In another moment he would have made his motion for a solid Negro delegation and stampeded the Convention had it not been for the single burst of eloquence with which he closed his speech. Just at the moment when he held every heart in the dusky host in the hollow of his hand, he thundered: “Against the white traitor of the South who has perpetrated these wrongs on your defenseless heads I hurl the everlasting curse of God! Only a race of dastards and cowards would thus sneak under the cover of night to strike their foes!” He had scarcely uttered the words when Billy Graham rushed from the outer circle of the crowd where he had sauntered with Mrs. Wilson, surrounded by a dozen fun-making youngsters, and ran toward the platform. “Wait a minute!” he said, with uplifted hand, his voice quivering with rage. Larkin’s arm dropped; he halted in amazement, every eye fixed on Billy. John Graham sprang to his feet with a muttered oath of surprise in time to see Billy square himself in front of the speaker and say: “If you think the Southern people a race of cowards and dastards come down off that platform and knock this chip off my shoulder, you old white-livered cur!” He placed a chip on his shoulder and strutted before Larkin. The Carpetbagger was too astonished to reply. He gazed at the boy in confusion and muttered an inarticulate protest. Billy jumped on the platform and walked around him like a game bantam, crying: “Knock it off--d------ you! knock it off! If you want to test it! A dozen of my friends are out there, yours all around you, a hundred to one, but knock it off! knock it off!” John Graham had reached the platform by this time, seized Billy and led him back through the crowd to Mrs. Wilson who was in hysterics, the boys vainly trying to quiet her. “What the devil’s the matter with you--have you gone crazy?” John whispered, shaking Billy fiercely. “Go home and behave yourself!” “Attend to your own business, John Graham; I’m attending to mine!” was Billy’s sullen answer. And without another word he led Mrs. Wilson away followed by his companions, while John gazed after him with increasing astonishment. In the confusion which followed Billy’s sudden challenge the Judge saw his chance. He sprang to his feet and moved to adjourn for dinner. Before Larkin could recover himself the motion was carried and the Convention adjourned. Butler turned to the Carpetbagger and said: “I wish to see you in my hotel immediately on a matter of the gravest importance.” “I haven’t time, Judge,” Larkin carelessly answered. “I’m in no mood to be trifled with,” answered the Judge. “It’s a waste of time, your Honour--you’re a back number. Why should I talk with you?” “There’s one reason big enough to interest you,” the Judge answered with sinister suggestion. Larkin fixed his opponent a moment with his piercing eyes and said with contempt: “I’ll join you in a moment.”