“What’s to be done with my motion?” demanded Barnscott. “I thought one thing had to be settled before another was brought up.” “A motion to adjourn is always in order,” said the president. “Mr. President, I rise to a point of order,” interposed Skotchley, a quiet kind of fellow, who had studied deeper into parliamentary law than even Tommy Toppleton, for he had been the presiding officer of a juvenile debating society. “State your point, Skotchley.” “I respectfully submit that the motion to adjourn is not in order, for the reason that, to entitle it to precedence, it should simply be a motion to adjourn without fixing a time.” Tommy was nonplussed. The question took him out of his depth. He had Cushing’s Manual in his pocket, but it would not be dignified to consult it in the presence of the stockholders. However, he knew that Skotchley was well posted, and he deemed it prudent to follow his lead. “The chair decides that the point is well taken, and that the motion to adjourn is not in order,” said he, though probably he would not have been so pliant if he had not been opposed to the substance of the motion. “By the ruling out of this motion, Barnscott’s is now in order.” “That’s a pretty how d’ye do!” exclaimed Putnam. “Order! The motion to proceed to the choice of officers is now before the house.” “Mr. President, I move to amend the motion by the addition of the words, ‘at Grass Springs at two o’clock this afternoon,’” said Wetherstane. “Second the motion,” added Putnam, who was evidently “in the ring,” for he seconded only the Grass Springs motions. Tommy stated the amendment, and there was a silence of a minute or two, for a wonder. Then Barnscott did not see why the amendment had been brought forward, and wanted to know what Grass Springs had to do with election of officers. He evidently was not “in the ring.” He should vote against the amendment, and he hoped all the rest of the stockholders would do the same. “Mr. President,” said Briscoe, who had more pluck than most of his companions, “who ever heard of the stockholders of a railroad holding a meeting for the election of officers right in the place where they do their business? It is contrary to custom, and I protest against any innovations. They always have a free train, and take the stockholders to a place where there is a good hotel. After they have voted, they have a first-rate supper at the expense of the corporation. If they don’t always do it, they always ought to do it. I am in favor of having this meeting at the hotel in Grass Springs, and, after the business is done, of eating as good a supper as the landlord can get up for us.” “Question! Question!” shouted the stockholders, who seemed to be unanimously in favor of following the precedent.