the Spellbinder with
his Mouth open.

The Boy wanted to grow up and wear a Black String Tie and a Bill Cody
Hat and walk stiff-legged, with his Vest unbuttoned at the Top, and be
Distinguished.

On Friday Afternoons he would go to School with his Face scrubbed to a
shiny pink and his Hair roached up on one side, and he would Recite the
Speeches of Patrick Henry and Daniel Webster and make Gestures.

When he Graduated from the High School he delivered an Oration on "The
Duty of the Hour," calling on all young Patriots to leap into the Arena
and with the Shield of Virtue quench the rising Flood of Corruption. He
said that the Curse of Our Times was the Greed for Wealth, and he
pleaded for Unselfish Patriotism among those in High Places.

He boarded at Home for a while without seeing a chance to jump into the
Arena, and finally his Father worked a Pull and got him a Job with a
Steel Company. He proved to be a Handy Young Man, and the Manager sent
Him out to make Contracts. He stopped roaching his Hair, and he didn't
give the Arena of Politics any serious Consideration except when the
Tariff on Steel was in Danger.

[Illustration: AMBITIOUS YOUTH]

In a little while he owned a few Shares, and after that he became a
Director. He joined several Clubs and began to enjoy his Food. He drank
a Small Bottle with his Luncheon each Day, and he couldn't talk Business
unless he held a Scotch High Ball in his Right Hand.

With the return of Prosperity and the Formation of the Trust and the
Whoop in all Stocks he made so much Money that he was afraid to tell the
Amount.

His Girth increased--he became puffy under the Eyes--you could see the
little blue Veins on his Nose.

He kept his Name out of the Papers as much as possible, and he never
gave Congress a Thought except when he talked to his Lawyer of the
Probable Manner in which they would Evade any Legislation against
Trusts. He took two Turkish Baths every week and wore Silk Underwear.
When an Eminent Politician would come to his Office to shake him down he
would send out Word by the Boy in Buttons that he had gone to Europe.
That's what he thought of Politics.

One day while rummaging in a lower Drawer in his Library, looking for a
Box of Poker Chips, he came upon a Roll of Manuscript and wondered what
it was. He opened it and read how it was the Duty of all True Americans
to hop into the Arena and struggle unselfishly for the General Good. It
came to him in a Flash--th