Manning set his glass back deliberately on the counter. “I don’t believe it!” he said. “He’s just throwing a bluff. Charlie Moore and I went over the whole situation not more than half an hour ago; and the way we figure it Hal will come under the wire with three votes to spare.” “You countin’ on Stone an’ Hooper?” “Sure, we’re counting on them.” “That’s where you’re way off. They’re for Barry.” “It can’t be. They’re as good as promised for Hal.” “Well, I heard Stone say, myself, that him and Hooper was for Barry because they had to be.” Corporal Manning sat for a moment in grim silence. “Then I don’t know,” he said finally, “who you can depend on. Maybe Barriscale will get away with it after all. He’s a crack-a-jack at wire-pulling. Did you say there’s a bunch of the boys up at the armory?” “Yes; dozens of ’em.” “I guess I’ll go up there myself and see how the land lies.” “I wisht you would. An’ I’ll go on up to ’Cormack’s an’ see what can be done.” Chick shuffled hastily out, but Manning rose from his seat, went to the door, and called after him. “You tell Hal,” he said, when the boy came back to the step, “that he can depend absolutely on Charlie Moore and me. I don’t know whether he’s counting on us. I haven’t promised him anything; but he ought to know now on whom he can rely.” “That’s good!” replied Chick; “I’ll tell him.” And he turned again and hurried away. Manning stood for a minute in the store door gazing at the crowds in the street, and then, without going back to finish his soda, he started toward the armory. Twenty minutes later Chick rang the door-bell at the McCormack house. Hal, himself, came to the door, and, when he saw who was there, he drew the boy into the hall, and then into the library. “I know it’s perty late for me to be comin’,” began Chick apologetically; “but I got somethin’ to tell you, an’ it wouldn’t keep over night.” “About the election, I suppose?” inquired Hal. “Yes. Sergeant Barry says he’s goin’ to win out to-morrow with seven votes to spare. He told that to the bunch up to the armory to-night.” “He must be mistaken, Chick. I’ve figured it out, and according to my figures I’ll have a majority of three.” “You countin’ on Stone an’ Hooper?” “Yes; they’re friends of mine.” “Well, they’re no good. They’re for Barry. I heard Fred Stone say so himself.” “If that’s so I’ll get left. But I’ve done everything that it’s possible for any decent fellow to do to get elected, and I’ll have no regrets on that score.” It was at this juncture that Miss Sarah Halpert entered into the conversation. She had been sitting with other members of the family in an adjoining room, the connecting door of which was wide open, and evidently she had heard Hal’s remark, for now she came bustling into the library and stood facing the two boys.