Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work

by L. Frank Baum

  CHAPTER XXI

  THE "RETURNS" FROM FAIRVIEW

  Election day dawned sunny and bright; but there was a chill in the airthat betokened the approach of winter.

  Uncle John had suggested serving coffee to the voters at the differentpolling places, and Kenneth had therefore arranged for a booth at eachplace, where excellent coffee was served free all day long. These boothswere decorated with Forbes banners and attracted a great deal ofcomment, as the idea was a distinct innovation in this district.

  "You wouldn't catch Hopkins giving anything away," remarked one farmerto another. "'Rast is too close-fisted."

  "Why, as fer that," was the reply, "the thing is done to catch votes.You know that as well as I do."

  "S'pose it is," said the first speaker. "I'd ruther my vote was caughtby a cup of hot coffee on a cold day, than by nothin' at all. If we'vegot to bite anyhow, why not take a hook that's baited?"

  Patsy and Beth made the rounds of the polling places in an automobilecovered with flags and bunting, and wherever they appeared they weregreeted with cordial cheers.

  Mr. Hopkins was noticeable by his absence, and this was due not so muchto his cowardice as to an unfortunate accident.

  Neither Squiers nor Hopkins knew just how their secret had leaked out,for Patsy's presence in the dentist's office had not been disclosed; soeach one suspected the other of culpable foolishness if not downrightrascality. After Uncle John's visit Erastus stormed over to Squiers'soffice and found his accomplice boiling with indignation at having beentrapped in a criminal undertaking.

  As the two men angrily faced each other they could not think of anygentle words to say, and Dr. Squiers became so excited by the other'sreproaches that he indulged in careless gestures. One of these gesturesbumped against the Honorable Erastus's right eye with such force thatthe eye was badly injured.

  The candidate for re-election, therefore, wakened on election morningwith the damaged optic swollen shut and sadly discolored. Realizing thatthis unfortunate condition would not win votes, Mr. Hopkins remained athome all day and nagged his long-suffering spouse, whose tongue was heronly defence.

  The Representative had promptly telephoned to Marshall at Fairviewtelling him not to vote the men as arranged. He was not especiallycharmed with the manager's brief reply:

  "Don't be alarmed. We're not _all_ fools!"

  "I guess, 'Rast," remarked Mary Hopkins, looking at her damaged andirritable husband with a blending of curiosity and contempt, "thatyou're 'bout at the end of your rope."

  "You wait," said Erastus, grimly. "This thing ain't over yet."

  The day passed very quietly and without any especial incident. A fullvote was polled, and by sundown the fate of the candidates had beendecided. But the counting seemed to progress slowly and the groupassembled around the telephone in Kenneth's library thought the returnswould never arrive.

  The Republican Committee had given Mr. Forbes a table showing what thevote of each precinct should be, according to their canvass.

  The first report was from Elmwood, and showed a gain of seventeen overthe estimate. Patsy was delighted, for she had worked hard in Elmwood,and this proved that her efforts had been successful. Then came a reportfrom Longville, in Jefferson County. It showed a gain of forty-threevotes for Hopkins, and a consequent loss for Forbes. This was astartling surprise, and the next advice from a country precinct inWashington County showed another gain of twelve for Hopkins.

  The little group of workers looked at one another with inquiring eyes,and Patsy could hardly refrain from crying.

  The butler announced dinner, but only Louise and Mr. Watson could eatanything. The others were too intent on learning their fate and couldnot leave the telephone.

  It seemed queer that the precincts furthest away should be first torespond, but so it was. Jefferson County returns began to come inrapidly, and were received in dismal silence. Hopkins gained four here,seven there, and twenty-two in another precinct.

  "It looks," said Kenneth, quietly, "like a landslide for Hopkins, and Iwonder how our Committee was so badly informed."

  "You see," said Uncle John, "voters won't usually tell the truth abouthow they've decided to vote. Lots of them tell both sides they're goingto vote their way. And people change their minds at the last minute,too. You can't do much more than average the thing by means of acanvass."

  By nine o'clock, complete returns from the part of Jefferson Countyincluded in the Eighth District showed a net gain of one hundred andeight for Hopkins--a lead that it seemed impossible to overcome.Washington County was not so bad. Incomplete returns indicated a slightgain for Hopkins, but not more than a dozen votes altogether.

  "Everything now depends upon Dupree and Fairview," announced Kenneth,"but I can't get any connection with them yet. We won in Elmwood,anyhow, and Hopkins isn't ahead more than a hundred and sixty as thething stands now. Cheer up, girls. A defeat won't hurt us much, forwe've all made a good fight. Better get to bed and sleep, for you'retired out. We'll know all about everything in the morning."

  But they would not move. Disappointment unnerved them more than victorywould have done. They resolved to wait until the last returns were in.

  "Telephone, sir," said Tom Gates.

  Kenneth picked up the receiver.

  "Here's Dupree," he said. "Our majority over Hopkins is two hundred andeleven. Let's see, that's a gain of seventy-four votes, my dears."

  "Hooray!" cried Patsy, delightedly. "I don't care a rap now, whathappens. Old Hopkins won't have much to crow over if--"

  "Wait a minute," said Kenneth. "Here's Fairview, at last!"

  They held their breaths and watched his face. Kenneth flushed red as heheld the receiver to his ear, and then grew white. He turned around tothe expectant group and Beth knew from the sparkle in his eyes what hadhappened.

  "Fairview's six precincts give us six hundred and forty-one majority,"announced the boy, in an awed tone. "That's a gain of nearly fourhundred!"

  They gazed at him in silent wonder. Then Uncle John rose slowly and tookthe boy's hand.

  "That means we've won--and won in a walk," said the little man."Kenneth, we congratulate you."

  Patsy's face was buried in her handkerchief, and Beth's great eyes werebright with unshed tears. But Louise laughed her soft, musical laugh andremarked:

  "Why, I knew all the time we would win. We had the better candidate, yousee."

  "And the best campaign managers," added Uncle John, with a proud smile.

  "That may be true," admitted Beth. "But the thing that really won thefight was Patsy's sore tooth."

  CHAPTER XXII

  THE AWAKENING

  James and Mr. Burke met the great specialist in brain diseases at thenoon train on Wednesday and drove him to Elmhurst.

  Dr. Hoyt was a handsome, gray-haired man, with kindly eyes and adistinguished manner. When he was ushered into the library the youngladies were attracted by the physician at once, and from the firstglance were inspired by confidence in his powers. Yet Dr. Hoyt spokerather doubtfully of the case in hand.

  "These cases are not so rare as you might suppose," he said; "yet no twoof them are exactly alike. Usually the recovery is slow and tedious; butrecovery is not always assured. In some instances, however, the memoryis absolutely restored, and from what Mr. Burke has explained to me ofLucy Rogers's history this is what we may expect now. Or else, we musttrust to time or an accident to awaken her dormant mental faculties. Thecase is so interesting that I should like, with your permission, to makean experiment which can result in no harm if it does not succeed."

  "We put the matter entirely in your hands, sir," said Uncle John. "Actas you think best."

  "I thank you," replied Dr. Hoyt, bowing. Then he turned to the girls."Which of you young ladies has won the friendship of Lucy Rogers?" heasked.

  Louise answered that she and Eliza Parsons had become good friends.

  "Will you assist me?" asked the physician.

  "Willingly, sir."

 
; "I wish to send the girl into a deep sleep, to render her unconsciouswithout her suspecting my intention, or realizing the fact. Can yousuggest a way to do this?"

  Louise tried to think.

  "What means will you employ, sir?" she asked.

  "There are many ways to accomplish this. I prefer to administer apowerful sleeping potion. Have you any confectionery or bon-bons athand?"

  "Yes, indeed. I have just received a fresh box of bon-bons from NewYork. But I'm not sure I can induce Eliza to eat candy."

  "Then let us prepare the potion in various ways. But you must becareful, Miss Merrick, not to make a mistake and take the doseyourself."

  Louise laughed.

  "I'll be careful, sir," she promised.

  The two then retired to perfect their plan, and in an hour everyarrangement was complete.

  Louise went to her room, donned a wrapper, and bandaged her head. Thenshe summoned Martha and asked the housekeeper to send Eliza Parsons tosit with her in the darkened room, as she was suffering from a headache.

  The maid came at once, to all appearances, as happy and careless asever. After expressing her sympathy she asked what she could do.

  "Just sit down and keep me company, dear," replied Louise. "I'm not verybad, but I'm restless and can't sleep, and I want you to talk to me andamuse me."

  Eliza laughed.

  "That is easy, as far as talking is concerned," she said. "But to amuseyou, Miss Louise, may be more difficult."

  But the girls found a topic of conversation in the election, in whichEliza was much interested, and they chatted together for an hour or sobefore Louise made any move to consummate her plot.

  "I hope my foolish reports to Mr. Hopkins did no harm to Mr. Forbes,"Eliza was saying. "I really had little to tell him of your conversationor movements."

  "You did no harm at all, for Mr. Forbes was elected," replied Louise.Then she said, carelessly:

  "Martha has sent me this pitcher of lemonade, and I don't care for it.Won't you drink a glass, Eliza?"

  "No, thank you," she replied, shaking her head. "I never drinklemonade."

  "Then have one of these sandwiches?"

  "I'm not hungry, Miss Louise."

  Louise sighed. Both the lemonade and the sandwiches had been "dosed" byDr. Hoyt. Then she picked up the box of bon-bons that was beside her.

  "But you will eat some candy, dear. Every girl likes candy."

  "I don't seem to care for it," said Eliza carelessly.

  "Just one piece, to please me," coaxed Louise, and selected a piece fromthe box with dainty care. "Here, my dear; you'll find this sort verynice."

  Eliza hesitated, but finally reached out her hand and took the bon-bon.Louise lay back in her chair and closed her eyes, fearing theireagerness might betray her. When after a time she opened them againEliza was slowly rocking back and forth and chewing the confection.

  Dr. Hoyt's first suggestion had been best. The potion had been preparedin several ways to tempt Eliza, but the candy had been the effectualbait.

  Louise felt a glow of triumph, but managed to continue the conversation,relating in an amusing way the anxiety of the Elmhurst folks when thefirst returns seemed to indicate the election of Hopkins.

  Eliza laughed once or twice, her head resting upon the back of herchair. Then the words of Louise began to sound dreamy and indistinct inher ears. The chair rocked with less regularity; soon it came to a stop,and Eliza was peacefully sleeping in its ample depths.

  Louise now rose softly and rang her bell. Footsteps approached, and aknock came upon the door. She admitted Dr. Hoyt, Mr. Burke, and twoservants.

  The physician approached the sleeping girl and gently lifted the lids ofher eyes. Then he nodded with satisfaction.

  "There was no suspicion on her part? She made no struggle--no attempt toevade unconsciousness?" he asked.

  "None at all, sir," replied Louise. "She ate the bon-bon, and was asleepbefore she realized it."

  "Excellent!" said the doctor. "We will now place her in her own room,upon her bed, while Mr. Burke and I drive over to her former home tocomplete our arrangements."

  "Won't she waken?" asked Louise.

  "Not until tomorrow morning, and when she does I hope for a completerestoration of her memory."

  Beth went with Dr. Hoyt to the Rogers farm, because she knew Mrs.Rogers. It was necessary to break the news to the poor, blind womangently, but Beth's natural tact stood her in good stead. She related thestory of the search for Lucy, the discovery that one of the maids atElmhurst resembled the missing girl, and the detective's conclusion thatEliza Parsons was none other than Lucy Rogers, who was suffering from apeculiar mental aberration and had forgotten every detail of her formerlife.

  Mrs. Rogers followed the tale with intelligent understanding, and herjoy at the discovery of her wandering child was only tempered by thefear that Lucy would never know her mother again or be content to remainin her humble home.

  Then Dr. Hoyt took up the conversation and related the many instances ofcomplete recovery that had come under his observation.

  "I am adopting heroic methods in this case," said he, "but I havereasonable hopes of their success. Your child doubtless became mentallyconfused while under this roof. How many hours she wandered, we do notknow, but it could not have been long before she lay down by theroadside and fell asleep. When she awakened her mind was a blank asregards her identity and former history. Now, in order to effect arecovery, I have reversed these experiences with her. She is at presentplunged into a deep sleep, under the influence of narcotics that haverendered her brain absolutely inactive. It is really a state of coma,and I wish her to waken in this house, amid the scenes with which shewas formerly familiar. By this means I hope to induce her mentalfaculties to resume their normal functions."

  Mrs. Rogers accepted this proposal with calmness and a confidence in thephysician that was admirable. Old Will trembled with nervous excitement,and was so "flustered" by the importance of the experiment that Dr. Hoytdecided to give him a quieting potion.

  Lucy's room was prepared in the exact manner in which she had left it,and presently the visitors drove back to Elmhurst.

  In the evening the doctor made the journey a second time, accompanyingthe unconscious form of Lucy, which was attended by a maid Louise hadsent with her.

  The girl was undressed and put to bed in her own room, and then everyoneexcept Dr. Hoyt returned to Elmhurst.

  The physician sat late in conversation with the blind woman and oldWill, and when they retired for the night he lay down upon a lounge inthe little living-room. The question of fees or of comfort was whollyignored by the specialist at the moment. His sole interest was in hisremarkable case.

  Mrs. Rogers rose at daylight and with old Will's assistance prepared thebreakfast. The little table was set in the humble living-room, and thefragrant odor of coffee pervaded the house. Dr. Hoyt drank a cup andthen stepped out upon the little porch, taking a position of observationby the window.

  "All right, Nell," muttered old Will, his knees knocking together, inspite of himself.

  Mrs. Rogers rose quietly and walked to the foot of the stairs.

  "Lucy! Lucy!" she called.

  "Yes!" came a faint reply.

  "Breakfast is ready!"

  Then the two old people sat in suppressed excitement for what seemed tothem an age. But the physician, calmly stationed at the window, knew itwas not very long.

  Presently a light step sounded upon the stairs and Lucy came into theroom.

  "Good morning, mother dear!" she said, a new, sweet tenderness in hervoice. And then she knelt and kissed the woman upon her brow.

  The doctor looked at his watch.

  "I must be going," he muttered, turning away. "There's time for me tocatch the early train."

  THE END

 

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