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."