“I told you last night they were buyin’ ’em right under our noses,” cried Mr. Tooting, in a paroxysm of indignation, “and you wouldn’t believe me.  They got over one hundred and sixty away from us.”

“It strikes me, Mr. Tooting,” said Mr. Crewe, “that it was your business to prevent that.”

There will no doubt be a discussion, when the biographer reaches this juncture, concerning the congruity of reform delegates who can be bought.  It is too knotty a point of ethics to be dwelt upon here.

“Prevent it!” echoed Mr. Tooting, and in the strong light of the righteousness of that eye reproaches failed him.  “But there’s a whole lot of ’em can be seen, right now, while the ballots are being taken.  It won’t be decided on the next ballot.”

“Mr. Tooting,” said Mr. Crewe, indubitably proving that he had the qualities of a leader—­if such proof were necessary, “go back to the convention.  I have no doubt of the outcome, but that doesn’t mean you are to relax your efforts.  Do you understand?”

“I guess I do,” replied Mr. Tooting, and was gone.  “He still has his flag up,” he whispered into the Honourable Timothy Watling’s ear, when he reached the hall.  “He’ll stand a little more yet.”

Mr. Tooting, at times, speaks a language unknown to us—­and the second ballot is going on.  And during its progress the two principal lieutenants of the People’s Champion were observed going about the hall apparently exchanging the time of day with various holders of credentials.  Mr. Jane, too, is going about the hall, and Postmaster Burrows, and Postmaster Bill Fleeting of Brampton, and the Honourable Nat Billings, and Messrs. Bascom and Botcher, and Mr. Manning, division superintendent, and the Honourable Orrin Young, railroad commissioner and candidate for reappointment—­all are embracing the opportunity to greet humble friends or to make new acquaintances.  Another hour and a quarter, with the temperature steadily rising and the carbon dioxide increasing—­and the second ballot is announced.

   The Honourable Giles Henderson of Kingston has . . 440
   The Honourable Humphrey Crewe of Leith has . . . . 336
   The Honourable Adam B. Hunt of Edmundton has . . . 255

And there are three votes besides improperly made out!

What the newspapers call indescribable excitement ensues.  The three votes improperly made out are said to be trip passes accidentally dropped into the box by the supporters of the Honourable Elisha Jane.  And add up the sum total of the votes!  Thirty-one votes more than there are credentials in the hall!  Mystery of mysteries how can it be?  The ballot, announces General Doby, after endless rapping, is a blank.  Cheers, recriminations, exultation, disgust of decent citizens, attempts by twenty men to get the eye of the president (which is too watery to see any of them), and rushes for the platform to suggest remedies or ask what is going to be done about