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the national situation？ George indulged in rather a vigorous arraignment
of the demagogues； national and state； who were hurting business in order
to obtain political power。 The Reverend Mr。 Doddridge assented；
deploring the poverty that the local people had brought on themselves by
heeding the advice of agitators； and Mrs。 Hutchins； who spent much of her
time in charity work； agreed with the minister when he declared that the
trouble was largely due to a decline in Christian belief。 Ezra Hutchins；
too； nodded at this。
〃Take that man Krebs； for example；〃 the minister went on； stimulated by
this encouragement； 〃he's an atheist； pure and simple。〃 A sympathetic
shudder went around the table at the word。 George alone smiled。 〃Old
Krebs was a free…thinker； I used to get my glasses of him。 He was at
least a conscientious man； a good workman； which is more than can be said
for the son。 Young Krebs has talent； and if only he had devoted himself
to the honest practice of law； instead of stirring up dissatisfaction
among these people； he would be a successful man to…day。〃
Mr。 Hutchins explained that I was at college with Krebs。
〃These people must like him；〃 I said； 〃or they wouldn't have sent him to
the legislature。〃
〃Well； a good many of them do like him；〃 the minister admitted。 〃You
see； he actually lives among them。 They believe his socialistic
doctrines because he's a friend of theirs。〃
〃He won't represent this town again； that's sure；〃 exclaimed George。
〃You didn't see in the papers that he was nominated；did you； Paret？〃
〃But if the mill people wanted him； George； how could it be prevented？〃
his wife demanded。
George winked at me。
〃There are more ways of skinning a cat than one；〃 he said cryptically。
〃Well； it's time to go to the meeting； I guess；〃 remarked Ezra； rising。
Once more he looked at his watch。
We were packed into several family carriages and started off。 In front
of the hall the inevitable red fire was burning； its quivering light
reflected on the faces of the crowd that blocked the street。 They stood
silent； strangely apathetic as we pushed through them to the curb； and
the red fire went out suddenly as we descended。 My temporary sense of
depression； however； deserted me as we entered the hall； which was well
lighted and filled with people； who clapped when the Hon。 Joseph and I；
accompanied by Mr。 Doddridge and the Hon。 Henry Clay Mellish from
Pottstown； with the local chairman； walked out on the stage。 A glance
over the audience sufficed to ascertain that that portion of the
population whose dinner pails we longed to fill was evidently not present
in large numbers。 But the farmers had driven in from the hills； while
the merchants and storekeepers of Elkington had turned out loyally。
The chairman； in introducing me； proclaimed me as a coming man； and
declared that I had already achieved； in the campaign； considerable
notoriety。 As I spoke； I was pleasantly aware of Maude Hutchins leaning
forward a little across the rail of the right…hand stage boxfor the
town hall was half opera…house； her attitude was one of semi…absorbed
admiration； and the thought that I had made an impression on her
stimulated me。 I spoke with more aplomb。 Somewhat to my surprise； I
found myself making occasional； unexpected witticisms that drew laughter
and applause。 Suddenly； from the back of the hall； a voice called out：
〃How about House Bill 709？〃
There was a silence； then a stirring and craning of necks。 It was my
first experience of heckling； and for the moment I was taken aback。 I
thought of Krebs。 He had； indeed； been in my mind since I had risen to
my feet； and I had scanned the faces before me in search of his。 But it
was not his voice。
〃Well； what about Bill 709？〃 I demanded。
〃You ought to know something about it； I guess；〃 the voice responded。
〃Put him out！〃 came from various portions of the hall。
Inwardly； I was shaken。 Notin orthodox language from any 〃conviction
of sin。〃 Yet it was my first intimation that my part in the legislation
referred to was known to any save a select few。 I blamed Krebs； and a
hot anger arose within me against him。 After all； what could they prove？
〃No； don't put him out；〃 I said。 〃Let him come up here to the platform。
I'll yield to him。 And I'm entirely willing to discuss with him and
defend any measures passed in the legislature of this state by a
Republican majority。 Perhaps；〃 I added； 〃the gentleman has a copy of the
law in his pocket； that I may know what he is talking about； and answer
him intelligently。〃
At this there was wild applause。 I had the audience with me。 The
offender remained silent and presently I finished my speech。 After that
Mr。 Mecklin made them cheer and weep； and Mr。 Mellish made them laugh。
The meeting had been highly successful。
〃You polished him off； all right；〃 said George Hutchins； as he took my
hand。
〃Who was he？〃
〃Oh； one of the local sore…heads。 Krebs put him up to it； of course。〃
〃Was Krebs here？〃 I asked。
〃Sitting in the corner of the balcony。 That meeting must have made him
feel sick。〃 George bent forward and whispered in my ear： 〃I thought Bill
709 was Watling's idea。〃
〃Oh； I happened to be in the Potts House about that time；〃 I explained。
George； of whom it may be gathered that he was not wholly unsophisticated；
grinned at me appreciatively。
〃Say； Paret；〃 he replied； putting his hand through my arm； 〃there's a
little legal business in prospect down here that will require some
handling； and I wish you'd come down after the campaign and talk it over；
with us。 I've just about made up my mind that you're he man to tackle
it。〃
〃All right； I'll come；〃 I said。
〃And stay with me；〃 said George。。。。
We went to his yellow…brick house for refreshments； salad and ice…cream
and （in the face of the Hutchins traditions） champagne。 Others had been
invited in； some twenty persons。。。。 Once in a while； when I looked up； I
met Maude's eyes across the room。 I walked home with her； slowly； the
length of the Hutchinses' block。 Floating over the lake was a waning
October moon that cast through the thinning maples a lace…work of shadows
at our feet； I had the feeling of well…being that comes to heroes； and
the presence of Maude Hutchins was an incense； a vestal incense far from
unpleasing。 Yet she had reservations which appealed to me。 Hers was not
a gushing provincialism； like that of Mrs。 George。
〃I liked your speech so much； Mr。 Paret；〃 she told me。 〃It seemed so
sensible andcontrolled； compared to the others。 I have never thought a
great deal about these things； of course； and I never understood before
why taking away the tariff caused so much misery。 You made that quite
plain。
〃If so； I'm glad；〃 I said。
She was silent a moment。
〃The working people here have had a hard time during the last year；〃 she
went on。 〃Some of the mills had to be shut down； you know。 It has
troubled me。 Indeed； it has troubled all of us。 And what has made it
more difficult； more painful is that many of them seem actually to
dislike us。 They think it's father's fault； and that he could run all
the mills if he wanted to。 I've been around a little with mother and
sometimes the women wouldn't accept any help from us； they said they'd
rather starve than take charity； that they had the right to work。 But
father couldn't run the mills at a losscould he？〃
〃Certainly not；〃 I replied。
〃And then there's Mr。 Krebs； of whom we were speaking at supper； and who
puts all kinds of queer notions into their heads。 Father says he's an
anarchist。 I heard father say at supper that he was at Harvard with you。
Did you like him？〃
〃Well；〃 I answered hesitatingly； 〃I didn't know him very well。〃
〃Of course not；〃 she put in。 〃I suppose you couldn't have。〃
〃He's got these notions；〃 I explained； 〃that are mischievous and crazy
but I don't dislike him。〃
〃I'm glad to hear you say that！〃 she answered quietly。 〃I like him； too…
…he seems so kind； so understanding。〃
〃Do you know him？〃
〃Well；〃she hesitated〃I feel as though I do。 I've only met him once；
and that was by accident。 It was the day the big strike began； last
spring； and I had been shopping； and started for the mills to get father
to walk home with me； as I used to do。 I saw the crowds blocking the
streets around the canal。 At first I paid no attention to them； but
after a while I began to be a little uneasy； there were places where I
had to squeeze through； and I couldn't help seeing that something was
wrong； and that the people were angry。 Men and women were talking in
loud voices。 One woman stared at me； and called my name； and said
something that frightened me terribly。 I went into a doorwayand then I
saw Mr。 Krebs。 I didn't know who he was。 He just said； ‘You'd better
come with me； Miss Hutchins；' and I went with him。 I thought afterwards
that it was a very courageous thing for him to do； because he was so
popular with the mill people； and they had such a feeling against us。
Yet they didn't seem to resent it； and made way for us； and Mr。 Krebs
spoke to many of them as we passed。 After we got to State Street； I