that was because those men drew my attention
by advertising their missions loudly--and, therefore, I concluded that
all men with licenses to cure this and fix that and regulate the other
were fooling themselves or else were bluffs. But all of a sudden I have
waked up to something. I believe that any human being who isn't doing
a little something on the side to help somebody else in this life is
mighty miserable. I believe that the average sort of folks are doing
it--keeping it quiet, in most cases, perhaps. I thought I had a mission
and I stood up in your city government and advertised it and made
considerable of an ass of myself."

"Well, it was all right one way you look at it," said Nowell, with the
caution of the honest citizen. "But, of course, you got the stigmy put
onto you of being a crank and a disturber and you don't get nowhere!
It ain't gab and holler that does it! If talk sets folks to
thinking--that's all right, so far as it goes. But a lot of these chaps
set their mouths to going and let their hands lay crossed in their laps
and then wonder why the world doesn't get better because they have asked
it to be good."

It was sagacity from the humble observer.

"Mr. Nowell, I don't want to be quite as lonesome in this world as I
have been," said Farr, with earnestness. "It's an awful feeling, that!
A man can be lonely for a time and crowd down the hankering to be in the
march of honest men where he can touch elbows and be a part of things.
I see you look at me! That's right--it's queer stuff to be talking to
you." He pondered for a moment and went on. "Queer thing, eh, for a
fellow to wake up all of a sudden--a fellow of my stamp--and want to
do some real good in the world? Well, it surprises _me_, and it would
surprise you a whole lot more if you knew me better. We won't try to
analyze the feeling. I've given up trying to do it." He paused and his
brown eyes surveyed the blinking iceman with a quizzical appeal in them.
"That's a pretty long preface, Mr. Nowell. It ought to lead up to some
very important request. But it doesn't. I simply want a job on your
ice-cart. It will give me the best opportunity I know of to go into
homes and tell mothers to boil the water which comes out of those dirty
taps; after I unscrew the faucets I won't have to argue much. I told
Colonel Dodd in his office to look out for me! That may have been
bluster. I am a nobody. But I'm on his trail, and there is one thing
I can do to s