way, like grasshoppers in front of a mowing machine. Spinney
means the whole rotten thing over again--State treasury looted, tax rate
reduced to get a popular hoorah, a floating debt that will make us
stagger and keep enterprise out of this State for ten years, petty graft
in every State office, and every strap on the party nag busted from
snaffle to crupper. Now I want to ask you one question: Do you want Arba
Spinney for the next Governor of this State--sitting in the chair that
you honored? You know him! You've heard his mouth go. You understand his
calibre. Do you want him?"

"No," admitted General Waymouth.

"Well, you're going to get him if you don't accept that nomination.
You're going to get him, blab-mouth, mob-rule, mortification, and merry
hell--the whole bagful! Do you want that for this State, Vard?"

"Our State can't afford to have such a man," agreed General Waymouth,
"but--"

"I'd, myself, rather see a Democrat win at the polls!" shouted Thornton.
"But the Democrat that they've got in line is worse than Spinney. It's a
popocratic year, and they're all playing that game. But they can't
overcome our natural plurality, Varden. It means Spinney if he goes to
the polls! It's up to you to stop him. You've got to do it!"

The General rose and walked around the room. His shoulders were stooped
a bit more. Then he came and put his hand on Thelismer's shoulder.

"Your faith in what I am and what I might do is worthy of you, my old
comrade, even if it exalts my poor powers too much. And I thank you,
Thelismer. But I know what I am. I'm only a stranded old man. The
younger generation will not think as you do. Go and find some good man
there. I'm too weary, Thelismer, too old and too weary--and almost
forgotten. Find another man!"

"What's that? Find a man for Governor of this State, groom him, work him
out, score him down and shove him under the wire of State Convention a
winner inside of two weeks? Varden, you know politics better than that!
_You_ forgotten by the younger generation of this State? Harlan, what
have you to say to that?"

The young man stood up. He had listened well and listened long that
evening. In the presence of this gracious old knight of the heroic days
of history he had felt his heart swelling as he remembered the record
that all men of his State knew.

The fervor of his admiration showed so plainly in his glistening eyes
that General Waymouth was touched, and waited indulgently.