Thelismer Thornton did not lose his smile.
"I'd like to have you meet the Rev. Enoch Dudley, evangelist, Luke. This is Mr. Presson, chairman of the State Committee, elder. Now that you're getting into politics you'd ought to be acquainted with your chief priest."
But Rev. Mr. Dudley, not approving the company that the State chairman was keeping, did not warm up.
"I thank you for your pleasantries, Mr. Thornton," he returned, stiffly. "I hope your sneers may make you as many votes to-day as they have in the past."
"Well, they won't," blurted a voice from a knot of men at the foot of the stairs. "We're getting woke up in this district. And it ain't going to be an empire any longer."
"I'm rather too humble a man, sir, to associate with the high lords of politics," Mr. Dudley remarked to the chairman. "The Honorable Thornton has always been up there. I'm simply one of the plain people."
"And it's time for the plain people to have their innings," declared another in the crowd.
"The pack is off!" muttered the Duke in Presson's ear.
"Why don't you introduce him right," called another. "Reverend Dudley is the next representative from this district, Mr. Chairman. And we know where he stands!"
"An humble little platform is mine," stated the minister. "But it's down where all can step aboard with me. That's all I can say."