ocket. Thin we kin see
what bids is laid on the table. Ours'll go in last. If there's nothin'
else we'll give'em the high one. I'll git inside the rail, so's to be
near the table."

When the two squeezed back through the throng again into the board-room,
even the staircase was packed. McGaw pulled off his fur cap and
struggled past the rail, bowing to the president. The justice's brother
stood outside, within reach of McGaw's hand. McGaw glanced at the clock
and winked complacently at his prospective partner--not a single bid
had been handed in. Then he thrust out his long arm, took from Rowan's
brother the big envelope containing the higher bid, and dropped it on
the table.

Just then there was a commotion at the door. Somebody was trying to
force a passage in. The president rose from his chair, and looked over
the crowd. McGaw started from his chair, looked anxiously at the clock,
then at his partner. The body of a boy struggling like an eel worked its
way through the mass, dodged under the wooden bar, and threw an envelope
on the table.

"Dat's Tom Grogan's bid," he said, looking at the president. "Hully gee!
but dat was a close shave! She telled me not ter dump it till one minute
o' nine, an' de bloke at de door come near sp'ilin' de game till I give
him one in de mug."

At this instant the clock struck nine, and the president's gavel fell.

"Time's up," said the Scotchman.

XI. A TWO-DOLLAR BILL

The excitement over the outcome of the bidding was intense. The barroom
at O'Leary's was filled with a motley crowd of men, most of whom
belonged to the Union, and all of whom had hoped to profit in some way
had the contract fallen into the hands of the political ring who were
dominating the affairs of the village. The more hot-headed and outspoken
swore vengeance; not only against the horse-doctor, who had refused to
permit McGaw to smuggle in the second bid, but against Crane & Co. and
everybody else who had helped to defeat their schemes. They meant to
boycott Crane before tomorrow night. He should not unload or freight
another cargo of coal until they allowed it. The village powers, they
admitted, could not be boycotted, but they would do everything they
could to make it uncomfortable for the board if it awarded the contract
to Grogan. Neither would they forget the trustees at the next election.
As to that "smart Alec" of a horse-doctor, they knew how to fix him.
Suppose it had struck nine and the polls