"H. Fisbee" understood the tariff as well as any woman who ever lived. But
the tariff inspired no more articles from that pen.

Rodney McCune had lifted his head, and those who had followed his stricken
enemy felt that the cause was lost, without the leader. The old ring that
the "Herald" had crushed was a ring once more, and the heelers had
rallied--"the boys were in line again." The work had been done quietly,
and Halloway was already beaten, and beaten badly. John Harkless lay sick,
and Rodney McCune would sit in Congress, for the nomination meant
election. But one day the Harkless forces, demoralized, broken, almost
hopeless, woke up to find that they had a leader. Many of them were
content with the belief that this was a young lawyer named Keating, who
had risen up in Amo; but Mr. Keating himself had a different impression.

Helen was a little nervous, and very much excited, over the political
conference at Judge Briscoe's. She planned it with careful diplomacy, and
arranged the details with a fine sense of the dramatic. There was a
suggestion she desired to have made in this meeting, which she wished
should emanate from the Amo and Gaines County people, instead of
proceeding from Carlow--for she thought it better to make the outsiders
believe her idea an inspiration of their own--so she made a little comedy
and provided for Briscoe's entrance at an effective moment. The judge was
a substantial influence, strong in the councils of his party when he chose
to be; and though of late years he had contented himself with voting at
the polls, every one knew what weight he carried when he saw fit to bestir
himself.

When he entered the parlor, he found the politicians in a state of subdued
excitement. Helen sat by the window, blushing, and talking eagerly to old
Fisbee. One of the gentlemen from Gaines County was walking about the room