The study door behind him was timidly opened. Caleb did not hear.
“Not a one left!” he murmured again. “And——”
“Is anything the matter, dear?” nervously queried his wife from the threshold. “It’s nearly——”
“You don’t count!” shouted Caleb Conover, with odd irrelevance. “Go to bed, can’t you?”
CHAPTER XII
CALEB CONOVER FIGHTS
The real campaign was at last under way, and the Mountain State thrilled as never before in the history of politics. At a composite convention made up of the Republican and lesser parties of the State, and held almost directly after that of the Democrats, faction lines were cast aside and Clive Standish nominated by acclamation. Ansel had presided, and scores of bolting Democrats were in attendance.
Then, in Granite and throughout the State, Clive began what is still recalled as his “whirlwind campaign.” Often ten speeches a day were delivered as he hurried from point to point. The reports of his meetings were sown broadcast, as was other legitimate campaign literature. Because of the daring and extraordinary course he had taken, as well as for the sane, practical reforms he advocated, he was everywhere listened to with growing interest.
The Mountain State was at last awake—awake and hearkening eagerly to the voice of the man who had roused it from its Rip Van Winkle slumbers.
Horrified, wholly aghast, the Conover lieutenants had heard their master’s decree that the press gag was to be removed, and other customary tactics of the sort abandoned. None dared to protest. And, after the first shock, the majority, in their sublime faith, read in the mandate some mysterious new manœuvre of the Railroader’s which time would triumphantly justify.
Meantime, Conover was working as never before. The very difficulty of the task in hand evoked all his fighting blood. He would have preferred to win without so much labor. But since his ordinary moves were barred, his soul secretly rejoiced in the prospect of fair and furious battle. That he would conquer, as always before, he did not at first doubt. When he had made his bargain with Anice Lanier, he had done so confident in his power to sweep all opposition from his path; and he had secretly despised the girl for allowing herself to be duped.