“But sir––but sir––I––I! Fifty dollars?––why––I paid one thousand dollars to get him here. Your Honour, it is a positive scandal––a perfect outrage!”
“Silence, sir!” commanded the magistrate.
“But it is an outrage, sir. I insist––it is a low, beastly trick. I appeal––I–––”
“Silence!” roared the magistrate again. “One word more, sir, and I’ll commit you for contempt of Court. Next case!”
At the Court House door the crowd seized upon Jim, hoisted him on their shoulders and carried him down 253 Main Street, singing and chaffing as happily as if Jim had just won an election.
At the Commercial Bank Jim stopped them and beckoned to Phil.
“Say!––get your thousand dollars out of the Bank and we’ll have the crowd take us to Dalton’s office right away. I got Hannington’s cheque, marked O.K., from Ben Todd in the Court House. We’ll call Dalton’s bluff for once––and at once.”
Phil rushed into the Bank and was back in three minutes with the money in his possession.
“Now boys!” shouted Jim, “down to Dalton’s office and then to the Kenora.”
Off they went, shouting and singing as before, not particular as to what it was all about, but simply keen on making an uproar––and as big a one as possible––now that the opportunity presented itself.