ouple of decades behind his time."

"A reactionary?"

"Didn't I say he was plodding along? A reactionary is immovable except
in the wrong direction. Enderby's a conservative."

"As a socialist you're against any one who isn't as radical as you are."

"I'm not against Willis Enderby. I'm for him," grunted the veteran.

"Why; if he's a conservative?"

"Oh, as for that, I can bring a long indictment against him. He's a firm
believer in the capitalistic system. He's enslaved to the old economic
theories, supply and demand, and all that rubbish from the ruins of
ancient Rome. He believes that gold is the only sound material for
pillars of society. The aristocratic idea is in his bones." Edmonds, by
a feat of virtuosity, sent a thin, straight column of smoke, as it might
have been an allegorical and sardonic pillar itself, almost to the
ceiling. "But he believes in fair play. Free speech. Open field. The
rigor of the game. He's a sportsman in life and affairs. That's why he's
dangerous."

"Dangerous? To whom?"

"To the established order. To the present system. Why, son, all we
Socialists ask is fair play. Give us an even chance for labor, for the
proletariat; an even show before the courts, an open forum in the
newspapers, the right to organize as capital organizes, and we'll win.
If we can't win, we deserve to lose. I say that men like Willis Enderby
are our strongest supporters."

"Probably he thinks his side will win, under the strict rules of the
game."

"Of course. But if he didn't, he'd still be for fair play, to the last
inch."

"That's a pretty fine thing to say of a man, Pop."

"It's a pretty fine man," said Edmonds.

"What does Enderby want? What is he after?"

"For himself? Nothing. It's something to be known as the ablest honest
lawyer in New York. Or, you can turn it around and say he's the
honestest able lawyer in New York. I think, myself, you wouldn't be far
astray if you said the ablest and honestest. No; he doesn't want
anything more than what he's got: his position, his money, his
reputation. Why should he? But it's going to be forced on him one of
these days."

"Politically?"

"Yes. Whatever there is of leadership in the reform element here centers
in him. It's only a question of time when he'll have to carry the
standard."

"I'd like to be able to fall in behind him when the time comes."

"On The Ledger?" grunted Edmonds.

"But I shan't be on The Ledger when the time comes. Not i