“Give it to us! Give it to us!”
Bailey waited, again studying the slip. And at last, holding it in his fingers, he said:
“On this vote—the Yeas aire—eighty-three, and the Nays—aire eighty-two, and the motion—”
Randolph was standing in the aisle, his finger poised, his lips apart, his eyes blazing. His face glowed with a delight he could not conceal as he cried:
“Mr. Chairman! Mr. Chairman! A point of order!”
Bailey paused and looked at him inquiringly.
“Well,” he said, wearily, “the gentleman—may state—his point of order.”
Again the silence, again the interest in this fencing between the two parliamentarians.
“My point of order, Mr. Chairman, is this:” Randolph kept his forefinger in its parliamentary poise. “The delegation from Mason County cast eighteen votes in the affirmative.”
Bailey nodded.