“This won’t do,” Nolan said, giving the ballot back to the man.
“It’s all right, Malachi, honest to God it is!” protested Donahue.
“Thin I’ll just put this wan in for ye, heh?” said Nolan, drawing another ballot from the pocket of his huge waistcoat and poising it above the hat.
The crowd had pressed around the First Ward delegation. The convention had risen to its feet, craning red necks, and out of the mass, Grogan cried:
“Aw, here, Malachi Nolan, none o’ that now!”
Nolan turned his rugged face toward him and said simply:
“Who’s runnin’ this dillygation, you or me?”
“Well—none o’ your bulldozing—we won’t stand it!” replied Grogan angrily, his blue eyes blazing.
“You get to hell out o’ this.” And so saying, Nolan dropped the ballot into the hat and turned to face the chair.
“Have you all voted?” inquired Muldoon.