Page:The gold brick (1910).djvu/184

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together) "'or member of the state board of equalization, the governor'" (and now he raised his voice and read more slowly and distinctly) "'the governor shall fill the same by appointment, and the appointee shall hold his office during the remainder of the term, and until his successor is elected and qualified.' That's section hundred and twenty-eight."

"Well," said the governor, "I'll name Hillman to fill the vacancy." Hillman was the treasurer-elect, chosen by the people in November to succeed Lockhart. He was not of the party, however, to which the governor belonged. In Illinois, it will be remembered, treasurers are elected not quadrennially, as are the other state officials, but biennially, and a treasurer can not succeed himself. So that in the middle of an administration there is always an off year, and a reaction, and as the papers say, a stinging rebuke at the polls.

"M-m-yes," said Gilman, "the boys won't like it—but it's only for a couple of months."

"And as to sealing the treasury," continued the governor, "I presume that the morning will be time enough for that."

"Yes, it's a bad night outside, anyway," re-