mittee by telephone.
I wish to meet them and you at my rooms in the hotel at nine this
evening. It is important."

They came. There were half a dozen of them--men who hurried in from such
near points as the chairman could reach; and at the appointed hour
Presson ushered them into the General's room. Harlan Thornton was
waiting there with his chief. The Duke arrived in a few moments, alone.
He sat down at one side of the room, bearing himself with an air of
judicial impartiality. The chairman scowled at him. Judged by recent
experience, Thelismer Thornton was a questionable quantity in a
conference between the machine and General Waymouth.

The committeemen took their cue from the chairman. They were sullen.
They bristled with an obstinacy that betrayed itself in advance.

The General got down to business promptly. It was not a gathering that
invited any preamble of cheerful chat. He understood perfectly that the
men were there only because they did not dare to stay away.

"Chairman Presson, it is now close upon the election. I have canvassed
the State as best I could through the mails. With Mr. Harlan Thornton's
assistance and through my friends in various towns, I have secured a
pretty complete list of doubtful voters. I will say in passing that I
have tried to enlist the help of your town committeemen, but they seem
to be asleep. I have thanked God daily that I have personal friends
willing to help me. I have the names at last. I have accomplished alone
the work that is usually attended to by the State Committee."

Presson started to say something, but the General stopped him.

"One moment, Mr. Chairman. Let me tell you what _I_ have done. One of us
at a time! When I've told you what I've done, you can tell me what
_you've_ attended to. I have those names, I have pledges of support, I
have plans for getting out the vote. But I have no literature for
distribution to those doubtful voters, I have no speakers assigned by
the State Committee to help the men who are trying to get the vote out,
I have no fund provided for the usual expenses. Now I will listen to
you, Mr. Chairman. Will you tell me what you have done?"

"It's an off year, General Waymouth," said Presson. "I asked the
Congressional Committee for money, but I couldn't interest 'em. And I'll
tell you frankly that the regular sources in this State are dry. There
isn't the usual feeling. You're a good politician. Perhaps you know why
it's so."

"You have