hat they've done, Tute, is come up here with a dose to fit the palate
of every one of you fellows, and you don't know enough to understand
that you're being handled. You're going to vote against me, are you?"

"I call on this gentleman to witness that I say you're the best man for
the place. You're able, you're efficient, and you have done an immense
amount of good for your constituents, and you--"

"But you won't vote for me to-day, eh?" reiterated the old man,
pitilessly.

Mr. Tute started again on his line of fulsome praise, but the Duke
checked him brusquely.

"That will do, Professor Tute. I like cake. I like it frosted. But I'll
be d--d if I want it all frosting. Run up into the hall. Come along,
Luke. We'll miss the text if we don't get in."

The last of the stragglers followed them up the stairs.

CHAPTER VI

A CAUCUS, AND HOW IT WAS RUN

The earlier arrivals had pushed the settees of the Fort Canibas town
hall to one side. They were piled against an end wall. There were not
enough of them to furnish seats for that mob. For that matter, voters
seemed to have no inclination to sit down that day. There was barely
enough standing-room when all had entered the hall.

Through them, friends and foes jostling each other, the Duke took his
leisurely way. Presson was close behind him.

The rostrum, elevated a few feet above the main floor, was enclosed by
boarding that came almost to the shoulders of those who stood within.
Thornton, arrived at the front of the hall, put his shoulders against
the boarding, shoved his hands into his trousers pockets, and gazed into
the faces of his constituents. He was still amiable. But Presson sulked.
It was hot in there, and the proletariat was unkempt and smoked rank
tobacco.

"It's worth your while just the same, Luke," advised Thornton, in an
undertone. He was conscious of the chairman's disgust, and it amused
him. "They're going to have real caucuses in this State this year, they
tell me. And this seems to be a nice little working model of the real
thing. Better study it. It'll give you points on 'popular unrest,' as
the newspapers are calling it."

The men in the pen above them were having an animated discussion. They
were the members of the town committee. Thornton craned his neck and
looked up at them. One of his loyal friends was there.

"What's the matter, Tom? Why not call to order?"

The man gave him a cautious wink before replying.

"There don't s