He's got the audience with him, even if the delegates aren't. A good
many of the delegates applauded, too," she added--but in a
significantly depressed tone.

"Why isn't he a candidate, Mrs. Pierson?" asked Gladys.

"They wanted him to be, of course," replied Olivia, "and I think it was
a mistake that he didn't consent. But he wouldn't hear of it. He said
it simply wouldn't do for him to make the fight to carry the convention
for himself. He said that, even if he were nominated, the other side
would use it against him."

"That seems reasonable," said Gladys.

"But it isn't," replied Olivia. "He may not know it but he can lead
men where they wouldn't go for his merely sending them."

"I suppose it was his modesty," suggested Gladys.

"Modesty's a good deal of a vice, especially in a leader," replied
Olivia.

There was an hour of dullness--routine business, reports of committees,
wearisome speeches. But, like every one of those five thousand people,
Pauline was in a fever of anticipation. For, while it was generally
assumed that Scarborough and his friends had no chance and while Larkin
was apparently carrying everything through according to program, still
it was impossible to conceive of such a man as Scarborough accepting
defeat on test votes tamely taken. He would surely challenge. Larkin
watched him uneasily, wondering at what point in the proceedings the
gage would be flung down. Even Merriweather could not keep still, but
flitted about, his nervousness of body contrasting strangely with his
calmness of face; himself the most unquiet man in the hall, he diffused
quiet wherever he paused.

At last came the call for nominations. When the secretary of the
convention read Cass from the roll of counties, a Larkin henchman rose
and spoke floridly for twenty minutes on the virtues of John Frankfort,
put up as the Larkin "draw-fire," the pretended candidate whose
prearranged defeat was to be used on the stump as proof that Boss
Larkin and his gang had been downed. At the call of Hancock County,
another--a secret--Larkin henchman rose to eulogize "that stanch foe of
corporate corruption and aggression, Hancock County's favorite son, the
people's judge, Judge Edward Howel Graney!" Then the roll-call
proceeded amid steadily rising excitement which abruptly died into
silence as the clerk shouted, with impressive emphasis, "Wayne!" That
was the home county of the Scarborough candidate. A Wayne delegate
ro