able part
in the building and the maintaining of the Empire. But to resume. The
country was asked for the sake of the alleged economic advantage to
enter into a treaty with the neighbouring state which he was convinced
would perhaps not at first but certainly eventually imperil the Imperial
bond. The country rejected the proposal. The farmers were offered the
double lure of high prices for their produce and a lower price for
machinery. Never was he so proud of the farmers of his country as when
they resisted the lure, they refused the bait, they could not be bought,
they declined to barter either their independence or their imperial
allegiance for gain. (Cheers, groans, general uproar.)

Upon the subsidence of the uproar Frank Smart who, with Larry, had
worked his way forward among a body of students standing in the first
row immediately behind the seats, raised his hand and called out in a
clear, distinct and courteous voice, "Mr. Chairman, a question if you
will permit me." The chairman granted permission. "Did I understand
the speaker to say that those Canadians who approved of the policy of
Reciprocity were ready to barter their independence or their imperial
allegiance for gain? If so, in the name of one half of the Canadian
people I want to brand the statement as an infamous and slanderous
falsehood."

Instantly a thousand people were on their feet cheering, yelling, on
the one part shouting, "Put him out," and on the other demanding,
"Withdraw." A half dozen fights started up in different parts of the
theatre. In Smart's immediate vicinity a huge, pugilistic individual
rushed toward him and reached for him with a swinging blow, which would
undoubtedly have ended for him the meeting then and there had not Larry,
who was at his side, caught the swinging arm with an upward cut so that
it missed its mark. Before the blow could be repeated Scudamore, the
centre rush of the University football team, had flung himself upon the
pugilist, seized him by the throat and thrust him back and back through
the crowd, supported by a wedge of his fellow students, striking,
scragging, fighting and all yelling the while with cheerful
vociferousness. By the efforts of mutual friends the two parties were
torn asunder just as a policeman thrust himself through the crowd and
demanded to know the cause of the uproar.

"Here," he cried, seizing Larry by the shoulder, "what does this mean?"

"Don't ask me," said Larry, smiling pleasant