“I am surprised,” he said, “that remarks such as you have just heard should be greeted with applause by any member of this company. The man who seeks to discredit his comrades in arms, who charges them with being pawns of capital, prejudiced against the poor, willing to accept bribes; such a man should be hissed, not applauded. He has labeled himself. He has shown you where he belongs. But what can you expect of a man whose bosom friend is the infamous Donatello, and whose associates are among the leading radicals of this city? I tell you, Mr. Chairman----” But he got no further. The hisses of disapproval which greeted his first sentences had now grown into a roar of protest. Halpert McCormack, in spite of his economic vagaries, was respected by and popular with his fellow guardsmen, and they would not listen to this bitter denunciation of him. The room was in an uproar. A half dozen men were loudly demanding recognition by the chair, a score of others were protesting volubly against Barriscale’s ranting, while half as many more were declaring that he was entirely justified in all that he had said. Then Captain Murray took the matter into his own hands. Those who chanced to be looking at him saw his jaws close together with a snap, and saw fire flash from his eyes. His gavel came down on the block with a mighty crash, once, twice, and thrice. “Order!” he shouted. “Every man in his seat at once!” When, a few seconds later, the tumult was quelled, he continued: “In view of what has just taken place here, and for the sake of harmony in the ranks, I will myself decide what disposition shall be made of Mr. Barriscale’s offer. As there is nothing else before the meeting I will entertain a motion for adjournment.” Corporal Manning made the motion, it was duly seconded, and the meeting was adjourned. But the controversy was not thereby ended, nor was Captain Murray’s task made easier. He debated the matter in his own mind for twenty-four hours, and on the second day following the company meeting he went to the office of Mr. Barriscale at the mills, and was at once admitted into the big man’s presence. But before he could make known his errand the mill-owner, apparently anticipating it, began: “I have been expecting you, Captain. I think I know your errand. Perhaps you will now agree with me that the proper way would have been for you yourself to have accepted my gift on the start. It is very easy for one or two malcontents to make serious trouble when a matter like this is left to a popular vote.” “I may have made a mistake, Mr. Barriscale,” replied the captain, “but I feel that it would have been just as serious a mistake for me to have decided the matter on the start. I feel that it will be an extremely serious and delicate task for any one to decide the matter in the present temper of the men of my company; and I have come to ask you to relieve me from this embarrassing situation.” “How can I relieve you, Captain?”