The preliminary formalities went forward.  Then began the roll call, and from his place in the gallery Hammond shecked off on his list name after name, as they voted yea or nay—­and President Castle watched and kept mental count.  Scattergood was not present.  The thing was even, dangerously even.  For every yea there sounded a balancing nay.  The count stood sixty-one for, sixty against ... with ten more votes to call....  With six votes to call the count was even.

“Whittaker,” called the clerk’s monotonous voice.

“Nay.”

“Robbins.”

“Nay.”

“Baker.”

“Nay.”

“Hooper.”

“Nay.”

“Bolger.”

“Nay.”

“Brock.”

“Nay.”

The six final votes had been cast—­and cast solidly against Scattergood’s bill.  Scattergood was beaten, decisively, destructively beaten.  Not only was he defeated here, but he was smashed where the damage was even more destructive—­in his prestige.  He was a discredited political leader....  Lafe Siggins could not restrain a chuckle, for Scattergood had played into his hands.  Scattergood had allowed himself to be eliminated from calculation in the state, leaving Siggins as sole, undisputed, victorious boss.  It had been a clever scheme that Scattergood had outlined to Lafe—­so clever that Lafe hadn’t seen the great good that lay in it for himself—­until days later.  He shrugged his shoulders.  It was just another case of a man unfamiliar with the game overplaying his hand.

President Castle shook hands openly with Hammond.  True, there was a demonstration of disapproval from the gallery—­but that was only the people!  It did not signify.

“We got him,” said Castle.

“But it was a close squeak.”

Castle looked grimly down on the representatives, now huddled together in whispering groups.

“I don’t often have the impulse to crow over a man,” he said, “but this Baines was so infernally cocky.  He told me I might see him at six o’clock and he’d tell me what I could do for him.  Well, I’m going to see him.”  His voice was grim and forbidding.

On the way they picked up Siggins and invited him to dinner.  The three went to the hotel, where, sitting calmly, placidly in the lobby, was Scattergood.

Castle walked directly to him.  “You were going to tell me what I could do for you—­at this hour, I believe.”

“Did say somethin’ like that.”

Castle eyed Scattergood venomously, found him a hard man to crow over.  He admitted Scattergood to be a good loser.

“I expect you’ll be asking favors for some time,” Castle said, “and not getting them.  I told you we’d lick you—­and we have.  I told you we’d smash you and drive you out of the state.  We’ll do that just as surely ...”

“Maybe so,” said Scattergood, phlegmatically.  “Maybe so.  Nobody kin tell....  Howdy, Siggins!  Lookin’ mighty jubilant about somethin’.  Glad to see it....  And Mr. Hammond seems pleased, too.  Done a good job of work, didn’t you?  Bet your boss is pleased with you, eh?”