opposed to all natural laws, is suicidal of the best in favor of
mediocrity. But so far as it attempts to protect that mediocrity and
weakness from the superior minds of the best, it is only in line with
the laws which protect us from murder and robbery. You can't expect men
of the Most variety, however, to draw such distinctions."

"I do wish they would settle it, without troubling me," groaned Ray.
"Lispenard's right. A man's a fool who votes, or serves on a jury, or
joins a regiment. What's the good of being a good citizen, when the
other fellow won't be? I'm sick of being good for nothing."

"Have you just discovered that?" laughed Ogden. "You're progressing."

"No," said Ray, "I am good for one thing. Like a good many other men I
furnish the raw material on which the dearest of women may lavish her
affection. Heigh-ho! I wish I was before the fire with her now. It's
rather rough to have visits to one's wife cut short in this way."

Peter rose. "I am going to get some sleep, for we don't know what's
before us, and may not have much after to-night. But, Ray, there's a
harder thing than leaving one's wife at such a time."

"What's that, Peter?" asked Ray, looking at Peter with surprise.

"To know that there is no one to whom your going or return really
matters." Peter passed out of the cabin.

"By George!" said Ray, "if it wasn't Peter, I'd have sworn there was
salt water in his eyes."

"Anneke has always insisted that he was lonely. I wonder if she's
right?" Ogden queried.

"If he is, why the deuce does he get off in those solitary quarters of
his?"

"Ray," said Ogden, "I have a sovereign contempt for a man who answers
one question with another."

Peter reached the city at six the next morning, and, despite the hour,
began his work at once. He made a number of calls in the district,
holding whispered dialogues with men; who, as soon as Peter was gone,
hurried about and held similar conversations with other men; who
promptly went and did the same to still others. While they were doing
this, Peter drove uptown, and went into Dickel's riding academy. As he
passed through the office, a man came out.

"Ah, Mr. Stirling. Good-morning."

"Good-morning, Mr. Byrnes," said Peter. "How serious is it likely to
be?"

"We can't say yet. But the force has all it can do now to handle the
Anarchists and unemployed, and if this strike takes place we shall need
you."

Peter passed into another room where were eight