Patch and Swinger to withdraw and cast those twenty-eight votes into the general caldron.
[Illustration: At the Door of the Caucus Room] On the touch of three, and while the fourth roll-call was in progress, the first of Senator Hanway's prepared messages were received and signed for at the caucus door.

Ten minutes later, and something like forty more were given entrance.

During the sixth roll-call sixty messages came in, and a rickety little representative, with a beard like a goat and terror tugging at his heart, arose and changed his vote to Mr.Frost.

The rickety little man had been for Mr.Hawke, and this sudden turning of his coat provoked a tempest of cheers from the Frosts and maledictions from the Hawkes.

A dozen men of both factions crowded about the little rickety man, some to hold him for Mr.Frost and others to drag him back to Mr.Hawke.The rickety little man was well-nigh torn in two.