all
about, began in the stress of that campaign to recall stories of the old
days. And no man represented the old days as did Varden Waymouth, hero,
scholar, and statesman. There were giants in the old days, and every
machine newspaper in the State hailed General Waymouth as chief of the
giants. They contrasted the present with the past. General Waymouth's
picture gazed forth in stately benignity from every broadside--his life
story filled the columns of newspapers and the mouths of men.

With Arba Spinney's activities Thornton was in touch at all times. More
than ever before Mr. Spinney merited his title "Fog-horn." He was
striking the high places in the State, pouring language from under the
mat of his mustache, warning all men off the political shoals of "the
machine." From those shoals he was scooping up mud in both hands, and
spattering all men and all measures. He found plenty of listeners, for
protest was abroad. But the persistent defamer irritates even his
friends. He offends the innate sense of patriotism and loyalty which
slinks even in the breast of the rebel. The Duke noted with satisfaction
the outward symptoms of Mr. Spinney's campaign; he was winning a
following in those days of unrest. Through the columns of his newspapers
the old politician exploited Mr. Spinney, seeing to it that he was well
advertised as a man who persistently branded his own State as a den of
infamy. Thus he made Spinney strong enough to play against Everett and
weak enough to fall far in the estimation of men when the time came for
him to fall.

And then at last, in the latter days of June, all roads led to Rome. The
Republican Convention was called for the twenty-eighth, in the big hall
of the State's metropolis.

On the day before, Thelismer Thornton emerged from the back room of
headquarters at the State capital, and with Chairman Presson and Harlan
journeyed to the scene of the conflict. Before their departure the Duke
had been obliged, smilingly, to refuse a request of Mrs. Presson's.

She had asked that young Mr. Thornton be delegated as squire of dames to
accompany herself and her party to the convention.

"I'm afraid you haven't realized for a week or so that the boy is in
politics, Lucretia. I've let him run to pasture with a pretty long cord
on him. He'll have to come in under the saddle now. We'll have one of
the young beaus from the Governor's staff on the lookout for you at the
hall. This fellow here"--he patted