I told you the truth. The men who go
out and hunt for office are the ones who work the thing for their own
profit--and that means they stand in with the bunch and the head boss."

It was the same old lament which is everlastingly on the lips of
the voters of America! Citizen Drew had again epitomized the average
politics of the great Republic!

Walker Farr smiled--and he could express in a smile more than most men
can express in speech.

"An original idea has just occurred to me, Citizen Drew," he said, with
humorous drawl in his tones. "I'm sure nothing like it has ever
been thought of before. There ought to be a new party formed in this
country--a party outside all the others. No, not a party, exactly!
What should I call it? You see, the idea has just come to me, and I'm
floundering a little." His tone was still jocular. "You're right about
most of the able and big men staying out of politics except when
the highest offices are passed around. Now, how's this for a scheme?
Organize a loyal band and call it--well, say the Purified Political
Privateers, the Sanctified Kidnappers, the People's Progressive and
Public-spirited Press Gang. Go around and grab the Great and the Good
who insist on minding their private business and who are letting the
country be gobbled up--just go and grab 'em right up by the scruff
of the neck and fling them into politics head over heels. They would
sputter and froth and flop for a little while--and then they'd strike
out and swim. They couldn't help swimming! They'd know that the folks
were looking on. And then a lot of the sinking and drowning poor devils,
like you and me and the folks in the tenements, could grab onto the
Great and the Good and ask 'em to tow us safely ashore; and by that
time their pride and their dander would be up and they'd swim all the
harder--with the other folks looking on. Hah! An idea, eh? You see,
I feel rather imaginative and on the high pressure and in a mood for
adventure this evening! Probably because the nice old ladies called me a
knight-errant."

Citizen Drew was not ready with comment on this amazing suggestion.
He clawed his hand into his sparse hair and wrinkled his forehead in
attempt to decide whether or not he ought to resent this playful retort
to his lament. The next moment he dealt Farr a swift jab in the ribs
with his elbow.

"Take a good look at this man coming," he mumbled.

The oncomer was close upon them, and in spite of the dusk Farr