resources peddled out to favorites.
It's useless to deny. We've all been in politics together too many
years."

Mr. Everett did not deny. It was too intimate a gathering for that.

"This is not the way I'd like to be called to the Governor's chair of my
State," went on the General, "but it's the way of politics. I've got to
meet you on the politician's level, so far as securing the nomination
goes. But I stand here and tell you, Mr. Everett"--he took two steps
forward and stood close to the other candidate, and his voice
rose--"that I can be a better Governor of this State than you--in the
sort of days that are on us now. This is not egotism--it's truth. I say
it because I know you and the men behind you as well as I know myself."

"It's a sneak trick, just the same!" shouted Everett.

"So are many tricks in politics--and, God help me, I'm back in
politics!" returned the General. He looked them over there in the room,
from face to face and eye to eye. "You cannot accuse me of vanity,
self-seeking, or ambition at my age, gentlemen. I've been Governor of
this State once. I didn't enjoy the experience. I'm going into this
thing again simply because I believe that I can put some honesty into
public affairs. This State is calling for it. And that object justifies
me in what I'm doing. I am a candidate!"

"By ----!" roared Everett, furious, realizing how this candidacy
threatened his hopes, "run if you want to. But I'll see to it that these
delegates know how you're running--cutting under a man that's made an
honest canvass!" He started for the door, tossing his arms above his
head--a politician beginning to run amuck.

Presson grabbed his arm and held him back.

"Don't be a lunatic, Dave," he buzzed in his ear. "If you go to
advertising this around the hotel to-night you'll be giving Spinney the
tip and starting Waymouth's boom for him. Damn it, you want to keep your
teeth shut tight and your tongue behind them! There'll be no blabbers go
out of this room--I'll see to that! I'll put a dozen members of the
State Committee at work on the delegates to-night." He was walking
Everett toward the door, getting him out of earshot of the others.
"Weymouth has got a platform there that sounds as though it was drawn up
by the House Committee of Paradise. He's got to be licked--great Judas,
he's _got_ to be licked! I've got five thousand that the liquor crowd
has sent into the State for the campaign, but this is the place to use