The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1904-03-18

Wait" said he, speaking like man
in trance. wait. Pm here to vote"
That's what we're all here for" |
responded, "and the sooner the better"
Quiet was restored, and the voting
began, the ballots being dropped into n
hat. When all had been collected, the
tellers took them to a little table in the
corner and proceeded TO make the
count. ] glanced across at Donaldson
and saw instantly that he had encoun-
tered most unpleasant surprise. In
great uneasineSs l turned to Carl. He
was gnawing his fingers. Bum sat
rigid in chair, his head thrust for
ward, his eyes staring.
l began TO feel dire isolation These
men seemed to know something Of
which | was ignorant. The perspira-
ton started from my face. would
have given much for gift of prophecy
to anticipate the events of the next
FEW minutes. and this wish naturally
suggested Donald. took from my
pocket the envelope which contained
his prediction and turned it nervously
in my fingers. Curiosity overcame me-
l broke the seal and read, with great
surprise, this line:
"The Harrington ticket will win by
300 majority"
Whlle l was vainly trying to make
this result fit the mathematical posi-
bilities, l heard the tcllcrs rise from
their table. Donaldson handed slip
of paper to the secretary Of the COM
pany, who read as follows:
A ho
has received the preferences of the
holders of $50 shares. No. ticket
has received the preferences Of the
holders of 1850 shares. No. 1 ticket is
therefore elected"
Here" cried Kelvin. "There's some
mistake about this. Wen verify those
ballots"
l expected reply from Donaldson,
but he had crossed to the end of the
table where Carl was sitting. fol-
lowed and touched him on the shoul-
der
'How the dickens did we get such
result as that" 1 asked. "Thorn.
dyke must have voted for us and -
against u.s."
"Thorndyke voted for u.s." said DON
aldson, land Bum voted for us. This
man voted against u.s."
Carl" l exclaimed. "Impossiblew
MY son tried to warn me of this
long ago." said Donaldson, "and
would not hear him."
ut Is matter OF business" said
Carl harshly. 'I am stockholder of
this company. l vote as my interest
dictates"
"Thorndyke," cried Donaldson, seiz-
ing the mans arm as he was passing,
did my son know how you were goips
to vote?
well, to be frank with you" replied
Thorndyke, ''your son is responsible
for 1T. | had thought that l saw my
interest clear to vote with the other
party, but at late hour last even
Ing your son came to my house with
Mr.. Bum, and l then learned what an
Internally crooked game this man Kel-
win has been playing. Between US,
gentlemen, and to use the slang of the
day, couldn't stand for It,"
WHY didn't you lift the weight
from our minds by telling us this? ?"
| demanded
Young Mr.. Donaldson desired that
Should say nothing" was the reply,
"and seemed to see his point"
For the first time in his life Thorn
dyke had kept secret.
Don't you understands" said DON
aldson. archer, Archer! He's the
man whom my son was fighting
against. If Bum had stayed away,
ho
we'd have lost the election just the
same, supposing that Thorndyke had
not changed his mind. But with Bum
here to vote for us and Thorndyke
supposedly safe for the Kelvin party,
Archer's vote would turn the scale,
and IL could be turned IN no other ,oay
Kelvin would force him to cast 1t.
Donald has foreseen this long time
1t was the only way to unmask this
man completely"
"Unmask, eh?" cried Carl. "Well, I'll
do little unmasI;ing. Kelvin, where's
that man Gillespie"
come away" growled Kelvin.
you're making fool of yourself. It's
all over"
mo; not quite" said Carl. "Jim
Bum, answer me this: Who stole that
money? Who got the $4O,OOO? You
know. Is this the manT
He struck Donaldson roughly on the
shoulder.
mo-" answered Bum almost in a
whisper. you'll get no lies from me, /
am the man."
Carts hands dropped to his sides.
"Are you-dre you such ID fool
as that? Go to states prison, then, IL
you want to and die in a cage like a
rat"
Bum shrank away as If he had re-
ceived blow I'm the face, while Archer
turned on his heel and walked out Of
the room, followed by Kelvin.
HE has played the game too hard