The Ramrodders | Page 4

voted for you, like my folks did before me. You're
welcome to all those votes, Representative Thornton, but neither you
nor your grandson is going to get any more. And as I say, so say many
others in this district."
"No crowned heads, no rings in the noses of the people," declared Niles,
yanking the cord and producing a bleat of fury from his emblematic
captive.
"I don't stand for Niles and his monkey business," protested Davis. "I'm
on a different platform. All is, we propose to be represented from now
on; not mis-represented!"
Something like stupefaction succeeded the anger in the countenance of
the Duke of Fort Canibas. Again he made careful scrutiny of the faces
of his constituents. Then he turned his back on them and climbed up the
twisted roots to his chair, sat down, faced them, caught his breath, and
ejaculated, "Well, I'll be eternally d----d!"
He studied their faces for some time. But he was too good a politician
to put much value on those human documents upraised to him. There
were grins, subtle or humorous. There were a few scowls. One or two,
tittering while they did it, urged the "War Eagle" on to fresh tirade. It
was a mob that hardly knew its own mind, that was plain. But revolt
was there. He felt it. It was one of those queer rebellions, starting with a
joke for an excuse, but ready to settle into something serious. It was not
so much hostility that he saw at that moment as something more
dangerous--lack of respect.
"Look here, boys, I've been hearing that some of those cheap suckers
from down State have been sneaking around this district. But I've never
insulted you by believing you took any stock in that kind of cattle.
We're neighbors here together. What's the matter with me? Out with
your real grouch!"
"Look at this emblem I've brought," began Niles, oracularly, but
Thornton was no longer in the mood that humored cranks. He jumped

down, yanked the cord away from Niles, kicked the sheep and sent it
scampering off with frightened bleats.
"If you fellows want an emblem, there's one," declared their indignant
leader. "I'm all right for a joke--but the joke has got to stop when it has
gone far enough."
He had sobered them. His disgusted glance swept their faces, and grins
were gone. He went among them.
"Get around me, boys," he invited. "This isn't any stump speech. I'm
going to talk business."
They did crowd around him, most of them, but Mr. Niles was still
intractable. "You're right, it was your emblem just now! It has always
been a kick from you and the rest of the high and mighty ones when
you didn't want our wool."
"You're an infernal old liar and meddler, torched on by some one else!"
retorted the Duke. "Now, boys, I see into this thing better than you do.
Any time when I haven't used my district right, when I've betrayed you,
or my word of advice isn't worth anything, I'll step out--and it won't
need any bee of this kind to come around and serve notice on me. But I
understand just what this shivaree means. Sneaks have come in here
and lied behind my back and fooled some of you. Fools need to be
saved from themselves. There are men in this State who would peel to
their political shirts if they could lick Thelismer Thornton in his own
district just now when the legislative caucuses are beginning. But I
won't let you be fooled that way!"
"The name of 'Duke' fits you all right," piped Niles from a safe distance.
"This is a dynasty and I've said it was, and now you're showing the
cloven foot!"
Thornton disdained to reply. He continued to walk about among them.
"They're trying to work you, boys," he went on. "I heard they were
conniving to do business in this district, but I haven't insulted you by
paying any attention to rumors. I want you to go down to that caucus

this afternoon and vote for Harlan. You all know him. I'm an old man,
and I want to see him started right before I get done. You all know
what the Thorntons have done for you--and what they can do. I don't
propose to see you swap horses while you're crossing the river."
But they did not rally in the good old way. There was something the
matter with them. Those who dared to meet his gaze scowled. Those
who looked away from him kept their eyes averted as though they were
afraid to show their new faith. They had dared to march up to him
behind Niles and his buck sheep, masking revolt under their grins. But
Thornton realized that whoever had