well. That's
going to make my book valuable and interesting. No harm in putting it
out in these times. I shall entitle it 'Breed's Handbook of Political
Deviltry.' I shall tell the story of how it was done when politics was
really politics."

"Going to tell all you know?" inquired the governor.

"Of course. Truth, and not poetry, will be my motto. And just for a test
of how popular it will be, I'd like to ask you gents how many of you
will subscribe for a volume?"

"I think this committee will take the whole edition," said the chairman,
dryly.

"Look here, Dan," blurted the attorney-general, "you must be joking."

"I don't know what ever gave you the impression that I'm a humorist,"
returned Breed. "If there ain't going to be anything more like the old
times, then what's the matter with having the story of how it was done?
That book will sell like hot cakes. I'll go out and sell it--it will
give me a chance to keep on mixing and messing with men."

"Dan, if it wasn't you talking--knowing you well--I'd say this is a
piece of blackmail," declared the attorney-general. "Of course you can't
put out a book of that kind in this state."

Mr. Breed blinked angrily.

"I'll take all the cases of libel against you and won't charge my
clients a cent."

"Fill everybody else's little tin dipper, eh? Passing everybody else a
bottle and a rubber nipple! Everybody getting his, and me left out! All
right. If that's political gratitude in these new times, go on with you
medinkculum! And last year I snapped the six up-country caucuses that
gave you your plurality in joint convention!"

"We appreciate all your past services, Dan. If we didn't we wouldn't be
trying so hard to place you," said the governor. "We're taking care of
all the old boys. You mustn't embarrass us. In these days it's for the
good of the party to put in each office the man who is especially
fitted for it. We mustn't invite criticism. A librarian needs peculiar
qualifications."

"Well, old Jaquish was liberian, wasn't he? And he wouldn't even go vote
unless you went and dragged him to the polls by the scruff of his neck.
What did he ever do for the party? And look at old Tomdoozle as state
treasurer!"

"Jaquish was a bookman, and our state treasurer--but no matter. Now
listen! I'm going to put you at the head of a new department in the
State House where you won't be lonesome. More people will come there
than to the library. You'll have the title of curato