So, in due course, the return of the election was forwarded through regimental headquarters to the Adjutant-General, the several headquarters through which it passed endorsing thereon their approval. It was as follows: “_To the Adjutant-General of Pennsylvania_: “SIR: “At an election held on the fifth day of October, A. D. 1915, for First Lieutenant of Company E, ----th Infantry, N. G. P., the following named person was duly elected, to wit: HALPERT MCCORMACK of Benson County; and I hereby certify that the company now bears upon its rolls the names of sixty-seven bona-fide enlisted men, that at this election sixty-seven men were paraded in State uniform, that the candidate elected received thirty-four votes, and that he has been duly notified by me of his election. Witness my hand this seventh day of October, A. D. 1915. “MOWBRAY HUNTINGTON, _Major_, _Conducting Election_.” “Attest, RICHARD L. MANNING, _Clerk of Election_.” This return was accompanied by McCormack’s acceptance as follows: “_To the Adjutant-General_, _State of Pennsylvania_: _Through Intermediate Headquarters_. “SIR: “I have the honor to advise you that I hereby accept the election to the office of First Lieutenant of Company E, ----th Regiment Infantry, N. G. P. “Very respectfully, HALPERT MCCORMACK, _Second Sergeant Company E_, Fairweather, Pa.” But there was no positive assurance that Hal would receive his commission. He still had Ben Barriscale to deal with, and Barriscale had threatened to force him out of the Guard. The first step in such a movement would of course be to attempt to block the confirmation of McCormack’s election before the military board authorized by law to deny a commission to elected but unapproved officers. That the defeated candidate would not hesitate to take action of this kind, if he could be assured of any fair prospect of success, every one knew. He was disappointed, angry, and bitter beyond belief over his defeat. He felt that he had been betrayed by some of those whose support he had a right to receive; that, as he said, they had given him “the double cross,” and that it was their defection that had led to his defeat. He did not know, or perhaps could not have understood if he had known, that it was his own injudicious and threatening outburst on the day of election that caused the changing of enough ballots to precipitate the disaster to his cause. And he did not know, and was destined never to know, about the midnight visit of Chick Dalloway with Fred Lewis, nor why it was that McCormack carried the election by a majority of just one vote.