five o'clock
Not a lady showed her face upon the street ; drinking , wrangling , fighting was the order of the day . Windows were smashed , buggies overturned , and the police exercised to the utmost . Accompanied by a few friends , Mr. Huntingdon rode from poll to poll , encouraging his supporters , and drawing heavily upon his purse , while Russell remained quietly in his office , well assured of the result . At five o'clock , when the town polls closed , Russell 's votes showed a majority of two hundred and forty-four . Couriers came in constantly from country precincts , with equally favourable accounts , and at ten o'clock it was ascertained , beyond doubt , that he was elected . Irene and her uncle rode down to learn the truth , and , not knowing where to find Mr. Huntingdon , stopped the carriage at the corner of the main street , and waited a few moments . Very soon a rocket whizzed through the air , a band of music struck up before Russell 's office , and a number of his adherents insisted that he should show himself on the balcony .