"You stay here! Far's _I_ know, I'll have you making the rounds of the hock-shops to cash in your jewelry. But--" He relaxed slightly. "But when it's for reform, my dear--when it's for civilization--the League--isn't it worth _any_ sacrifice?" A spark of the old fire burned in her eyes. "Humph! Good thing _one_ of us has _got_ something to sacrifice, if anybody asked me. But here's your coffee.... Don't make such a horrid noise with it, Theodore." * * * * * At noon, he telephoned her two pieces of news. The Council, fairly swamped with hundreds of outraged voters, had promptly modified the existing ordinance, and rejected--unanimously--the Mix amendment. And Mr. Mix, who had spent three hours in conference, and in battle, had emerged victorious. "Thank Heaven, we're safe!... And it only costs thirty-nine hundred. (Five of this was Mr. Mix's self-granted commission.) I've bought a second option on every last house in town. And I'll need the car all afternoon. I've got to run all over everywhere and close these deals.... What are you going to do?" "Why," she said with a rueful glance at her check-book. "I guess I'll go down and see how soon I can get that loan back. I'm not used to--putting off tradesmen's bills, Theodore. I wasn't brought up to it." CHAPTER XVI Now after prolonged debate, and a trial of irresistible force (which was Henry's logic) against an immovable body (which was Anna's loyalty), she had finally consented to run up into the country for a week's respite from the hot weather. Before she left, however, she was first sworn to secrecy, and told of the discovery of the lurking comma, and of the plan for a militant referendum; she was properly convulsed, but a little later, when her practical instincts had had a chance to assert themselves, she inquired of Henry where there was any benefit to the Orpheum. "Not a bit," he assured her cheerfully. "Not even in the Council--" "Dearest, it doesn't make the difference of the billionth part of a counterfeit Russian rouble." She regarded him curiously. "Are you as cheerful as all that just because you're getting back at Mr. Mix? And maybe spoiling his boom for Mayor?"