"Well, at least Prim is tangible. He is in my line. I shall know what to do with him," answered Susan grimly. The Judge threw back his head and laughed. "Now you are coming, Susan! I want to see you dragging your wings before Prim!" "I do my best work in private, John, but I'm beginning to see light. This thing really is possible. Now let us get down to business. I have an appointment with Selah Adams. She couldn't come up here this morning. I feel anxious. Her voice sounded like that of a child being kept in after school. Shouldn't wonder if that old family sword of a father were making trouble." "We need Selah; her beauty and enthusiasm are real assets to this movement," said the Judge. "Oh, we shall keep her on the board if I have to fight a duel with Marshall Adams," she replied with a cackling laugh. The conference which followed was of a nature so private that they instinctively adopted the tones of conspirators as they turned the pages of ledgers which Briggs had been required to submit for inspection. * * * * * At two o'clock Selah Adams slipped softly out of the house, crossed the street, and entered Mrs. Walton's front door. "She says come right up to her room, Miss Selah; she's busy and can't come down," said the negro maid, rolling her eyes and stifling either a snigger or a sob by slapping her hand over her mouth. The next moment Selah stood in the door of Mrs. Walton's bedroom, staring with horrified eyes. Susan Walton, clad in only her essential underwear, lay flat upon her back on the floor. She was slowly lifting first one stockinged leg, then the other, to a right angle with her body, at the same time thrusting up one arm and then the other. She was staring at the ceiling and muttering a certain formula under her breath. "Oh! Oh! What is the matter, Mrs. Walton? Is it a fit?" cried Selah, staggering back. "No! Exercise. Just had my lunch! One--two--three! Never allow yourself to get fat, Selah!" Up shot the other foot and arm. [Illustration: "'_You may be mayor of this town before you are thirty. A fat mayoress would never do_'"] "If I'd known what was before me twenty years ago, I'd have been more careful. One--two--three! Can't do what's before me unless I reduce. Avoid oatmeal and cream, that's what does it! You may be mayor of this town before you are thirty. A fat mayoress would never do. It would suggest beer! And look at me. I'm already so fat I have to lie down to take my exercise! But Regis and I have planned enough work to keep you lean this summer," she added, sitting up apparently satisfied with her state of exhaustion. "That's what I came to see you about," said the girl, seating herself and looking down sorrowfully. "Father is dreadfully upset. He has forbidden me to mention woman suffrage in the house." "Well, don't, then; don't speak of it at all to him." "But he will never consent to my holding this trusteeship." "Aren't you twenty-one?"