"I am not at liberty to give you the details.But I may say the exposure of the plot occurred through Mr.Hopkins's own carelessness.I've seen lots of crookedb politicians，Mr.Marshall，but this man is too reckless and foolish ever to be a success.He deserves to be defeated and he will be."The manager was thoughtful.
"This is all news to me，"he declared."I needed these extra men to help me ？ll a contract on time，and so employed them.I had no idea Hopkins and Squiers would try to vote them tomorrow."This was a palpablea falsehood，but Mr.Burke acceptedthe lame excuse without question.
"You are a valuable man in this community，Mr.Marshall，and Mr.Forbes seemed to think the Hopkins people were trying to get you into trouble.Of course it would have caused trouble had these men voted.""Of course，Mr.Burke.I'm much obliged to Mr.Forbesfor warning me.""You'll ？nd the next Representative a very agreeable man to get along with，Mr.Marshall.Good day，sir.""Good day，Mr.Burke."When the detective had gone Mr.Marshall sat i n a brown studyb for a few moments.Then he summoned his superintendentc and said：
"Please ask the men to assemble in the yard before they go home.I want to have a word with them."The request came just in time，for the men were alreadybeginning to stream out of the mill.They waited good—naturedly，however，grouping themselves in the big yard.
Then Marshall mounted a lumber pile and addressed them brie？y.
"Boys，"he said，"I told you all，a week or so ago，I'dlike you to vote for Hopkins for Representative，as I believed his election would result in more work for the mill and better wages for the employees.But I've been watching matters pretty closely，and I've changed my mind.Forbes is a coming mana，and he'll do more for us all than Hopkins could.So every man who is entitled to vote will please me best by voting for Kenneth Forbes."There was a cheer at this，and when it subsided，the manager continued：
"Of course none of the new men，who were not properly registered，have a right to vote at this election，and I command them to keep away from the polls.Anyone who attempts to vote illegally will be promptly arrested."This caused more cheering，for the workmen hadsuspected that the new hands would be voted illegally，and they were relieved to ？nd that it was a "square deal all 'round，"as one of them remarked with satisfaction.
Meantime，Uncle John was having a "barrel of fun"withMr.Hopkins.
The little millionaire，although a man of simple and unobtrusiveb ways，was a shrewd judge of human nature.Moreover he had acquired a fund of experience in dealing withall sorts of people，and was delighted to meet Mr.Hopkins under the present circumstances.
So he drove over to Elmwood and was fortunate to find Mr.Hopkins in his "office"at home where he was busily engaged instructing his "workers"in their duties at the polls.
At sight of Mr.Merrick，whom he knew by this timeto be a friend of Kenneth Forbes，staying at Elmhurst，the politician scented some pending difficulty，or at least an argument，and was suf？ciently interested to dismiss his men without delay.
"Ah，this is Mr.Merrick，I believe，"began Mr.Hopkins，suavely."What can I do for you，sir？""Considerable，if you're disposed，"answered the other."For one thing I'd like to hire Eliza Parsons away from you.""Eliza Parsons！"gasped the Representative.
"Yes，your spy.Election's about over and you won't need her any longer，will you？""Sir，do you mean to insult me？"asked the Honorable Erastus，indignantly.
"By no means.I thought you were through with the girl，"said Uncle John with a chuckle.
Mr.Hopkins was distinctly relieved.With a full recollection of his wicked schemes in his mind，he had feared some more important attack than this；so he assumed a virtuous look，and replied：
"Sir，you wrong me.Eliza Parsons was no spy of mine.