"
There was a burst of applause and great stamping of feet; the tide
of sympathy had changed. Rowan had perhaps won a few more votes.
This pleased him evidently more than his hope of cutting the
contract pie. McGaw began to regain some of his color and lose
some of his nervousness. Rowan's speech had quieted him.
The president gravely rapped for order. It was wonderful how much
backbone and dignity and self-respect the justice's very
flattering remarks had injected into the nine trustees--no, eight,
for the Scotchman fully understood and despised Rowan's oratorical
powers.
The Scotchman was on his feet in an instant.
"I have listened," he said, "to the talk that Justice Rowan has
given us. It's very fine and tonguey, but it smothers up the
facts. You can't rob this woman"--
"Question! question!" came from half a dozen throats.
"What's your pleasure, gentlemen?" asked the president, pounding
with his gavel.
"I move," said the courier member, "that the contract be awarded
to Mr. Daniel McGaw as the lowest bidder, provided he can sign the
contract to-night with proper bonds."
Four members seconded it.
"Is Mr. McGaw's bondsman present?" asked the president, rising.
Justice Rowan rose, and bowed with the air of a foreign banker
accepting a government loan.
Pages:
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160