thers who had counted on a piece of the highway pie when it was
cut. Dempsey, Crimmins, and Quigg sat outside the rail, against the
wall. They were waiting for McGaw, who had not been seen since the
afternoon.

The president was in his accustomed place. The five gentlemen of
leisure, the veterinary surgeon, and the other trustees occupied their
several chairs. The roll had been called, and every man had answered to
his name. The occasion being one of much importance, a full board was
required.

As the minute-hand neared the hour of nine Dempsey became uneasy. He
started every time a new-comer mounted the stairs. Where was McGaw?
No one had seen him since he swallowed the tumblerful of whiskey and
disappeared from O'Leary's, a few hours before.

The president rapped for order, and announced that the board was ready
to sign the contract with Thomas Grogan for the hauling and delivery of
the broken stone required for public highways.

There was no response.

"Is Mrs. Grogan here?" asked the president, looking over the room and
waiting for a reply.

"Is any one here who represents her?" he repeated, after a pause, rising
in his seat as he spoke.

No one answered. The only sound heard in the room was that of the heavy
step of a man mounting the stairs.

"Is there any one here who can speak for Mrs. Thomas Grogan?" called the
president again, in a louder voice.

"I can," said the man with the heavy tread, who proved to be the foreman
at the brewery. "She won't live till mornin'; one of her horses kicked
her and broke her skull, so McGaw told me."

"Broke her skull! My God! man, how do you know?" demanded the president,
his voice trembling with excitement.

Every man's face was now turned toward the new-comer; a momentary thrill
of horror ran through the assemblage.

"I heard it at the druggist's. One of her boys was over for medicine.
Dr. Mason sewed up her head. He was drivin' by, on his way to
Quarantine, when it happened."

"What Dr. Mason?" asked a trustee, eager for details.

"The man what used to be at Quarantine seven years ago. He's app'inted
ag'in."

Dempsey caught up his hat and hurriedly left the room, followed by Quigg
and Crimmins. McGaw, he said to himself, as he ran downstairs, must
be blind drunk, not to come to the meeting, "----him! What if he gives
everything away!" he added aloud.

"This news is awful," said the president. "I am very sorry for Mrs.
Grogan and her children--she was a f