he was told, "is that
every nominee is bound to surrender his opinions in a certain degree to
the party platform, while other opinions have to be modified to new
conditions."

"I can see that," said Peter. "I do not for a moment expect that what
you say to-day is in any sense a pledge. If a man's honest, the poorest
thing we can do to him is to tie him fast to one course of action, when
the conditions are constantly changing. But, of course, you have
opinions for the present state of things?"

Something in Peter's explanation or face pleased Mr. Porter. He demurred
no more, and, for an hour before lunch, and during that meal, he talked
with the utmost freedom.

"I'm not easily fooled on men," he told his secretary afterwards, "and
you can say what you wish to that Stirling without danger of its being
used unfairly or to injure one. And he's the kind of man to be won by
square dealing."

Peter had spoken of his own district "I think," he said, "that some good
can be done in the way of non-partisan legislation. I've been studying
the food supplies of the city, and, if I can, I shall try to get a bill
introduced this winter to have official inspections systematized."

"That will receive my approval if it is properly drawn. But you'll
probably find the Health Board fighting you. It's a nest of
politicians."

"If they won't yield, I shall have to antagonize them, but I have had
some talks with the men there, in connection with the 'swill-milk'
investigations, and I think I can frame a bill that will do what I want,
yet which they will not oppose. I shall try to make them help me in the
drafting, for they can make it much better through their practical
experience."

"If you do that, the opposition ought not to be troublesome. What else
do you want?"

"I've been thinking of a general Tenement-house bill, but I don't think
I shall try for that this winter. It's a big subject, which needs very
careful study, in which a lot of harm may be done by ignorance. There's
no doubt that anything which hurts the landlord, hurts the tenant, and
if you make the former spend money, the tenant pays for it in the long
run. Yet health must be protected. I shall try to find out what can be
done."

"I wish you would get into the legislature yourself, Mr. Stirling."

"I shall not try for office. I want to go on with my profession. But I
shall hope to work in politics in the future."

Peter took another day off, and spent a few minu