Agitator, "if the offer be sincere, why should it
go by default on my simple refusal to be turned from my present course?
Let some other one, better qualified than I, attend to the management of
this noble cause."

Magnate advanced a step and with emphatic gesture gave his ultimatum:

"You are the recognized leader of the masses, the idol of all the poor
and of the so-called oppressed. In you the very persons whom we hope to
benefit have unbounded confidence, and naturally you are the only man
who can make wisest and most efficient use of this large sum of money.
We have no other choice and I ask you once more, for the sake of
suffering humanity, to accept the leadership of this worthy cause which
will do more for the people than all other reform movements combined.
You can make no mistake in accepting our offer. This is the only right
thing for you to do."

Agitator took no time to study his reply. His words were born on the
occasion for the occasion. He spoke with marked power in his voice and
fiery electricity in his eye:

"I have made my final decision. I am married to my reform movement and
seek no divorce. I want all people to have free air as they have free
sunlight. I am determined that neither favor nor force, neither Magnate
nor money, shall swerve me from my course. The people of my time shall
see their liberty, or I shall see my death!"

This reply of Agitator is most memorable. It is quoted more than the
famous words of Patrick Henry of our world: "Give me liberty, or give me
death!"

Agitator pushed his cause with remarkable skill. Soon his movements
reached such proportions that great men courted his favor. The masses
clung to him with truest loyalty. He took full advantage of the
situation and gained control of the legislative bodies.

Then followed the great enactment. All the air of the world was declared
to be free, and any one attempting to buy or sell this natural and
indispensable product was guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by fines
and heavy bonds.

The celebration of this victory was extreme. The most wonderful
jubilations were held at the air tanks. Famous speeches were made and
the tanks were sold by permission of their owners. One enthusiastic
person bought a tank, declared that he would sell it in small pieces for
relics, and use the proceeds for educating poor children. The scene that
followed beggars description. Everybody knew that this was a cut at
Magnate, and the buying o