“Before the campaign really opens there will be three weeks or so in which you may attend to your own affairs.  You remember that it was you that dragged me into this, young man!” It was the old jest, but it had taken on meaning within twenty-four hours.  “You have seen with your own eyes, heard with your ears, how I stand alone between factions which are willing to sacrifice the State in order to win for their own interests.  I have planted my standard between ’em!  I’ll try to rally an army to it that will leave the extremists of both those sides hopelessly deserted by the rank and file of the honest citizens.  I need you with me, for you have been with me from the start, and you have shown your fitness” (he smiled), “even to securing an audience with the Honorable Spinney.  Is it yes, my young friend?”

“It is yes, General Waymouth.  I question my ability—­I know it is poor.  But of my loyalty there is no question.”

The General grasped his hand.  They were at the car steps.  “It shall be ‘Boots and saddles!’ three weeks from to-day!”

Linton was in the parlors of the hotel with the Presson party when Harlan arrived, glowing with his new enthusiasm, confident in his new elevation in the affairs of men.  In the affairs of women he was not quite as sure of his desires or his standing, but his mood was new, and he realized it.  He went straight to Madeleine Presson.  Twenty-four hours before the presence of Linton at her side would have held him aloof.

He put out his hand to the young lawyer, and Linton took it.

“I extend my congratulations rather late, but they are sincere.  It was a noble speech.  You put in words my own thoughts regarding a noble man.”

“Perhaps you could have expressed those thoughts just as well as I did.”  Linton was not cordial.

“No, sir, not with a woodsman’s vocabulary, though with such a text I certainly should have felt the true inspiration.”

“You’ll have to claim considerable political foresight, even though you cast doubt on your eloquence,” said Linton, rather sourly.  “I’ll confess that I jumped wrong.  But I had my interests to protect.  Let me ask you—­is General Waymouth offended, very much so, because I withdrew my support this morning?”

“General Waymouth has not made any comments on the matter in my hearing.”

“I know you can explain to him—­”

Harlan broke in, impatiently: 

“I am not cheeky enough to advise such a man about picking his political support.  I beg your pardon, Miss Presson!” He bowed.  He turned to Linton.  “I hope you won’t open this subject with me again, Mr. Linton.  I am so loyal to General Waymouth that you cannot explain satisfactorily to me any reasons why you should have deserted him to-day!  You will see now why the topic should not be referred to again between us.”

Linton bristled.

“If you take such an unjust view of it as that, I certainly feel that the matter should be referred to again between us—­at the proper time!”