约翰叔叔一行人在到达的第二天一大早便展开了他们的协助工作。他带着帕齐去了村子里的银行及报社，沃尔森带着露易丝去拜访附近的农民，贝丝留在家里为报社撰写一些文章。他们的“工作”会进展顺利吗？
At an early breakfast next morning Patsy announced the program for the day.
"Uncle John and I will drive over to the village，"shesaid，"and perhaps we'll be gone all day.Don't worry if we're not back for luncheon.Louise and Mr.Watson are going in the phaetona to visit some of the near—by farmers.Take one road，dear，and follow it straight along，as far as it keeps within our legislative district，and visit every farm—house on the way.""The farmers will all be busy in the ？elds，"said Kenneth."Louise doesn't care about the farmers，"retorted Patsy.
"She's going to talk to their wives.""Wives don't vote，Patsy.""They tell their husbands how to vote，though，"declared Louise，with a laugh."Let me win the women and I'll win the men.""What am I to do？"asked Beth.
"You're to stay at home and write several articles for the newspapers.There are seven important papers in our district，and five of them are Republican.Make a strong argument，Beth.You're our publicity department.Also get up copy for some hand—hills and circular letters.I want to get a circular letter to every voter in the district.""All right，"said Beth."I know what you want."There was an inspiring air of business about these preparations，and the girls were all eager to begin work.
Scarcely was breakfast finished when the two equipages were at the door.Louise and Mr.Watson at once entered the phaeton and drove away，the girl delighted at the prospect of visiting the farmers'wives and winning them by her plausiblea speeches.Conversation was Louise's strong point.She loved to talk and argue，and her manner was so con？ding and gracious that she seldom failed to interest her listeners.
Patsy and Uncle John drove away.In Kenneth's buggyb to the town，and during the five—mile drive Patsy counseled gravely with her shrewd uncle in regard to "ways and means.""This thing requires prompt action，Patsy，"he said，"andif we're going to do things that count they've got to be done on a big scale.""True，"she admitted."But oughtn't we to be a littlecareful about spending Kenneth's money？""I'll be your temporary banker，"said the old gentleman，"and keep track of the accounts.If we win we'll present Kenneth our bill，and if we fail I'll have the satisfaction of getting rid of some of that dreadful income that is swamping me."This was always Uncle John's cry.His enormous fortune was a constant bugbearc to him.He had been so interested in his business enterprises for many years that he had failed to realize how his fortune was growing，and it astounded him towake up one day and ？nd himself possessed of many millions.He had at once retired from active business and invested his millions in ways that would cause him the least annoyance；but the income on so large a sum was more than he could take care of，and even Major Doyle，who managed these affairs for his brother—in—law，was often puzzled to know what to do with the money that accumulated.
Doubtless no one will ever know how much good these two kindly men accomplished between them in their quiet，secretive way.Dozens of deserving young men were furnished capital to start them in business；dozens more were being educated at universities at Uncle John's expense.Managers of worthy charities were familiar with John Merrick's signature on checks，and yet the vast fortune grew with leaps and boundsa.Mr.Merrick's life was so simple and unostentatiousb that his personal expenses，however erraticc some of his actions，could not make much headway against his interest account，and nothing delighted him more than to ？nd a way to "get even withd fate by reckless squanderinge，"as he quaintly expressed it.He was far too shrewd to become the prey of designing people，but welcomed any legitimate channel in which to unload his surplus.
So Mr.Merrick had been revolving the possibilities of thisunique political campaign in his mind，and had decided to do some things that would open the bucolica eyes of Kenneth's constituents in wonder.He did not con？de all his schemes to Patsy，but having urged his nieces to attempt this conquest he had no intention of allowing them to suffer defeat if he could help it.
The little town of Elmwood was quiet and practically deserted when they drove into it.The farmers were too busy with the harvest to "come to town for trading"except on Saturdays，and the arrival and departure of the two daily trains did not cause more than a ripple of excitement in the village.
Patsy decided she would shop at each and every store in the place，and engage the store—keepers in conversation about the election.
"It's important to win these people，"she declared，"because they are close to every farmer who comes to town to trade；and their own votes count，too.""I'll run over to the bank，"said Uncle John，"and get acquainted there."So he tied the horses to a post and let Patsy proceed alone upon her mission，while he wandered over to a little brick building of neat appearance which bore the inionb "Bank"in gold letters on its plate—glass window.
"Mr.Warren in？"he asked the clerk at the window.
The banker，a dignified old gentleman of considerableability，came out of his private of？ce and greeted his visitor very cordially.He had known Uncle John when the millionaire visited Elmhurst two years before，and since then had learned more particulars concerning him.So there was no need of an introduction，and Mr.Warren was delighted at the prospect of business relations with this famous personagea.
