w satisfied that he had chosen aright for his personal interests,
sat in the chairman's central seat, and studied his people from under
eyelids half lowered while the parson prayed.

After the prayer, the routine proceeded hurriedly. For five minutes the
convention seemed to be in a state of riot. Men were bellowing and
yelping, and standing on settees. The counties were holding simultaneous
caucuses for the purpose of selecting, each its vice-president of
convention, its State committeeman, and member of the Committee on
Resolutions--the resolutions then reposing in the breast-pocket of the
Hon. Luke Presson.

The secretaries were announced, the temporary organization was made
permanent, and, advancing against a blast of band-music and a salvo of
applause, the Senator-chairman began his address.

"Now," remarked General Waymouth, grimly, "I am ready to open
headquarters in earnest. My boy, in that anteroom across the stage
you'll find your grandfather and Mr. Presson, and certain members of the
State Committee. David Everett will be there, too. Inform them I send my
urgent request that they meet, at _once,_ the Hon. Arba Spinney and a
delegation in my room here. I think that combination will suggest to
guilty consciences that they'd better hurry. If they show any signs of
hesitating, you may intimate as much to them."

The plain and stolid men came in just then. They brought Mr. Spinney
through the side door. The unhappy conspirator, jostled by his
body-guard, was near collapse. He was now traitor to both sides.
Circumstances hemmed him in. But more than he feared the recriminations
of Luke Presson and his associates, he feared the papers in the
breast-pocket of Varden Waymouth.

Harlan went on his errand, crossing the stage behind a backdrop. Senator
Pownal had got well under way, and was setting forth the sturdy
principles of the Republican party with all the power of his lungs.

Harlan did not knock at the anteroom door; he walked in, and for a
moment he thought that the enraged chairman was about to leap at his
throat.

"Spinney, eh?" he blazed at the young man's first word. "Explain to me,
Mr. Thornton, what is meant by your assault on a decent and honest
citizen? What do you mean by teaming him from the hotel to this
convention hall with a body-guard to insult men who have business with
him?"

The question was confession that the chairman had been unable to get at
the political property he had paid dear