"They're goin' around in bunches of twos, or mebbe blocks o' five, seein' all the sights; an' you know women ain't reasonable, an' you can't reason with them. They're goin' to find a pile o' things they won't like in this little burg o' ours, all right, all right. An' they'll want to have things changed right off. I want to see things changed m'self. I'd like to, but them things take time, an' that's what women won't understand. "Jimminee, I've heard of towns all messed up and candidates ruined just because the women got wrought up over tenement-house an' fire laws an' truck like that. Yes sir, they're out seein' Whitewater this minut, or will be if you can't divert their minds. Call 'em off, George, if you can. Get 'em fussy about sumpen else." "Why, what have I to do with it?" George inquired. "Well, I didn't know but what you might have sumpen," said Mr. Doolittle mildly. "It's that young lady that works here, Miss Sheridan, an' your wife what's organizin' it. Planning it all out to Thorne's at lunch they was, an' Heally was sittin' at the next table and beats it to me. You can see for yerself what a hell of a mess they'll make!" CHAPTER IX. BY ALICE DUER MILLER It was a relief to both men when at this point the door of the office opened and Martin Jaffry entered. Not since the unfortunate anti-suffrage statement of George's had Uncle Martin dropped in like this. George, looking at him with that first swift glance that often predetermines a whole interview, made up his mind that bygones were to be bygones. He greeted his uncle with the warmest cordiality. "Well, George," said Uncle Martin, "how are things going?" "I'm going to be elected, if that's what you mean," answered George. Doolittle gave a snort. "Indeed, are ye?" said he. "As a friend and well-wisher, I'm sure I'm delighted to hear the news." "Do I understand that you have your doubts, Mr. Doolittle?" Jaffry inquired mildly. "There's two things we need and need badly, Mr. Jaffry," said Doolittle. "One's money--" "A small campaign contribution would not be rejected?" "But there's something we need more than money--and God knows I never expected to say them words--and that's common sense." "Good," said Uncle Martin, "I have plenty of that, too!" "Then for the love of Mike pass some of it on to this precious nephew of yours." "What seems to be the matter?" "It's them women," said Doolittle. Uncle Martin turned inquiringly to George: "The tender flowers?" he suggested. "Look here, Uncle Martin," said George, who had had a good deal of this sort of thing to bear, "I don't understand you. Do you believe in woman suffrage?" Uncle Martin contemplated a new crumpling of his long-suffering cap before he answered. "Yes and no, George. I believe in it in the same way that I believe in old age and death. I can't avoid them by denying their existence." "But you fight against them, and put them off as long as you can."