"Mr. Chairman," cried Mr. Hayes, indignantly, "I appeal against this
interruption. I assert--"

"Where's the treasurer?" said Neil Fraser. "What's the use of this
chewin' the rag?"

"Ah! Exactly so," said the chairman, greatly relieved. "Mr.
Boggs--Perhaps Mr. Boggs will enlighten us."

Mr. Boggs arose with ponderous deliberation.

"Mr. Chairman," he said, "in one sense Mr. Hayes is right when he states
the arrears to be seven hundred dollars--"

"Five hundred dollars A'm tellin' ye," said Mr. Innes with the first
sign of feeling he had shown.

"And Mr. Innes is also right," continued Mr. Boggs, ignoring the
interruption, "when he makes the arrears five hundred dollars, the two
hundred dollars difference being the quarterly revenue now due."

"Next week," said Mr. Innes, reverting to his wonted calm.

"Exactly so," said the chairman, rubbing his hands amiably; "so that the
seven hundred dollars we now owe--"

This was too much even for the imperturbable Mr. Innes.

He arose in his place, moved out into the aisle, advanced toward the