entlemen," interposed Garnet, "we make Mr. Leggett one of the
principal advocates of this bill in order to secure the support of
those, both in the Legislature and at the polls, who are likely to vote
as he votes on the question of the three counties subscribing to this
other thousand shares, the half of our capital stock reserved for the
purpose."

Mr. Weed asked how many shares offered to voluntary subscribers on the
ten-dollar instalment plan had been taken, and Garnet replied, "All.
Those, together with the shares assigned me in exchange for the
mortgages I hold on Widewood and propose to surrender, the forty for
which Mr. Leggett pays five hundred dollars, and the two hundred
retained by Mr. March and his mother, make six hundred and forty,
leaving three hundred and sixty to be placed with capitalists willing to
pay their face value. We have to-day an increased confidence that these
reinforcements"--he smiled--"are not far off. When this is done we shall
have raised the three-eighths of the face value of the one thousand
private shares, as required, before the three counties' subscription to
the other thousand shares can become effective. I have to state,
gentlemen, that General Halliday has been compelled by the weight of
other burdens to resign the treasurership; but on the other hand I have
the pleasure to announce that Captain Charles Champion has consented to
act as treasurer, and _also_, that Colonel Ravenel expresses his
willingness to serve as one of the two trustees for the three counties
on the--(applause)--on the very reasonable condition that he be allowed
to name the other trustee. I believe there's no other formal business
before the meeting, but before we adjourn I think a few brief remarks
from one or two gentlemen who have not yet spoken will be worth far more
than the time they occupy. I'll call on our vice-president, Mr. Gamble."
(Applause.)

Gamble said his father used to tell him a man of words and not of deeds
was like a garden full of weeds. Here he was silent so long that
Champion whispered to Shotwell, "He's stuck!"

But at length he resumed, that he attributed his own success in life to
his always having believed in deeds!

"Indeed!" echoed Shotwell in so audible a whisper that half the group
smiled.

Gamble replied that his statement might surprise some that had been
asleep for the last twenty years, but he guessed there wasn't any such
person in this crowd. (Laughter.) However, he