a silk cord is to be
handed to me and I am to pull the veil from the great civic statue with
that, as, I move on."

"Then I think that Mr. Waldemar and I will look the ground over. Could
we get you by telephone, sir, if necessary?"

"Any time up to seven o'clock."

"What do you think of the chance of their passing the bill over your
veto?" asked Waldemar.

"They are spending money as it has never been spent before," replied
Governor Arthur. "I'll admit to you, Waldemar, that if I could find any
legitimate method of calling Morrison off, I would not scruple to use
it. It is, of course, Morrison's money that we are fighting."

"Possibly--er--that, too--er--might be done," drawled Average Jones.

The governor looked at him sharply. "After the Linder affair, Mr.
Jones," said he, "I would follow you far. Call my secretary at any time,
if you want me."

"Now to look over the line of parade," said Average Jones as he and
Waldemar emerged from the hotel.

Half an hour's ride brought them to the lively suburban city of
Harrisonia, gay with flags and bunting. From the railroad station, where
the guest of honor was to be met by the old coach, to the spot where the
civic statue awaited its unveiling at his hands, was about half a mile
along Harrison Avenue, the principal street. The walk along this street
developed nothing of interest to Average Jones until they reached the
statue. Here he paused to look curiously at a number of square platforms
built out from windows in the business blocks.

"For flash-light outfits," explained Waldemar. "One of them is our
paper's."

"Flash-lights, eh?" said Average Jones. "And there'll be fireworks and
the air will be full of light and noise, under cover of which almost
anything might be done. I don't like it! Hello! What's here?"

He turned to the glass front of a prosperous-looking cigar store on the
south side of the avenue and pointed to a shattered hole in the window.
Behind it a bullet swung on a thread from the ceiling, and this agent
of disaster the proprietor had ingeniously turned to account in
advertising, by the following placard:

AIM LOWER
If you expect to shoot holes in our prices.
WE CHALLENGE OUR COMPETITION

"Not bad," approved Average Jones. "I feel a great yearning to smoke--"

They entered the store and were served by the proprietor. As he was
making change, Average Jones asked:

"When was the bombardment?"