"Well, there has"; and Moffat forgot his natural caution in a sudden
excess of anger. "No invitations was sent them fellers. Do you mean
to say they come in through the roof?"
Mason straightened up, his face darkening, his clinched fist thrashing
the air just in front of Moffat's nose.
"I say they come in yere, right through this door! An' every mother's
son of 'em, hed a cyard. I know what I 'm a-talkin' about, you
miserable third-class idiot, an' if you give me any more of your lip I
'll paste you good an' proper. Go back thar whar you belong, an' tind
to your part of this fandango; I'm a runnin' mine."
Moffat hesitated, his brow black as a thunder cloud, but the crowd was
manifestly growing restless over the delay, calling "Time!" and "Play
ball!" and stamping their feet. Besides, Buck was never known to be
averse to a quarrel, and Moffat's bump of caution was well developed.
He went back, nursing his wrath and cursing silently. The crowd
greeted his reappearance with prolonged applause, and some of the
former consciousness of victory returned. He glanced down into the
questioning eyes of Miss Spencer, cleared his throat, then grasped her
hand, and, as they stood there together, all his confidence came
surging back.
"Ladies and Gentlemen of Glencaid," he began gracefully, "as president
of the Bachelor Miners' Pleasure Club, it affords me extreme
gratification to welcome you to this the most important social event
ever pulled off in this Territory. It's going to be a swell affair
from the crack of the starter's pistol to the last post, and you can
bet on getting your money's worth every time. That's the sort of
hairpins we are--all wool and a yard wide. Now, ladies and gents,
while it is not designed that the pleasure of this evening be marred by
any special formalities, any such unnatural restrictions as disfigure
such functions in the effete East [applause], and while I am only too
anxious to exclaim with the poet, 'On with the dance, let joy be
unconfined' [great applause], yet it must be remembered that this
high-toned outfit has been got up for a special, definite purpose, as a
fit welcome to one who has come among us with the high and holy object
of instructing our offspring and elevating the educational ideals of
this community. We, of this Bachelors' Club, may possess no offspring
to instruct, but we sympathize with them others who have, and desire to
show our interest in the work. We have here with us to-night one of
the loveliest of her sex, a flower of refinement and culture plucked
from the Eastern hills, who, at the stern call of duty, has left her
home and friends to devote her talents to this labor of love. In her
honor we meet, in her honor this room has been decorated with the
colors of our beloved country, and to her honor we now dedicate the
fleeting hours of this festal night. It is impossible for her to greet
you all personally, much as she wishes to do so, but as president of
the Bachelor Miners' Pleasure Club, and also," with a deep bow to his
blushing and embarrassed companion, "I may venture to add, as an
intimate friend of our fair guest, I now introduce to you Glencaid's
new schoolmistress--Miss Phoebe Spencer. Hip! Hip! Hurrah!"