if Thomas
Grogan, or any wan ripresinting him or her, or who in any way is
connected with him or her, is within the confines of this noble hall, to
execute the mandates of this distinguished boord. Can it be believed
for an instant that if Mrs. Grogan, acting for her partly dismimbered
husband, Mr. Thomas Grogan, had intinded to sign this contract, she
would not have dispatched on the wings of the wind some Mercury, fleet
of foot, to infarm this boord of her desire for postponement? I demand
in the interests of justice that the contract be awarded to the lowest
risponsible bidder who is ready to sign the contract with proper bonds,
whether that bidder is Grogan, McGaw, Jones, Robinson, or Smith."

There was a burst of applause and great stamping of feet; the tide
of sympathy had changed. Rowan had perhaps won a few more votes. This
pleased him evidently more than his hope of cutting the contract
pie. McGaw began to regain some of his color and lose some of his
nervousness. Rowan's speech had quieted him.

The president gravely rapped for order. It was wonderful how much
backbone and dignity and self-respect the justice's very flattering
remarks had injected into the nine trustees--no, eight, for the
Scotchman fully understood and despised Rowan's oratorical powers.

The Scotchman was on his feet in an instant.

"I have listened," he said, "to the talk that Justice Rowan has given
us. It's very fine and tonguey, but it smothers up the facts. You can't
rob this woman"--

"Question! question!" came from half a dozen throats.

"What's your pleasure, gentlemen?" asked the president, pounding with
his gavel.

"I move," said the courier member, "that the contract be awarded to Mr.
Daniel McGaw as the lowest bidder, provided he can sign the contract
to-night with proper bonds."

Four members seconded it.

"Is Mr. McGaw's bondsman present?" asked the president, rising.

Justice Rowan rose, and bowed with the air of a foreign banker accepting
a government loan.

"I have that honor, Mr. Prisident. I am willing to back Mr. McGaw to
the extent of me humble possissions, which are ample, I trust, for
the purposes of this contract"--looking around with an air of entire
confidence.

"Gentlemen, are you ready for the question?" asked the president.

At this instant there was a slight commotion at the end of the hall.
Half a dozen men nearest the door left their seats and crowded to the
top of the staircase. Then came a