This sentiment was delivered with such dramatic force that several of the miners nodded their heads in approval. It was an appeal to the patriotic side of their nature--which was quick to respond.
"Mr. Chairman," said Budge Isham, addressing the landlord, who, by general consent, was the presiding officer at these disputations, and who like the others failed to see the quiet amusement the educated man was extracting, "if it is agreeable to Mr. Adams, to whose eloquent speech we have listened with much edification, I would like him to give us his reasons for calling our handsome town 'Murderers' Hollow.'"
The gentleman appealed to rose to his feet. Turning toward the man who had called upon him, he gave him a look which ought to have made him sink to the floor with mortification, preliminary to saying with polished irony:
"If the gentleman had paid attention as he oughter, he would have obsarved that I said 'Murderer's Holler,' not 'Murderers' _Hollow_.' I would advise him not to forget that he ain't the only man in this place that has received a college eddycation. Now as to the name: it proclaims our stern virtue and love for law."
The orator paused, but the wondering expression of the bronzed faces turned toward him showed that he would have to descend to particulars.
"When violators of the law hear that name, what does it say to them? It says that if any murderer shows his face in this place, he will receive such rough handling that he will have to holler 'enough,' and will be glad to get out--I don't see what there is to laugh at!" exclaimed Vose angrily, looking threateningly around again with his fists clenched and his gaze fixed specially upon the grinning Budge Isham.
"There's some sense in what Vose says, which ain't often the case," remarked Ike Hoe, the other member of the committee, "but the trouble will be that when folks hear of the name, they won't think to give it the meanin' that he gives it. They'll conclude that this place is the home of murderers, and, if it keeps on, bime by of hoss thieves. If it warn't for that danger, I might go in for backing up Vose with his name, but as it stands it won't do."
The argument of Ike had produced its effect. There was little sympathy in the first place for the title, and that little was destroyed by the words of Ike, who proceeded to plead for his own choice.