"Did the biggest taxpayer in Yorkburg sign it?" It was Mr. Billisoly
who asked the question.

"Who is that?"

"Mr. John Maxwell, owner of the Yorkburg shoe factory, ice factory,
electric-light plant; owner of more than any one man in town, if he
don't live here."

Mary Cary took up her end of the paper and examined it. "His name is
the first on the list. Next is Mr. Moon, then Mr. Walstein, Mr. Ash,
Mr. Wilson, Mr.--"

"Is Miss Gibbie Gault's name there?"

"It is."

"Wonder!" Mr. Billisoly blew his nose and turned to the man at his side.
"Looks like she's got it all there. If she could land Miss Gibbie the
rest were easy."

"Tell me she and Miss Cary are great friends. They say the old lady is
as smart as the devil and he'd be much more apt to get out of her way
than she out of his if they met. Listen, there goes Sunny Chinn. Ain't
he a cheerful thing to look at?"

The latter had risen, and again the table was struck by the gavel, which
through the evening his hand had not relinquished. "Are there any
further remarks to be made? If not--"