le
will do likewise similar."

"No doubt that's what it'll do in time," assented the landlord.

"I beg to offer an amendment to my own motion," continued the oily
Budge; "when the boom strikes this town, as it is bound soon to do,
and it rivals in size the famous city on the other side of the
Atlantic, there should be something to distinguish the two. We have no
wish to rob any other place of the honors it has taken centuries to
gain; so, while we reserve the principal name, I propose that we
distinguish it from the old city by prefixing the word 'New.'"

"You mean that this town shall be 'New Constantinople?'" was the
inquiring remark of the landlord.

"Precisely; and I now make the motion that that be our name."

There were seventeen persons present and it looked as if a decision
was inevitable. The landlord was shrewd. His first act was to invite
all to drink at his expense, after which he made each pledge himself
to abide by the decision, whatever it might be. These preliminaries
being arranged, a show of hands was called for. The vote was eight for
and eight against the new name.

"That's a tie," commented the landlord from behind his immense beard;
"and therefore the question ain't settled."

"It's easy 'nough to settle it," said Ike Hoe.

"How?"

"Take another vote."

"I don't see how that'll do it, onless some one changes his mind; but
again, gentlemen: all who favor the new name, raise their right
hands."

Eight horny palms were elevated in air, while the same number were
displayed in the negative. The landlord looked troubled.

"We must keep it up till some one weakens," observed Wade Ruggles.

The host scanned the earnest faces in front of him.

"Which of you gentlemen will promise to weaken if we keep this thing
up for half the night?"

"I'll stay here a week," was the reply of Vose Adams, while the
general nodding of heads showed that he echoed the sentiments of the
others. The landlord met the crisis with becoming dignity.

"Gentlemen, when I was a member of Congress, all questions that was
tied was settled by the presiding officer casting the deciding vote,
and which as aforesaid we don't lay any claim to being higher than
Congress, I therefore, by virtue of the aforesaid right vested in me,
cast my vote in favor of this city being called New Constantinople,
which the same is on me again; gentlemen, what will you have?"

It was a coup d'etat, the victory being clinched before the opp