ble
determination to get motions passed.

In a rambling and aimless speech, Mr. Pilley set forth in a somewhat
general way the steps leading up to this meeting, and then called
upon Mr. Innes, the chairman of the Board of Management, to state more
specifically the object for which it was called.

Mr. Innes, who was incurably averse to voluble speech, whether public or
private, arose and said, in rolling Doric:

"Weel, Mr. Chair-r-man, there's no much to be done. We're behind a few
hundred dollars, but if some one will go about wi' a bit paper, nae doot
the ar-rear-rs wad soon be made up, and everything wad be ar-richt."

"Exactly," said Mr. Pilley pleasantly. "Now will some one offer a
motion?"

Thereupon Mr. Hayes was instantly upon his feet, and in a voice thin and
rasping exclaimed:

"Mr. Chairman, there's business to be done, and we are here to do it,
and we're not going to be rushed through in this way."

"Exactly, Mr. Hayes, exactly," said Mr. Pilley. "We must give these
matters the fullest consideration."

Then followed a silence.

"Perhaps Mr. Hayes--" continued the chairman, looking appealingly at
that gentleman.

"Well, Mr. Chairman," said Mr. Hayes, with an appeased but slightly
injured air, "it is not my place to set forth the cause of this meeting
being called. If the chairman of the board would do his duty"--here he
glared at the unconscious Mr. Innes--"he would set before it the
things that have made this meeting necessary, and that call for drastic
action."

"Hear! Hear!" cried Mr. Boggs.

"Exactly so," acquiesced the chairman. "Please continue, Mr. Hayes."

Mr. Hayes continued: "The situation briefly is this: We are almost
hopelessly in debt, and--"

"How much?" enquired Neil Fraser, briskly interrupting.

"Seven hundred dollars," replied Mr. Hayes, "and further--"

"Five hundred dollars," said Mr. Innes.

"I have examined the treasurer's books," said Mr. Hayes in the calmly
triumphant tone of one sure of his position, "and I find the amount to
be seven hundred dollars, and therefore--"

"Five hundred dollars," repeated Mr. Innes, gazing into space.

"Seven hundred dollars, I say," snapped Mr. Hayes.

"Five hundred dollars," reiterated Mr. Innes, without further comment.

"I say I have examined the books. The arrears are seven hundred
dollars."

"Five hundred dollars," said Mr. Innes calmly.

The youngsters at the back snickered.

"Go to it!" said Harry Hobbs, under his b