ose who believe in the right."

"It sounds as though the Senator might be arriving close to his amen,"
suggested General Waymouth, ironically. "You have only a few minutes in
which to decide. I hold the proxy of one of these delegates to the
convention." He pointed to one of the stolid and plain men. "You know
that I can get the ear of that convention--you can't work any gag-rule
on me--I have been listened to too often by the men of this State when
I've had something to say. And you know what effect these affidavits
will have!"

There was further silence, broken only by the voice of the Senator
without and Presson within, who was scuffling about, babbling disjointed
oaths.

Suddenly a great outburst of applause signified that the Senator had
concluded.

"Go ahead out and kill your party!" barked Presson. "Give it your
strychnine! It may as well die right now, in a spasm, as to have a
lingering death later with you at the head of it, Waymouth. You can't
team _me_!"

"You let me say a word right here!" blustered Everett. "I wash my hands
of any deal with Spinney. I've got the bulk of that convention behind
me. I don't propose to be shunted."

"I supposed you all remembered the details of what you did last
evening," returned the General, coldly. "Is it necessary for me to
remind you, Mr. Everett, that Chairman Presson turned over to Spinney a
paper in which you agreed to appoint him to a State office? That
transaction was noted along with the rest, sir."

"I'll have as many witnesses as you," declared Presson, "I'll--"

"Stop!" It was a tone that cowed the chairman, struggling with his
guilty conscience. "I have warned you that I'm not here to argue this
matter with you. I'll not be drawn into any discussion. What I have, I
have!" He waved his papers above his head. "What I can do that I'll do!
I would remind you, gentlemen, that the convention is waiting."

Thelismer Thornton caught the secretary of the State Committee by the
arm and propelled him toward the door, ordering Harlan to open it.
"Signal that band! Start it to going!" he directed. "Keep those
delegates easy." He turned on the chairman. "Now, Luke, you're licked.
And it's your own deadfall that's caught you. I know just how you feel,
but here's a laundry-bag that you've got to draw the puckering-strings
on. Shut up! I'm going to save you from yourself. You're running amuck,
now. You're a lunatic, and not responsible." He dragged the defiant
chairma