nature." General Waymouth was as cold and calm as inexorable Fate
itself. "I accept your pledge, Chairman Presson. Not one interest of
yours that is right will suffer at my hands. On the other hand, not one
interest that is wrong will be protected. It's simply up to you!"

"I don't suppose you care to go over the plans with me to night?"

"I shall ask you to confer with Mr. Harlan Thornton on all matters. He
knows my wishes and plans. He will remain here at headquarters as my
representative."

If the chairman felt that he was being put under guard and espionage,
his face did not betray it. He took leave of the General, and escorted
out his associate committeemen.

"Reminds me of the time Uncle Stote Breed went with the boys on a
fishing-trip," remarked the Duke, after they were gone. "They ate the
sardines out of the tin before Uncle Stote got in off the pond, and put
in raw chubs they'd been using for live bait. Uncle Stote ate 'em all.
'Boys, your ile is all right,' said he, when he cleaned 'em out, 'but it
seems to me your leetle fish is a mite underdone.' But Luke will eat
anything you hand him after this, Vard."

He took his grandson by the arm, and started him toward the door.

"Let the General get to bed," he advised, jocosely. "He ought to have
pleasant dreams to-night."

Harlan expected that his grandfather would have some rather serious talk
for his ear. But he merely remarked, leaving him at the door of his
room: "If you keep on, son, I'll be passed down to posterity simply as
'Harlan Thornton's grandfather.'"

CHAPTER XXII

FROM THE MOUTH OF A MAID

Under a sudden stimulus of rallies, red fire, and band-music, the
campaign blossomed promisingly. Democracy's dark hints that the dominant
party had been rent by factional strife were suddenly answered by an
outrush of spellbinders from Republican headquarters, a flood of
literature, and an astonishing display of active harmony. Chairman Luke
Presson received compliments for the manner in which he had held his
fire until he "had seen the whites of the enemy's eyes." He replied to
such compliments with fine display of modest reserve, and in private
gritted his teeth and swore over the statement that General Waymouth
issued to the voters of the State--a document that bound the party to a
professed programme of honest reorganization. The treasurer of the State
Committee drew checks amounting to more than fifteen thousand dollars to
pay for the pr