Every eye was turned in that direction and discovered Jesse Hudson on his feet, gazing at Carlton in a menacing manner.
"Mr. Hudson has the floor," said the Chairman, respectfully.
"Now, gentlemen," said Hudson, in his bristling, aggressive way, "before we go any further in the business that is before this Committee, I move that we throw out the proposition to give this station to Cleverly."
"Why?" demanded Carlton. "I think we have made it a good case."
"You have made it a splendid case," was the sneering response, "but unfortunately Cleverly is a city that does not come within the scope of the work which has been mapped out by this Committee."
"What do you mean?" demanded Carlton, angrily.
"I mean that we agreed that we should not consider the application of cities or towns with a population of less than thirty thousand."
"I know that," assented Carlton, "but—"
"There are no 'buts' to it," cried the other, exultingly. "I have here an official copy of the last census," and he held a document in the air, "and according to this book, Cleverly has a population of 29,786."
Carlton looked crestfallen. The other members of the Committee yawned. One of them said with a snicker: