far as I can see, every man in
Carrington is here," he said. "Raymond Lyle, you called this meeting. We
are waiting for what you have to say."

Lyle was not an orator, but he was filled with his subject, and the men
listened to him that day. First he supplied them with details respecting
the projected creamery, and then straightening himself a little he turned
his quiet, honest eyes upon his host.

"We desire to have your approval, sir, but we clearly recognize the
necessity for more attention to the commercial side of the question if
there is to be a lasting future for Carrington," he said. "We are proud of
the colony, and we are all sportsmen, I think, but it seems to us that it
is not wise to make it a mere playground and keep out all but people of
our own station. On the contrary it would be better to welcome any
well-educated Englishman and make it easier for him to earn a living here.
In fact, we want an open-door policy, and a means of providing for the
future of our children. It can be provided only by industrial enterprise,
which is why I advocate the building of the creamery."

For the first time a cynical smile flickered across Carrington's face.

"Are you speaking for yourself, or for the rest?" he asked.

"For myself certainly," said Lyle. "How far the rest agree with me will be
seen if we appeal to them as an assembly with power to decide, which,
unless we are forced to it, I think most of us should sooner avoid."

"Then," remarked Carrington dryly, "in your case, at least, I quite fail
to see any duty toward posterity. You have always lived among us as a
bachelor, Lyle. I suspect your other arguments would appear equally
foolish on examination. Will somebody else set out the precise advantages
we may expect to derive from this creamery. I wish to see how far the
crazy notion has laid hold of you."

Lyle flushed. Some of the younger men laughed, and it is possible that had
their leader shown any sign of faltering, the Colonel's sarcastic
disapproval would even then have induced them to abandon the scheme. Most
of the men of Carrington had, however, made up their minds, and several in
succession explained in deferent but determined fashion why they
considered it necessary to support Lyle. Carrington, I fancied, found it
somewhat difficult to hide his astonishment.

"We are going down to the root of the matter," said the last of them. "We
wish to earn money, and not merely to spend it on half-hearted