Argosy, Vol. 85, No. 3 — page 65: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

AMERICANS pointed speaker pro tem., by acclama- tion!” he cried. — There was no need of any seconding. One might have fancied that, of all wishes, that nearest the hearts of “the gathering was to have the excellent and esteemed Senor Hemmett for speaker pro tem. The speaker smiled acidly. ‘There is much business to be trans- acted this morning, and that in a very short time!” he stated. “It wiH be transacted in an informal manner, and, once a matter of record, it will stick! The first matter concerns the recent elec- tions. We have the confession of Altara, lately’ president, that fraud governed these elections from one end of Guanama to the other. Does any one wish to dispute this statement?” Gravelike silence brooded over the senate chamber for a long minute. “Then we’ll assume that the elections were fraudulent, and if any one is contemplating disputing it later on, I may say that, up to the time I entered this chamber, one hundred and nineteen election officials had been arrested since daylight, and, with the help of the military, we hope to gather in the whole seven hundred and something before night.” - A gasp ran through the assembly. “Therefore, the first piece of informal business before the senate this morning will be to declare the late elections null and void—to declare Senor Ferrata president for another full term—and to declare illegal the election of all other officials of every sort whatsoever who came into office for the first time at the recent elections!” “Will that stay put on a vote of this kind?” Girton asked softly. “That ‘Il stay put!” Mr. Hemmett assured him. ‘‘ The two best typists in Guanama are sitting right in the west retiring rooms with microphone receivers on their ears and reducing this stuff to print as it goes along. Before we leave this room the great seal of Guanama will have been stuck on it, Stephen, along AFTER ALL. 407 with the signatures of everybody from Ferrata down!”’ Matora was on his feet again. ‘“Senores! Let this, too, be carried by acclamation!” he cried. A roar of assent arose. “Youre a _ volatile, obliging lot!” Hemmett assured them. ‘“ Fifty-one of you have just voted yourselves out of office. Will you kindly rise and walk straight out of that door? Your prede- cessors are waiting to resume their seats!” Followed five minutes of wildest con- fusion. The fifty-one, having gazed at one another, and, doubtless, reviewed the known events of the last few hours, moved toward the door—and through the en- trance on the other side of Guanama’s senate chamber entered a long file of smiling, well-dressed, unduly important brown gentlemen, mustered in by Mar- ado, late secretary of state. This gathering together of deposed senators had been -the hysterical Marado’s job, and he had done it well. Nay, he had done more, for when the room began to calm down a little he was at Hemmett’s side with a bundle of papers,’ waving his hands and speaking: ‘““Observe, my dear Senor Hemmett! How I have labored! As I ate I dictated! As I rode about, gathering these gentle- men, I dictated! And now? As I enter the capitol, my splendid Zanape hands me these—ready! How I have worked for my beloved country!” ‘You certainly have, old scout!” Ste- phen Girton agreed as he gazed at the papers over Hemmett’s shoulder. ‘“‘ They are in good legal form, too.” ‘“They’re ready for action now, before somebody dynamites the senate cham- ber!” Mr. Hemmett smiled _ grimly. ‘* Where’s Ferrata?” ‘‘ Coming as soon as he has finished signing the official complaints demanded by the federal prison, that the multitude may be legally held, senor,” beamed Marado. Hemmett rose again. Silence came suddenly. MICLOOOK C©