the virtues. Bailey,
listening with a hand behind his ear, was moved to applause at frequent
intervals, and even Asaph forgot the dignity of his exalted position on
the platform and pounded the official desk in ecstasy. The only person
to appear uninterested was the nominee himself. He sat listlessly in his
seat, his eyes cast down, and his thoughts apparently far away.

Josiah Dimick seconded the captain's nomination. Then Mr. Simpson
stepped to the front and, after a wistful glance at the door, began to
speak.

"Feller citizens," he said, "it is my privilege to put in nomination for
school committee a man whose name stands for all that's good and clean
and progressive in this township. But afore I do it I'm goin' to ask
you to let me say a word or two concernin' somethin' that bears right on
this matter, and which, I believe, everyone of you ought to know. It's
somethin' that most of you don't know, and it'll be a surprise, a big
surprise. I'll be as quick as I can, and I cal'late you'll thank me when
I'm done."

He paused. The meeting looked at each other in astonishment. There was
whispering along the settees. Moderator Knowles was plainly puzzled. He
looked inquiringly at the town clerk, but Asaph was evidently quite as
much in the dark as he concerning the threatened disclosure.

"Feller Bayporters," went on Tad, "there's one thing we've all agreed
on, no matter who we've meant to vote for. That is, that a member of our
school committee should be an upright, honest man, one fit morally to
look out for our dear children. Ain't that so? Well, then, I ask you
this: Would you consider a man fit for that job who deliberately came
between a father and his child, who pizened the mind of that child
against his own parent, and when that parent come to claim that child,
first tried to buy him off and then turned him out of the house? Yes,
and offered violence to him. And done it--mark what I say--for reasons
which--which--well, we can only guess 'em, but the guess may not be so
awful bad. Is THAT the kind of man we want to honor or to look out for
our own children's schoolin'?"

Mr. Simpson undoubtedly meant to cause a sensation by his opening
remarks. He certainly did so. The stir and whispering redoubled. Asaph,
his mouth open, stared wildly down at Captain Cy. The captain rose to
his feet, then sank back again. His listlessness was gone and, paying no
attention to those about him, he gazed fixedly at Tad.

"Gentl