e celebration.

"Well, Asbury," he said, "you beat us, didn't you?"

"It wasn't a question of beating," said the other calmly. "It was only
an inquiry as to who were the people--the few or the many."

"Well, it was well done, and you've shown that you are a manager. I
confess that I haven't always thought that you were doing the wisest
thing in living down here and catering to this class of people when you
might, with your ability, to be much more to the better class."

"What do they base their claims of being better on?"

"Oh, there ain't any use discussing that. We can't get along without
you, we see that. So I, for one, have decided to work with you for
harmony."

"Harmony. Yes, that's what we want."

"If I can do anything to help you at any time, why you have only to
command me."

"I am glad to find such a friend in you. Be sure, if I ever need you,
Bingo, I'll call on you."

"And I'll be ready to serve you."

Asbury smiled when his visitor was gone. He smiled, and knitted his
brow. "I wonder what Bingo's got up his sleeve," he said. "He'll bear
watching."

It may have been pride at his triumph, it may have been gratitude at his
helpers, but Asbury went into the ensuing campaign with reckless
enthusiasm. He did the most daring things for the party's sake. Bingo,
true to his promise, was ever at his side ready to serve him. Finally,
association and immunity made danger less fearsome; the rival no longer
appeared a menace.

With the generosity born of obstacles overcome, Asbury determined to
forgive Bingo and give him a chance. He let him in on a deal, and from
that time they worked amicably together until the election came and
passed.

It was a close election and many things had had to be done, but there
were men there ready and waiting to do them. They were successful, and
then the first cry of the defeated party was, as usual, "Fraud! Fraud!"
The cry was taken up by the jealous, the disgruntled, and the virtuous.

Someone remembered how two years ago the registration books had been
stolen. It was known upon good authority that money had been freely
used. Men held up their hands in horror at the suggestion that the Negro
vote had been juggled with, as if that were a new thing. From their
pulpits ministers denounced the machine and bade their hearers rise and
throw off the yoke of a corrupt municipal government. One of those
sudden fevers of reform had taken possession of the town and threatened
to