"This is your father, Norman----" "Get off the wire or quit your kiddin'--what do you want?" His father laughed. "I beg your pardon, Governor, honestly I didn't recognize your voice until you laughed. I'm awfully glad to hear it again. What can I do for you?" "Well, I must say I like your impudence. What can _you_ do for me? I want to see you right away. Shall I call at your office?" A pause ensued, followed by audible smiles at both ends of the wire. "Of course not, sir. It seems a long time since I left home but I've not forgotten the way. I'll come over as soon as I can leave my desk." Two hours later he entered the library with a boyish laugh and grasped his father's hand. The Colonel pressed it with deep tenderness. "You must forgive me, boy. I wasn't fair to you the other day." Norman tried to laugh, and stammered awkwardly: "Well, when I hear a man of your age and experience say a thing like that, Governor, I begin to fear I'm not quite as big as I thought I was." "Then we're both in the right mind now, to begin all over again, are we not?" "It's with you, sir," was the quick reply. "Suppose I can convince you that you have entered on a mistaken mission--that your programme is foolish, impossible, and dangerous?" "Do it, and I'll join you in trying to put an end to Socialism." "Before I begin, let me ask you a very personal question." "As many as you like, Governor," was the frank response. "Are you mixed up in any way personally with the young woman who spoke here that day?" "We're comrades in the cause of humanity--that's all." "You're sure that it is not her personal influence over you that has made you a Socialist?" "Only in so far as she has made me think and feel." "You have not made love to her?" "Certainly not. I'm engaged to Elena." "Then it ought to be easy for us to understand each other. Come down out of the clouds of theory now, and tell me exactly how you are going to save humanity, and let's see if we can't work together for the same end. A great purpose like yours ought not to separate father and son--you can't defend such platitudes as this, for example, which one of your orators got off last night--listen!" The Colonel took the morning paper from the table and read: "Remember in this supreme hour that capitalism has you and your loved ones by the throats, is stealing your substance, draining your veins, and reducing you inch by inch to the potter's field. Every sweating den cries out to you as from the depths of hell to gird up your loins and march forth in one solid phalanx to strike the blow that shall sound the knell of capitalistic despotism, and set the star of hope in the skies of the despairing and dying thousands of your class who are at the mercy of the vampires of soulless wealth. How long shall capitalism be allowed to work its devastation, spread its blighting curse, destroy manhood, debauch womanhood, and grind the flesh and blood and bone of childhood into food for Mammon?"