esk. Ambrose
was numbering dog's-eared pages with a rubber stamp and would not admit
that he had been insulted by the state committee. "There's nobody got
the right to ask me to stop being active and influential in this state,"
insisted Breed. "They haven't taken my pride into account. I ain't
naturally a kicker. I've always obeyed orders. If I've got to go out
alone and show 'em that the old guard can't be insulted, then I'll do
it."

This time he took the trail of Walker Farr once more and followed that
energetic young man until he cornered him.

Farr harkened with interest to the story of the scrapping of the
Honorable Daniel Breed as related by that gentleman himself.

"And the moral of the tale is," added Mr. Breed, "when a gang does you
dirt turn around and plaster a few gobs onto the dirt-slingers. That
ain't the rule in religion, but it's the natural and correct policy in
politics. I have been hurt in my tender feelings. If them animals had
been alive and savage enough I would have taken 'em up to the state
committee-room and ste' boyed 'em onto the ungrateful cusses who have
tried to make my last days unhappy. I know every sore spot in this
state. You don't know 'em unless you have got second sight. I can take
you to every man who has got a political bruise on him. Good gad! I have
been poulticing those sore spots for twenty-five years. You need a man
like I am."

"I'll admit that I do need such a man. I am a stranger in the state. But
I'm going to be perfectly frank with you, Mr. Breed. How do I know but
you're a spy who wants to attach himself to me for the benefit of the
ring?"

"You don't know," returned Mr. Breed, serenely. "You have to take
chances in politics. I'm taking chances when I join in with you. Just
who are you and how do you happen to be mixed up in our politics?"

"I am mixing into politics because the men, women, and children are
being poisoned by the Consolidated water. That's platform enough, isn't
it?"

"Well, I reckon it is, knowing what I know of general conditions. You
have got a pretty good head for politics, even if you ain't sincere on
the water question," said Breed, with a politician's ready suspicion of
motives. "You've got a come-all-ye hoorah there that will make votes."

"As to my personality, that has nothing to do with the matter. I am only
an agent. Will you come with me and allow Mr. Converse to ask you some
questions?"

"Sure thing!" agreed the Honorable Daniel