“Then I want you to go on a mission to Col. Duke, the President of the National Farmer’s Alliance. He’s a good Baptist. He means well, but he’s crazy. He dreams of the Presidency when he has established the Sub-Treasury for the farmers. He’s afraid of the Negro, and is nervous about using him. He knows I am the most influential Baptist preacher in the state. Tell him I say you will win, and that we will give him the nomination for Governor, and put him in line for the Presidency.” “When shall I go to see him?” “Immediately. Get ready to-night.” The next week McLeod was seated in his office at Hambright receiving reports from his political henchmen at Raleigh. “I tell you, McLeod, there’s a hitch. Something’s dropped. Duke’s as coy as a maid of sixteen. He says no decision can be made now until he submits a lot of rot to all the lodges of the Alliance and the ‘Referendum’ decides these points. You’d better get hold of him and comb the kinks out of him quick.” McLeod’s eyes flashed with anger, as he twisted the points of his red moustache. “It’s that damned Baptist Preacher,” he said. “I ’ll get even with him yet if it’s the only thorough job I do on this earth.” CHAPTER IX--THE RHYTHM OF THE DANCE BEFORE boarding the train he was to take for Raleigh, he lingered with Mrs. Durham talking, talking, talking about the wonder of his love. As he arose to leave he said, “Now, Mother dear”---- “Charlie, you just say that so beautifully to make me your slave.” “Of course I do. What I was going to say is, I can’t write to her. I don’t dare. You can. Tell her all about me won’t you? Everything that you think will interest and please her, and that will be discreet. Your intuitions will tell you how far to go. Tell her how hard I’m working and what an important mission I’ve undertaken, and the tremendous things that hang on its outcome. And tell her how impatiently I’m waiting for her to come to the Springs. Be sure to tell her that.” “All right. I ’ll act as your attorney in your absence. But hurry back, she must not get here first. I want you to be on the spot.” “I ’ll be here if I have to give up politics and go into business--and you know how I hate that word ‘business.’” “I ’ll telegraph you if she comes.” “Don’t let her come till I get back. Tell her the hotel isn’t fit to receive guests yet--it never is for that matter--but anything to give me time to get here.” He worked with indomitable courage for two weeks, visiting the principal towns in the state, and everywhere arousing intense enthusiasm. There was something contagious in his spirit. The young fellows were charmed by his eager intense way of looking at things, they caught the infection and he made hundreds of staunch friends. “You’re just in time!” cried his mother greeting him with radiant face on his return. “She is coming tomorrow. I’ve a beautiful letter from her. I think one of the sweetest letters a girl ever wrote.” “Let me see it!” “No.”