for him, to help him in
the development of his plans, save him frequently both time and fatigue.
It fell about that when the lectures were delivered at distant points the
two men journeyed together.

Latimer entered Baird's library on one occasion just as a sharp-faced,
rather theatrical-looking man left it.

"You'll let me know your decision, sir, as soon as possible," the
stranger departed, saying. "These things ought always to be developed
just at the right moment. This is your right moment. Everybody is talking
you over, one way or another." When the stranger was gone, Baird
explained his presence.

"That is an agent," he said; "he proposes that I shall lecture through
the States. I--don't know," as if pondering the thing.

"The things you say should be said to many," remarked Latimer.

"The more the better," said Baird, reflectively; "I know that--the more
the better."

They sat and talked the matter over at length. The objections to it were
neither numerous nor serious.

"And I want to say these things," said Baird, a little feverishly. "I
want to say them again and again."

Before they parted for the night it was decided that he should accede to
the proposal, and that Latimer should arrange to be his companion.

"It is the lecture 'Repentance,' he tells me, is most in demand," Baird
said, as he walked to the door, with a hand in Latimer's.

CHAPTER XXXI

Frequenters of the Capitol--whether loungers or politicians--had soon
become familiar with the figure of one of the De Willoughby claimants. It
was too large a figure not to be quickly marked and unavoidably
remembered. Big Tom slowly mounting the marble steps or standing on the
corridors was an object to attract attention, and inquiries being
answered by the information that he was a party to one of the largest
claims yet made, he not unnaturally was discussed with interest.

"He's from the depths of the mountains of North Carolina," it was
explained; "he keeps a cross-roads store and post-office, but he has some
of the best blood of the South in his veins, and his claim is enormous."

"Will he gain it?"

"Who knows? He has mortgaged all he owns to make the effort. The claim is
inherited from his father, Judge De Willoughby, who died at the close of
the war. As he lived and died within the Confederacy, the Government
holds that he was disloyal and means to make the most of it. The
claimants hold that they can prove him loyal. They'll hav