ined,
had fallen to him by natural inheritance. But though he listened
patiently, he said but little. Harlan noticed, however, that he did take
especial pains to deprecate some of the suppressive movements advised by
the more hot-headed managers.

"Let things swing as they're going," he advised. "She'll take care of
herself, give her free run right now. But you can't pinch up a line gale
by putting a clothespin on the nose of the tempest. Let her snort! Brace
the party and face it like a hitching--post! Don't try to choke off Arba
Spinney. Let him froth."

His grandfather was so insistent on this point that Harlan took notice
of its frequent repetition and the earnestness with which it was
pressed. He began to understand that some plan lay back of his
grandfather's silence to him and to others as to his private reasons for
this appeal. He began to take lively interest in the ramifications of
practical politics as played by the hand of a master.

CHAPTER XI

A MAN FROM THE SHADOWS

There was a provoking flavor of mystery about Thelismer Thornton's early
movements the next day. His grandson became still more interested. This
element in politics appealed to him, for he was young.

They left the city by an early train. The Duke secluded himself and his
grandson in a drawing-room of the car.

It was an express--train which did not stop at way stations. But when
the conductor came for the tickets the old man inquired whether orders
had been issued to have the train held up at a certain siding.

"Yes, sir, to leave two passengers," said the conductor. He was
courteous, but he winked at the old politician with the air of one who
thought he understood something. He exhibited his telegram from the
dispatcher. "Can't be much politics there, Mr. Thornton," he remarked,
by way of jest.

"I'm on a fishing-trip," explained the Duke, blandly. And the conductor,
who knew that the siding had no fishing water within ten miles of it,
went away chuckling in order to applaud the joke of a man of power.

A few hours later the two were let off at the siding and the train
hurried on.

There was a farm-house near the railroad. They ate dinner with the
farmer and his wife, who seemed to realize that they were entertaining
some one out of the ordinary, and were much flustered thereby.
Especially did the farmer struggle with his vague memory of
personalities, asking many round-about questions and "supposing" many
possibilitie