id that officer.

"Oi spoke first," shouted Dennis, and Peter felt that he had, and that
he was not having fair play.

Instantly a wave of protest, denials, charges, and counter-charges swept
through the room, Peter thought there was going to be a fight, but the
position was too critical to waste a moment on what Dennis styled "a
diversion." It was business, not pleasure, just then.

"Mr. Muldoon," said the officer again, not heeding the tempest in the
least.

"Mr. Chairman," shouted Muldoon, "I am proud to nominate Justice
Gallagher, the pride of the bar, for chairman of this distinguished
meeting, and I move to make his election unanimous."

"Misther Chairman," shouted Dennis.

"Mr. Moriarty," said the officer.

"Misther Chairman, Oi have the honor to nominate for chairman av this
meetin' the people's an' the children's friend, Misther Peter Stirling,
an' Oi don't have to move to make it unanimous, for such is the
intelligince an' manhood av this meetin' that it will be that way for
shure."

Peter saw a hurried consultation going on between Gallagher, Muldoon,
and two others, during the latter part of this speech, and barely had
Dennis finished his remarks, when Justice Gallagher spoke up.

"Mr. Chairman."

"The Honorable Justice Gallagher," said that gentleman.

"I take pride in withdrawing in favor of Mr. Stirling, who so justly
merits the honor of presiding on this important occasion. From recent
events too well known to need mention, I am sure we can all look to him
for justice and fairness."

"Bad cess to him!" groaned Dennis. "Oi hoped they'd be just fools enough
to oppose yez, an' then we'd have won the first blood."

Peter was chosen without dissent, and was escorted to the seat behind
the desk.

"What is the first business before the meeting?" he asked of Gallagher,
aside, as he was taking his seat.

"Election of delegates to the State convention. That's all to-night," he
was told.

Peter had presided at college in debates, and was not flurried. "Will
you stay here so as to give me the names of those I don't know?" he said
to the enrolling officer. "The meeting will please come to order," he
continued aloud. "The nomination of delegates to the State convention is
the business to be acted upon."

"Misther Chairman," yelled Dennis, evidently expecting to find another
rival as before. But no one spoke.

"Mr. Moriarty," said Peter.

"Misther Chairman. It's my delight to nominate as deleg