the malcontents the big man had
not been able to hear, but he guessed.

"Some sort of sneak has been stirring up the fools in this city lately,"
the aristocrat informed the officer who came promptly to the side of the
car. "Who is this fellow coming?"

"I never saw him before, Colonel Dodd."

"Stand by! He is going to tackle me and make a grand-stand play in front
of his gang. His clothes give him away--a loafing demagogue!"

But the tall man did not pause at the car or even glance at the
dignitary who occupied it. He seemed to have lost all interest in the
occasion. He yawned as he passed the automobile and started away across
the square.

"Here, you! You big chap!" called Colonel Dodd, promptly emboldened.

Farr halted and turned, his countenance showing mild inquiry.

"What do you mean by coming into a peaceable city and stirring up labor
troubles?"

"Have I done so?"

"You have just been mixing and mingling with those men, talking to them.
I know your kind."

"Ah, a gentleman of keen discernment!"

"I have seen you before--you fellows with long-tailed coats and
short-horned ideas. We don't want your kind in this city!"

"I seem to have made a prompt sensation without trying to do so,"
returned Farr, meekly. "I have been in your city less than fifteen
minutes, sir!"

"You're a traveling labor-agitator, aren't you?"

"No, sir."

"But I just saw you circulating among those men. Your rig-out shows your
character!"

"You mean these garments I wear?"

"Certainly! A frock-coat helps out your pose before an ignorant public."

"He stole that coat from me," squeaked a fat man, standing at a little
distance, scrubbing a torn sleeve over his grimy, sweat-streaked face.
"He picked it fair off'n my back. I have follered him to show him up as
a robber and a fake. That's so help me!"

Riotous laughter from all the listeners followed that declaration;
a glance at the tubby tramp and survey of the tall young man whose
contours fitted the garments made the fat man's assertion seem like a
huge joke.

"I can prove it!" squalled the vagrant.

"Beat it! Get out of this city!" commanded a policeman. "If you
don't we'll have you on the rock-pile. What ye mean by such guff?" He
flourished his stick and the tramp hurried away.

"It's no use," he whined. "Grab and bluff! Him what can do it best
always wins. That's the way the world goes!"

"When I took these clothes off the back of my vanishing friend I felt
tha