Page:American Boy's Life of William McKinley.djvu/213

Rh The committee began to hunt around, and finally a bit of chalk was procured. Then McKinley held a short conversation with one of his ardent supporters. Close at hand was a large brick wall, and to this the man with the chalk ran. He was quickly mounted on several boxes, and in a few minutes he had written out, in a large, round hand, an announcement running something like this:—

"Major McKinley wishes to thank all for the rousing reception accorded him. As his time is limited, he will not speak to-day, but will surely speak at the Opera House on next Friday evening."

For the instant after the announcement went up, nobody knew what to say. Then a cheer arose, followed by a loud handclapping.

"Hurrah for McKinley!" shouted one man, who had an unusually good pair of lungs. "He don't have to talk. Hes elected already." And then the cheering and handclapping was renewed. Soon after this, those who had been blowing the