“Might have the meetin’ in the op’ra house,” Funk went on. “What d’ye think, Neal?” He deferred to McFarlane.
“Seems to me the op’ra house would be safer,” said McFarlane.
“That, of course, is a matter to be considered,” said Bromley. “But at any rate, I wish to have meetings announced in all the counties.”
The silence which had oppressed the members of the committee having been broken by the words of Funk and McFarlane, the conversation became general, and grew in interest until McFarlane voiced the burden that lay at the bottom of all their hearts by saying:
“Judge, how ’bout the funds? You know what we was sayin’ the other day.”
“Yes,” said Bromley, “I recall our conversation. I shall meet all legitimate expenses—ah—as they arrive.”
There was an instant depreciation of interest, and when the men filed down the stairs half an hour later, McFarlane again voiced the burden of their hearts by saying:
“He’s goin’ to hold onto his pile, boys. All bills to be paid on vouchers signed by the auditor and presented to the treasurer.”
McFarlane liked to recall to his friends his six months in the State House, and spoke at times in the language of the bills he had enrolled and engrossed so often during that experience.
“Well, a lawyer that tries his own case has a fool for a client,” said Mason, “and it’s that-away ’ith a candidate that manages his own campaign.”