There was Luke Presson’s daughter!

He strode into the lobby of the hotel, his face gloomy and his thoughts dark.  Linton stepped forward to meet him, hat and overcoat on.  It was evident that he had been waiting.  The sight of him did not improve Harlan’s temper.  From the first day of the session they had eyed each other malevolently.  They had bristled at every possible point of contact.  Linton’s last exploit had been a speech favoring the railroad tax rebate, a speech in which he scored those who opposed it as enemies to the development of the State.  The fervor of his eloquence had made even Harlan Thornton doubt, sourly, whether a constitution that was framed before the exigencies of progress were dreamed of should be too rigidly construed.  That was still another point where he and his grandfather disagreed, and the cogent speech of Linton had been the cause of further dispute between them.  The Duke was disgusted because his grandson could be so scrupulous that he could not be progressive.  For Harlan the straight path of rectitude was fringed with signs set there by friends, every sign inscribed “Fool.”  From the first, Linton had seemed to aggravate his difficulties, politically and personally.

“Can you give me a few minutes of your time?” he asked, stiffly.

“If it’s business, and important, yes,” returned Harlan, scowling.

“I should not bother you with anything except business.  And as this is of a private nature, I must ask you to invite me to your room.”

Harlan led the way to the elevator.

Linton did not remove his overcoat when they were closeted together.  He stood with hat in his hand.

“It may surprise you to learn that my business concerns Miss Presson and the legislative ball to-morrow evening,” began Linton, but Harlan indignantly broke in.

“You can have no possible business with me, sir, in which Miss Presson’s name may be mentioned.  Don’t you use her name—­not in any way.  Do you understand?”

“I understand this:  I know what I’m talking about and exactly why I’ve come here, and you’re going to listen.  Miss Presson has accepted your escort to the ball to-morrow evening.  Don’t you know, Thornton, why you can’t take Madeleine Presson into public, this whole State looking on?  I hate to say any more than that.  I don’t think it’s necessary for me to say any more than that!” His face was hard, his tone accusing.

“I tell you, you have no right to mention Miss Presson to me!” cried the other.

“I’m taking it on myself, and I’m giving you a chance by doing it,” retorted Linton.  “The story is bad enough now.  But you’ll be drummed out of this State if you insult an innocent girl in the way you plan to do.”

In his indignation Thornton had been slow to grasp the fact that his rival was making hints that both affronted and threatened.  His conscience accused him of nothing.  He felt the crackle of paper in his breast-pocket.  He promptly suspected that Linton had gleaned a hint of the proposed legislation which would involve Madeleine’s father.