Tom hastened to nominate Norman and Barbara. The old miner's speech was couched in plain, uncouth words, but they came from the heart and their rugged eloquence stirred the crowd with surprising power. Diggs glanced over the audience through his flashing glasses, and his perpetual smile faded into a look of uneasiness as a round of applause swept the house.
He tiptoed to Wolf's side and whispered:
"Any danger?"
"Not the slightest. I want him to get some votes. It's better so."
The programme went through without a hitch. Wolf and Catherine were elected regents by an overwhelming majority and a new board of governors chosen with not a single one whom Norman knew personally.
The young leader sat in sullen silence, and watched the proceedings with contempt. Barbara looked on in increasing wonder and pain.
When the result was announced and the cheering had died away she bent her beautiful head close to his and whispered:
"This is a complete surprise. You believe me?"
"Yes," he quickly answered, "and one touch of your hand will rob defeat of its sting."
She pressed his hand with lingering tenderness and sought Catherine with a flash of anger in her brown eyes that boded trouble for the house of Wolf.