried to conceal it from the other. CHAPTER IV. SUSPICIONS ARE RIFE, BotH Hicks and Pierce went directly home when they reached the station, doubtless to conceal the shining new ax- handles they carried. It was strange that both had thought of the ax-handles at the same time and brought them home together. The hu- mor of the situation, after what had gone before, would have appealed to them had they been less interested in their political fates. Spooner called on Hicks a few min- utes after he reached home, and at the same time, in the house next door. Pierce was talking over the election with his backers. It was the first time that Oak Forest had ever had a tie. “Well,” said Spooner, ‘I’m encour- aged. It’s a thousand per cent better than losing altogether, and we've still got a chance, you see. I believe that most of the foreign people in the east end of town voted for Pierce. They never know how to mark a ballot, and on the recount we can throw out those votes without any trouble. I saw several of them myself marked for Pierce that could be thrown out on technicalities. We'll get busy and fix them.” ‘When will the recount take place?” asked Hicks. ‘ First thing to-morrow morning. As the election judges themselves have de- manded a recount, it can be made at once, and they will go over them again in the morning. ‘Then we shall see—” ‘‘ What we shall see,” finished Hicks. They were silent for a few minutes. “Where are the ballots now?” asked Hicks suddenly. OO ©