you _do_
take the interest, unless you _do_ fight to stem the movement of these
dwarfed and bitter leaders, unless you _do_ overcome their arguments
based on much solid-rock truth by definite personal work, by definite
constructive education, your civilization, my civilization and the
civilization of all the centuries will fall before socialism and
anarchy.'

"But _that_ was not what he said. I have never heard the minister of a
rich congregation say that yet. Have you, Burke?"

"No, the minister who talked like that would have to look for a new
pulpit, or get a job as a carpenter, like the Minister long ago, who
made the rich men angry. But I had no idea that you thought about such
things, Mr. Barton. You'd make a pretty good minister yourself."

The old inventor laughed as he patted the young man on the back.

"Burke, the trouble with most ministers, and poets, and painters, and
novelists, and law-makers, and other successful professional men who
are supposed to show us common, working people the right way to go is
that they don't get out and mix it up. They don't have to work for a
mean boss, they don't know what it is to go hungry and starved and
afraid to call your soul your own--scared by the salary envelope at the
end of the week. They don't get out and make their _souls_ sweat
_blood_. Otherwise, they'd reform the world so quickly that men like
Trubus wouldn't be able to make a living out of the charity game."

Barton smiled jovially.

"But here we go sermonizing. People don't want to listen to sermons
all the time."

"Well, we're on a serious subject, and it means our bread and butter
and our happiness in life, when you get right down to it," said Bobbie.
"I don't like sermons myself. I'd rather live in the Garden of Eden,
where they didn't need any. Wouldn't you?"

"Yes, but my wheel chair would find it rough riding without any
clearings," said Barton. "By the way, Bob, I've some news for you. My
lawyer is coming up here to-night, to talk over some patent matters,
and you can lay your family matters before him. He'll attend to that
and you may get justice done you. If you have some money back in
Illinois, you ought to have it."

"He can get all he wants--if he gives me some," agreed Burke, "and I'll
back your patents."

The old man started off again on his plans, and they argued and
explained to each other as happy as two boys with some new toys, until
the sisters came home.

Lorna