opping him, his face shoved forward.

"You mean to say, General Waymouth, that, being a Republican, a man who
has had honors from our hands, you'll advertise your party management as
crooks simply because we don't cut our own throats, politically and
financially?"

"I say, I shall state the facts."

"Let me inform you that I've got a little publicity bureau of my own.
I'll post you as a deserter and a sorehead. I'll fix it so you can't
even throw your hat into the Republican party and follow in to get it.
I'll--"

"One moment, Luke," broke in the elder Thornton. "For some weeks now,
when things have come to a crisis, you have set yourself up as the whole
Republican party of this State. But when you get to talking that way you
represent it about as much as Parson Prouty represents the real
temperance sentiment. There's quite a bunch of us who are not in the
ramrodding business. General Waymouth is the nominee of our convention.
No one has delegated to you the job of deciding on his qualifications.
It's your job to go ahead and elect him. If you don't propose to do it,
then resign."

"No, sir!" shouted Presson.

"Then get busy--collect a campaign fund and make these last three weeks
hum! This is largely a matter between friends, right here now. I've told
Vard what I think of him, and I haven't minced words. It's bad enough
for a man to try to be absolutely honest in politics. That's where he's
making his mistake. But he can get past with the people--they'll think
it more or less bluff, anyway, even it's Varden Waymouth talking. But
the kind of dishonesty you're standing for, Luke, won't get past.
They'll ride you out of this State on a rail--and I'll furnish the
rail."

"I'll furnish something more!" cried Harlan, unable to restrain himself
any longer. "To-morrow morning I shall put ten thousand dollars into
General Waymouth's campaign fund--my own money."

"You see, Luke," drawled the Duke, "it really looks as though Vard would
be elected anyway. I might subscribe a little myself if only I had a
rich grandfather, the same as Harlan has."

The unhappy chairman sat down in his chair again and struggled with his
anger. He could not give it rein--he realized that. Party and personal
interests were all jeopardized. But he knew he could not afford to have
utter personal disgrace accompany his defeat. Desertion of the party
candidate, if advertised in the fashion the General threatened, meant
ruin of his name as wel