It was a challenge thrown down in good earnest.

In spite of the warning that his scout had brought to him, the Duke had hardly believed that amateur politicians would go to this extreme.  More than ever he realized that unscrupulous men higher up were using these tools.  And it was plain that the instruments had been tutored to believe that the end justified the means.  What Ivus Niles said about the devil and fire betrayed them.

The Duke walked over to the minister, and took him by the lapels of his coat.

“Elder,” he protested, “I don’t like to see a good man used for tongs in politics.  There’s a lot you don’t know about this game.  You’re in wrong.”

“You’re not the right man to tell me so, Mr. Thornton.  I represent reform.  It’s time we had it.  And your gospel in politics isn’t my gospel.”

“You’ve got the revised version, Parson Dudley, if you find a text in it about splitting a caucus at the door of the hall.”

“The sheep shall be divided from the goats, sir.”

“You’ve got this caucus and the Judgment Day mixed, elder.”  He released the minister and stepped back.  “I never yet talked rough to a parson.  But you’ve cut loose from common sense.  When you get down on a level with me at a caucus door you’re no parson—­you’re a politician, and you’ll have to let me say that you’re a blasted poor one.  You’re Enoch Dudley, now.  And I want to tell you, Enoch, that neither you nor any bunch of steers you happen to be teaming can keep legal voters out of that hall.  As to whether this or that man can vote in the caucus, that will be settled when we get in there.  But these men of mine are going in.  It’s up to you to decide whether they shall go in as lions or lambs.”

“Violence shall rest on your own head!” cried the minister.  “I’ll see that the world knows about it.”

“We’ll see whose case shows up best when the report is made,” retorted the Duke.  “But I’m done arguing.  Pull off those deputies.”  Sheriff Niles appeared at that moment.  He had left his subalterns to store the confiscated liquors.

“Niles, pull your men off the door, here,” commanded the Duke.  “Your county politics hasn’t any business at our caucus here to-day.”

“I’ve been asked to keep this caucus regular, and I’m going to do it,” insisted the sheriff.

“So am I,” agreed Thornton.  “So when the story goes out it will have to be said that you and I were working together to keep politics pure.”  The faithful Sylvester was hovering on the outskirts of the crowd.  Thornton beckoned to him and he came.  The Duke had probed the scheme and understood the stubbornness of the opposition.  He was ready to act now.