“Mr. Moriarty,” said Peter. “Misther Chairman. Oi’ll not take the valuable time av this meetin’ to speak av dirty, cowardly, black-hearted, treacherous snakes, wid souls blacker than the divil’s own—” “Order!” said Peter to the crowd. “No,” continued Dennis, in answer to the audible remarks of the opposition. “It’s no names Oi’m callin’. If yez know such a beast, such a snake, fit it to him. Oi’m mentionin’ no names. As Oi was sayin’, Misther Chairman, Oi’ll not waste the time av this meetin’ wid discribin’ the conduct av a beast so vile that he must be the contempt av every honest man. Who would have been driven out by St. Patrick, wid the rest av the reptiles, if he’d lived at that time. Oi only rise to widdraw the name av Caggs from the list Oi nominated for delegates to the state convention, an’ to put in place av it that av a man who is as noble an’ true, as some are false an’ divilish. That of Misther Peter Stirling, God bless him!” Once more chaos came. Peter pounded in vain. Both sides were at fever heat. Finally Peter rose. “Gentlemen,” he shouted, in a voice that rang through the hall above even the tumult, “if this meeting does not come to order, I shall declare it adjourned.” Instant quiet fell, for all had paused a moment to hear his words, and they concluded that he was in earnest. “Was the last motion seconded?” asked the chairman calmly. “I seconded it,” shouted Blackett and Milligan together. “You have heard the nominations, gentlemen. Has any one any remarks to make?” A man next Justice Gallagher said, “Mr. Chairman,” and being duly recognized, proceeded to talk for ten minutes in a very useless way. But during this time, Peter noticed first a good deal of whispering among Blunkers’s friends, and then an interview between Gallagher and Dennis. The latter was apparently not reconcilable, and shook his head in a way that meant war. Then there was more consultation between the opposition, and another confab with Dennis, with more headshakes on his part. Finally a compromise having been evidently made impossible, the orator was “called down” and it was voted to proceed to an election. Peter named one of the firemen, Dooley, and Blunkers, tellers, who, after a ballot, announced that Dennis had carried his nominations, Peter heading the list with two hundred and twelve votes, and the others getting one hundred and seventy-two, and one hundred and fifty-eight respectively. The “snake” got but fifty-seven votes. “Shure,” said Dennis, later, “maybe we don’t vote for convictions here, but we don’t vote for the likes av him!” “Then you are voting for convictions,” said Peter. “It’s yezself is the convictions then,” said Dennis. Perhaps he was right. CHAPTER XX. A POLITICAL DEBUT.