“Rhode Island has polled the largest vote in its history.  The Independence Party claims the state by fifteen thousand.”  Harvey reads this with an incredulous smile.

“We can hardly hope to carry Rhode Island,” he declares frankly.

“You told me only yesterday that Fall River is going wild over the biograph pictures,” Ethel protests.

“The rural vote in Maine is believed to have caused the state to go to the Independents,” is the next message that causes Harvey to doubt his senses.

“New Jersey washes its hands of trusts.  Trueman carries Newark, Trenton, and Jersey City by overwhelming majorities.”

Thus the story of state after state is wired to Wilkes-Barre.

“Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio are claimed to have voted for the people’s candidate.  The Plutocrats ridicule the assertion, yet have no figures to quote.”

At nine o’clock the returns by election districts in the populous cities, begin to arrive.

“In 1238 districts, Greater New York, Trueman leads by a clear majority of 75,000.”  Harvey reads without comment.

Ten minutes later, this message is received:  “Total of 2200 election districts, Greater New York, Trueman’s majority 180,000.  This makes the state Independent by a safe margin of 100,000.”

Harvey Trueman feels for the first time since his nomination that he will be elected.  Joy is written on his face.

“Pennsylvania casts its vote for Trueman and co-operation.”

It is eleven-thirty.  The proverbial “landslide” of politics has occurred.  Already the townspeople of Wilkes-Barre are surging about the villa, cheering their champion.

A dozen times Harvey goes to the window to bow his acknowledgments.

Ethel is excited, almost hysterical.  With a woman’s quick perception she realizes that her husband has triumphed.

Again they stand at the elbow of the telegraph operator who is receiving the messages.

“Chicago—­” then there was a break.

“Trueman, have Trueman come to the instrument.  Answer.  Is Trueman at your elbow?” This message is sent by the operator at headquarters.  He has indicated that it is a private message and only the word Chicago is written.

“What’s the matter?” asks Trueman, who has noticed the pause.

“It’s all right, sir; the operator want’s you to get this message immediately.”  There is another pause.

  CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,
  INDEPENDENCE PARTY HEADQUARTERS.

To HARVEY TRUEMAN, Greeting: 

“You are elected President of the United States by popular acclamation of forty States.  I congratulate you.  Keep your faith with the people; place them always above the dollar; remember that your office was bought by the blood of patriots, as true as the founders of the Republic; that you owe it to the majority to keep their rights inviolate.  I go to inform the Committee of Forty that the Revolution of Reason is victorious.

WILLIAM NEVINS.”