"Gentlemen," said President Graves, "as my course does not seem to command entire approval, I will ask those of you who think I acted with discretion to signify it."
All voted in the affirmative except Mr. Courtney.
"I regret, Mr. Courtney, that you disapprove my course," said the president; "but I continue to think it wise, and am glad that your fellow directors side with me."
Soon after the meeting dissolved, and Mr. Courtney went home very much dissatisfied.
Nothing was done about the appointment of a new messenger, the matter being postponed for three days.
When Mr. Courtney went home he did a very unwise thing. He inveighed in the presence of his family against the course of President Graves, though it was a matter that should have been kept secret. He found one to sympathize with him—his son Phil.
"You don't mean to say," exclaimed that young man, "that Grit Morris was sent to Boston in charge of thirty thousand dollars in bonds?"
"Yes, I do. That is just what was done."
"It's a wonder he didn't steal them and make himself scarce."