“Gentlemen,” he shouted, in a voice that rang through the hall above even the tumult, “if this meeting does not come to order, I shall declare it adjourned.”
Instant quiet fell, for all had paused a moment to hear his words, and they concluded that he was in earnest.
“Was the last motion seconded?” asked the chairman calmly.
“I seconded it,” shouted Blackett and Milligan together.
“You have heard the nominations, gentlemen. Has any one any remarks to make?”
A man next Justice Gallagher said, “Mr. Chairman,” and being duly recognized, proceeded to talk for ten minutes in a very useless way. But during this time, Peter noticed first a good deal of whispering among Blunkers’s friends, and then an interview between Gallagher and Dennis. The latter was apparently not reconcilable, and shook his head in a way that meant war. Then there was more consultation between the opposition, and another confab with Dennis, with more headshakes on his part. Finally a compromise having been evidently made impossible, the orator was “called down” and it was voted to proceed to an election. Peter named one of the firemen, Dooley, and Blunkers, tellers, who, after a ballot, announced that Dennis had carried his nominations, Peter heading the list with two hundred and twelve votes, and the others getting one hundred and seventy-two, and one hundred and fifty-eight respectively. The “snake” got but fifty-seven votes.
“Shure,” said Dennis, later, “maybe we don’t vote for convictions here, but we don’t vote for the likes av him!”
“Then you are voting for convictions,” said Peter.
“It’s yezself is the convictions then,” said Dennis.
Perhaps he was right.