“Then,” she replied quickly, “I’ll make their acquaintance. Besides, I know their mothers, and I guess their mothers will have the last say. I’ll try it on anyway.” “Oh, Aunt Sarah! this is not a contest between the mothers of the boys.” “All right! Make it a contest between their aunts if you like. But the time has come when I’m going to interfere. Chick, give me the rest of those names.” When her request had been complied with, Miss Halpert went over again with the two boys the entire list and checked up those who were surely for and those who were surely against the second sergeant, and divided the doubtful ones according to the probabilities; and Hal was still one vote short. Then Chick had an idea. “Where you got Fred Lewis?” he asked. “He’s against me,” replied Hal. “He works at the Barriscale, and he’s one of Ben’s right-hand men.” Chick sat for a moment in contemplative silence. “I shouldn’t wonder ’at I’ve got a pull with him,” he said finally. “You’ll have to have a pretty big pull to get him away from Ben,” replied Hal incredulously. “What do you mean pull, anyway?” “Oh, I can’t tell you that. It’s somethin’ that him an’ me knows about. It’s a secret. I’m goin’ to see him anyway.” He rose from his chair, cap in hand, and faced toward the door. “Why, Chick!” exclaimed Hal, “you can’t see him to-night. It’s after half-past ten. He’ll be in bed.” “Let the boy alone!” broke in Miss Halpert, sharply. “He knows what he’s about, and you don’t. It’s never too late to get a vote.” So Chick went out into the night and bent his steps toward the home of Alfred Lewis, admirer of a girl by the name of Rachael. He, himself, had no clear idea of what he was going to do or how he was going to do it. He simply felt that he must find his man if possible, and settle the question of his vote. Doubtless it was too late in the evening to see him, as Sergeant McCormack had said; but at least it would do no harm to try. His way lay across the city, there was no street-car line reaching in that direction, and it was necessary for him to walk.