y the mate of Watts and the other rich fellows of the "gang."
Rivington being the only candidate who had two votes, he was promptly
selected.

Thirty arduous minutes were spent in waiting for the arrival of the
fifth member of the Commission, and in the election of chairman and
secretary. A motion was then made to adjourn, on the ground that the
Commission could not proceed without the secretary.

Peter promptly objected. He had been named secretary for this particular
meeting, and offered to act until Rivington could be notified. "I
think," he said, "that we ought to lay out our programme."

The labor agitator agreed with him, and, rising, delivered an extempore
speech, declaring that "we must not delay. The leeches (here he looked
at Mr. Pell) are sucking the life-blood of the people," etc.

The chairman started to call him to order, but Peter put his hand on the
chairman's arm. "If you stop him," he said in a low voice, "he'll think
we are against him, and he'll say so outside."

"But it's such foolishness."

"And so harmless! While he's talking, look over this." Peter produced an
outline of action which he had drawn up, and having written it in
duplicate, he passed one draft over to Mr. Pell.

They all let the speech go on, Peter, Mr. Pell and the chairman chatting
over the plan, while the contractor went to sleep. The agitator tried to
continue, but as the inattention became more and more evident, his
speech became tamer and tamer. Finally he said, "That is my opinion,"
and sat down.

The cessation of the oration waked up the contractor, and Peter's
outline was read aloud.

"I don't move its adoption," said Peter. "I merely submit it as a
basis."

Not one of the members had come prepared with knowledge of how to go to
work, except the chairman, who had served on other commissions. He said:

"I think Mr. Stirling's scheme shows very careful thought and is
admirable. We cannot do better than adopt it."

"It is chiefly copied from the German committee of three years ago,"
Peter told them. "But I have tried to modify it to suit the different
conditions."

Mr. Pell objected to the proposed frequent sittings. Thereupon the
agitator praised that feature. The hour of meeting caused discussion.
But finally the scheme was adopted, and the date of the first session
fixed.

Peter went downstairs with Mr. Pell, and the latter offered to drop him
at his office. So they drove off together, and talked about the