Them new members had divided even, and the ballots stood Bassett thirteen and Ellis thirteen.

The tie was still on and the election was put off for another week.
"In that week, surprisin' as it may seem, two more billiard-roomers seen a light and jined with us.

However, one was for Bassett and t'other for Ellis, so the deadlock wa'n't broken.

Jotham had only a couple of his reg'lars left, and I swan to man if THEY didn't catch the disease inside of the follerin' fortni't and hand in their names.

The 'Billiard, Pool, and Sipio Saloon,' from bein' the liveliest place in town, was now the deadest.