Moderator Knowles grinned and shook his head.
"A joke's a joke," he said, "and we all like a good one.

However, this meetin' is supposed to be for business, not fun, so--" "Question! Question! It's been seconded! We've got to vote on it!" shouted a chorus.
"Don't you think--seems to me that ain't in order," began the moderator, but Captain Cy rose to his feet.

The grim smile had returned to his face and he looked at the joyous assemblage with almost his old expression of appreciative alertness.
"Never mind the vote," he said.

"I realize that Brother Leonard has rather got one on me, so to speak.

All right, I won't dodge.