the
city to trail it! You can't fool doubtful delegates that way, Seth! Go
hang your badges on a hickory limb. They're only good to scare crows.
You can't scare us!"

This speaker heard Harlan making inquiries for his men.

"The Colonel is down in the office," was his information, "over in the
farther corner, behind one of those palms, telling war stories to
Herbert Linton. Just came past 'em."

It seemed a rather happy augury to Harlan; that out of that throng his
two men should have paired themselves struck him as an interesting
coincidence. He found them, and quietly delivered his message.

Colonel Wadsworth stood up, gaunt, straight, twisting his sparse
imperial, and blinking a bit doubtfully at the messenger. But Linton was
not so much at a loss for reasons. He was an earnest young man with
slow, illuminating smile.

"Has the committee seen new light regarding my two planks, Mr.
Thornton?" he asked; and without waiting for answer, he led the way. The
three were admitted at the private door.

United States Senator Pownal was there, evidently newly arrived from the
committee-room.

The band was just coming into the square under their windows.

Its deafening clamor beat in echoes between the high buildings, the mob
was roaring huzzas. The bedlam blocked conversation.

Thelismer Thornton pulled down the windows and twitched the curtains
together.

"Let 'em hoorah," he said. "With Spinney's band on tap, any fellows that
try to listen at our keyholes will be bothered. I'm glad his band is out
there. Now, gentlemen, I have something to say to you."

They listened to him, all standing. Only General Waymouth kept his seat,
his head tipped back, his finger-tips together.

The Duke was brief, but he was cogent and he was emphatic. He explained
what he had done and why he had done it. He was frank and free with that
selected few. He delicately made known the General's reluctance, but
stated in his behalf his willingness to step into the breach at this
eleventh hour for the sake of his party. Then Thornton went first to
Colonel Wadsworth, drew him along to Linton, and told them what their
party asked of them.

Senator Pownal did not wait for this explanation to be finished. He was
the first to reach General Waymouth with congratulations and
endorsement.

"You cannot understand how immensely relieved I am to know this plan,"
he declared. "I have been here only a few hours, but I was just
beginning to realize