cursing himself for
a fool. The moment the check had left his hands he was angry because he
had allowed circumstances to stampede him.

He wondered what was getting into him and into politics.

Was he afraid of mere talk from a demagogue!

But after he had sat there for a few moments and listened, and had
watched the faces of the delegates, he decided that if five thousand
dollars would stop the mouth of that man he had spent money wisely.
It was borne in upon him that he had spent greater sums many times for
lesser service.

He saw Richard Dodd and Mullaney circulating among the delegates. He
restrained with difficulty an impulse to rise and shout to them to
hurry. He felt that danger to his program and his political structure
was imminent. Because once again were true eloquence and masterly appeal
winning men.

All the listeners in the vast hall were as still as death. All eyes were
on this speaker who seemed to be clothing with effective speech all the
hidden convictions of the delegates themselves who had nursed protest
without being able to put it into force.

Colonel Dodd had seen conventions in similar mood in the old days before
the saddle of party had been as securely cinched as it had been in late
years.

The chairman of the state committee uttered the colonel's rising fears.
The chairman had lost his sneer and his bumptious confidence. His face
was red, he was sweating, he was staring out over the convention and
snapping his fingers impatiently.

"Good gad!" he informed those in hearing on the platform, "what kind of
a turn is this thing taking? We have let this convention get away from
us. That chap has got the whole crowd marching to the mourners' bench.
He can wind up by nominating a yellow dog and they'll rise and howl him
into office by acclamation!"

Farr paused for a moment to give effect to his next words.

"Such in character, in honest impulse, in honor, in ability, in
devotion, and in God-given nobility must be the man who will lead you.
Has God given such a man to this state? He has!"

"Yes and the devil has given us Nelson Sinkler to speak for that man!"

The voice was shrill and agitated and it came from a section of the hall
where the rabid adherents of the machine were massed; it was an amazing
and shocking interruption.

"I said Nelson Sinkler--that's you!" screamed the voice.

And on that, from here and there in the hall, like snipers posted in
ambush, men shouted the name "