CHAPTER X—A Letter
Mr. Bigelow sat in the chair: behind and around him were the speakers of the evening, grouped with the Committee of the Society of the Preservation of the Home; before him extended rows upon rows of citizens, all of them vigorously applauding the last speaker, all of them, without regard to private cellars, bent upon stamping out the saloon evil in their suburb.
An usher mounted the platform and laid a folded slip of paper on the table. The Chairman unfolded it, read it with great composure, and inclined his head to signify an affirmative reply. This was the note:
“Mr. G. Hyde Bigelow.
“Dear Sir: May I see you for a few moments after the meeting, on business of great importance.
“Appleton Le Duc.”
“Probably a reporter,” thought the Chairman. A draft of his opening speech lay in his inside pocket, and if this man was attached to a reputable paper he would be welcome to it. Mr. Bigelow made it an invariable rule to be courteous to newspaper men.
At the close of the meeting, therefore, as he was donning his coat, the usher touched him on the arm.
“This is the man who wished to see you, Mr. Bigelow.”
The Chairman turned and beheld a tall, thin individual, with a long face, wearing somewhat conspicuous clothes.