"Squire Thornton," said one, "we're barred out of this caucus. They won't let us up."
And still their leader was imperturbable. He turned inquiring gaze on the Reverend Dudley, and that gentleman declared himself with suspicious haste.
"This is going to be a strictly Republican caucus, and the check-list has been marked," he said. "We don't propose to have Democrats come in and run our affairs for us."
It was a challenge thrown down in good earnest.
In spite of the warning that his scout had brought to him, the Duke had hardly believed that amateur politicians would go to this extreme. More than ever he realized that unscrupulous men higher up were using these tools. And it was plain that the instruments had been tutored to believe that the end justified the means. What Ivus Niles said about the devil and fire betrayed them.
The Duke walked over to the minister, and took him by the lapels of his coat.
"Elder," he protested, "I don't like to see a good man used for tongs in politics. There's a lot you don't know about this game. You're in wrong."
"You're not the right man to tell me so, Mr. Thornton. I represent reform. It's time we had it. And your gospel in politics isn't my gospel."
"You've got the revised version, Parson Dudley, if you find a text in it about splitting a caucus at the door of the hall."
"The sheep shall be divided from the goats, sir."