Angus was distinctly relieved when he got John Thomas off his hands--hefelt he had had a merciful deliverance.

0n the way to city, roused by the night air, John Thomas becamecommunicative.

"Them lads in the automobile, they wanted me pretty bad, you bet," hechuckled, with the conscious pride of the much-sought-after; "but gosh,Angus fixed them. He just slammed down the cellar door on me, and sayshe, 'Not a word out of you, Jack; you've as good a right to vote theway you want to as anybody, and you'll get it, too, you bet.'"

The reformed Liberal knitted his brows. What was this simple child ofnature driving at?

John Thomas rambled on: "Tom Brown can't fool people with minds, youbet you--Angus's woman explained it all to me. She says to me, 'Don'tlet nobody run you, Jack--and vote for Hastings. You're all right,Jack--and remember Hastings is the man. Never mind why--don't botheryour head--you don't have to--but vote for Hastings.' Says she, 'Don'tlet on to Milt, or any of his folks, or Grandpa, but vote the way youwant to, and that's for Hastings!'"