“Anyone for crème brûlée?” asked Su Ling.
“How did the other Mrs. Kirkbridge answer that question?” inquired Julia.
Members of the public were leaning over the balcony observing every move, and Mr. Cooke seemed to want everyone in the hall to witness what was going on. Fletcher and Jimmy left the senator to join Mrs. Hunter and her representative inside the horseshoe.
“There are,” said Mr. Cooke, addressing both candidates, “seventy-seven disputed ballot papers, of which I believe forty-three are invalid, however there remain difficulties over the other thirty-four.” Both candidates nodded. “First I am going to show you the forty-three,” said the returning officer, placing his hand on the larger of the two piles, “which I consider to be invalid. If you agree, I shall then go through the remaining thirty-four that are still in dispute,” his hand transferring across to the smaller pile. Both candidates nodded again. “Just say no if you disagree,” said Mr. Cooke, as he began to turn over the ballot papers in the larger pile, only to reveal that no vote had been registered on any of them. As neither candidate put up any objection, he completed this part of the exercise in under two minutes.
“Excellent,” said Mr. Cooke, pushing those ballot papers to one side, “but now we must consider the crucial thirty-four.” Fletcher noted the word crucial, and realized just how close the final result must be. “In the past,” continued Mr. Cooke, “if both parties were unable to agree, then the final decision would be left to a third party.” He paused.
“If there is any dispute,” said Fletcher, “I am quite happy to abide by your decision, Mr. Cooke.”
Mrs. Hunter didn’t immediately respond and began whispering to her aide. Everyone waited patiently for her response. “I am also happy that Mr. Cooke should act as the arbitrator,” she finally conceded.
Mr. Cooke gave a slight bow. “Of the thirty-four votes in the disputed pile,” he said, “eleven I believe can quickly be dealt with, as they are what I would call, for lack of a better description, the Harry Gates supporters.” He then laid out on the table eleven votes that had “Harry Gates” written across the ballot paper. Fletcher and Mrs. Hunter studied them one by one.
“They are obviously invalid,” said Mrs. Hunter.
“However, two of them,” continued Mr. Cooke, “also have a cross against Mr. Davenport’s name.”
“They must still be invalid,” said Mrs. Hunter, “because as you can see, Mr. Gates’s name is clearly written across the paper, making them invalid ballots.”
“But…” began Jimmy.
“As there is obviously some disagreement on these two ballots,” said Fletcher, “I’m happy to allow Mr. Cooke to decide.”
Mr. Cooke looked toward Mrs. Hunter and
she nodded reluctantly. “I concur that the one with ‘Mr. Gates should be president’ written across it is indeed invalid.” Mrs. Hunter smiled. “However, the one that has a cross by Mr. Davenport’s name with the added comment, ‘but I’d prefer Mr. Gates,’ is in my view under election law, a clear indication of the voter’s intention, and I therefore deem it to be a vote for Mr. Davenport.” Mrs. Hunter looked annoyed but, aware of the crowd peering down from the gallery, managed a weak smile. “Now we can turn to the seven votes where Mrs. Hunter’s name appears on the ballot.”
“Surely they must all be mine,” said Mrs. Hunter as Mr. Cooke laid them out neatly in a row so that the two candidates could consider them.
“No, I don’t think so,” said Mr. Cooke.
The first had written on it, “Hunter is the winner,” with a cross against Hunter.
“That person clearly voted for Mrs. Hunter,” said Fletcher.
“I agree,” said Mr. Cooke as a ripple of applause emanated from the gallery.
“That boy’s honesty will be the death of him,” said Harry.
“Or the making of him,” said Martha.
“Hunter would be a dictator,” was written across the next with no cross against either name. “I believe that to be invalid,” said Mr. Cooke. Mrs. Hunter reluctantly nodded.
“Despite being accurate,” said Jimmy under his breath.
“Hunter is a bitch,” “Hunter should be shot,” “Hunter is mad,” “Hunter is a loser,” “Hunter for pope” were also declared invalid. Mrs. Hunter did not bother to suggest that any of these wanted her to be Hartford’s next senator.
“Now we come to the final group of sixteen,” said Mr. Cooke. “Here the voter did not use a cross to indicate his or her preference.” The sixteen votes had been placed in a separate pile, and the top one had a tick in the box opposite the name “Hunter.”
“That is clearly a vote for me,” insisted the Republican candidate.
“I have a tendency to agree with you,” said Mr. Cooke. “The voter appears to have made his wishes quite clear; however I will need Mr. Davenport to accept that judgment before I can proceed.”
Fletcher looked outside the horseshoe and caught Harry’s eye. He gave a slight nod. “I agree that it is clearly a vote for Mrs. Hunter,” he said. Applause once again broke out in the gallery from the pro-Hunter supporters. Mr. Cooke removed the top ballot paper to reveal that the one underneath also had a tick in the box opposite “Hunter.”
“Now that we’ve agreed on the principle,” said Mrs. Hunter, “that must also count as my vote.”