s chair.

"I wonder if we have?" he said.

"Why not, sir?"

"Well, Kenneth, we have to reside at Elmhurst, which is Hopkins's
district. Also I believe Elmhurst to be the most important estate in the
district, and you to be the largest taxpayer. This man wishes to go to
the State Legislature and make laws for you to obey."

"Well?"

"Well, it's our duty to watch him. If he isn't a fit man it's our duty
to prevent him from representing us."

The young man nodded somewhat dreamily.

"Some of these country yokels must represent us," he observed. "It
doesn't matter much whether it's Hopkins or someone else."

"Except that you, being a prominent man, owe it to the community to
protect its interests," added the lawyer.

"Do you want me to mix in these petty politics?" asked the boy,
irritably.

"Oh, do as you like, my boy. If you can shirk your duties with a clear
conscience, I've nothing to say."

For a time the young man was silent. Finally he asked:

"Why isn't Hopkins a good Representative?"

"He's what is called a 'grafter'; a term signifying that he is willing
to vote for any measure that he is paid to vote for, whether it benefits
his constituents or not."

"Oh. Is he singular in this?"

"By no means. The 'grafter' is all too common in politics."

Again the boy fell into a thoughtful mood.

"Mr. Watson, am I a Democrat or a Republican?"

The old gentleman laughed outright.

"Don't you know, Ken?"

"No, sir, I haven't asked myself before."

"Then I advise you to be a Republican."

"Why?"

"Because Hopkins is a Democrat, and we may then fight him openly."

"What is the difference, sir, between the two parties?"

"There is no difference of importance. All Americans are loyal citizens,
whichever side they adopt in politics. But the two parties are the
positive and negative poles that provide the current of electricity for
our nation, and keep it going properly. Also they safeguard our
interests by watching one another."

"What is your preference, sir?"

"I've always been a Republican, whenever I dabbled in politics, which
hasn't been often."

"Then I will be a Republican."

"Very good."

"I am sorry to say that I know nothing about politics and have no
convictions on the subject. Who is to oppose the Honorable Erastus on
the--on _our_ side?"

"I don't know yet. The primaries for the nomination are not to be held
for two weeks, and the Republican candidates seem shy about coming
fo