The Mayor's rueful gaze travelling past Merriam also rested on Mollie June. A light came into his eyes. He drew himself up.
"Come in, Mrs. Norman," he said. "Your husband"--with a significant emphasis on the word--"has been giving a demonstration of his athletic prowess. He is indeed the Boy Senator and a suitable mate for a woman as young and pretty as yourself."
He paid no attention to Merriam's angry and threatening glance but turned to Rockwell.
"Mr. Rockwell," he said, "I think you'd better give me that Ordinance after all."
Rockwell spoke in a low tone to Merriam:
"Get her out!"
The Mayor had no objection to that. The older men watched while Merriam walked rapidly across the room to Mollie June.
"You'd better go into the other room again, dear," he said.
But Mollie June's eyes were bright and her colour high and her white shoulders very straight.
"No!" she said.