of her cordial acceptance of him as he was, and felt
sure that Herbert Linton had won no more from her.

CHAPTER XXIV

A GOVERNOR AND A MAID

The Honorable Arba Spinney was in the lobby as usual that winter. The
Duke's sarcastic prediction was fulfilled. He appeared promptly at the
session's opening, and was the most insistent and persistent member of
the "Third House," as the paid legislative agents were called. Most of
the men who wormed their way here and there operated craftily and tried
to be diplomatic. Spinney strove by effrontery. As usual, he made the
country members his especial prey. The story of his knavery at the State
Convention had been smothered in the interests of the party. He
reappeared among men with as much assurance as ever. He even approached
Harlan Thornton to solicit his support of one bill. It was a measure to
grant State subsidy, through exemption of taxation, to assist a railroad
to extend its lines into the timber-land country.

Harlan checked him promptly. "I don't propose to discuss that question
or any other with you, Mr. Spinney."

"If that road is built it will double the value of half your lands,"
insisted the lobbyist. "It's business for you and it's business for us,
and there's no reason why you shouldn't talk business, is there?"

"It doesn't interest me, Mr. Spinney." He went on, hotly: "I know just
as much about the matter as you do. It's an attempt to evade the State
constitution, which forbids subsidizing railroads. Governor Waymouth has
explained it to me. I don't propose to profit by any such methods. And
I'll inform you, further, that it's just about the sort of a scheme I'd
expect to find you working for. Do you understand me?"

"I know what you're referring to. But that matter is over with. I got
the worst end of it. You helped to pass it to me. You can't afford to
carry on any quarrel with me, Thornton. Holding grudges is bad business;
so is making a fool of yourself by playing little tin saint in public
matters."

"I hold no grudge against you. That would be getting down on your level.
I'm simply disgusted with you as a man, Mr. Spinney. That's all. You
know why. Now leave me alone."

But Spinney boldly intercepted him. Harlan had started to leave. The
lobbyist realized what a powerful foe young Thornton could be to his
project, and he was desperate.

"I've been up through your country, Mr. Thornton. I've been spending
some time at Fort Canibas. I've b