"My boy, we take off our hats to you! A man can't do the impossible unless he tries. We didn't try. You did. The trouble with Herman, and with every man of forty, is that he loses faith in himself. We get careful and conservative. We lack the dash and fire and daring of youth. I envy you. I salute you as the inspired leader of our Cause--you've done the impossible! And you've just begun. We can only hope to help you with our larger experience." At the end of a week of futile and exhausting palaver with this army of cranks who infest the West, Wolf, carefully watching his opportunity, turned to Norman and said: "I've been waiting for you to see things a little more clearly before I say something to you--I think it's time." "What is it?" the young leader asked. Wolf hesitated a moment as if feeling his way. "Something he should have said sooner," exclaimed Catherine. "There's but one way, comrade. Kick these fools into the street!" "But don't we begin to weaken the moment we do a thing like that? We accept the brotherhood of man----" "Of man, yes," the old leader broke in, "but these are not men--they are what might have been had they lived in a sane world. They are the results of the nightmare we call civilization. The kindest thing you can do for a crank is to kill him. You are trying to do what God Almighty never undertook--to make something out of nothing. You know, when he made Adam he had a ball of mud to start with." "I'm afraid you're right," Norman agreed. "When the Brotherhood is established with picked men," Catherine added, "we can take in new members with less care. Now it is of the utmost importance that we select the pioneer group of the best blood in the Socialist ranks--trained men and women who believe with passionate faith what you and I believe." "Then do it," Norman said, with emphasis. "I put you and Wolf in charge of this first roll. I've more important work to do in organizing the business details of the enterprise." A look of joy flashed from Wolf's gray eyes into the woman's as he calmly but quickly replied: "I'll do the best I can." "You ought to know by name every true Socialist on the Coast," Norman added. "I do, comrade, and I'll guarantee the pioneer group." "Let all applicants for membership hereafter pass your scrutiny," were his final orders. He rose from his desk with a sigh of relief as Barbara entered the room, her cheeks flushed with joy, her eyes sparkling with excitement from the ovation she had just received from the crowd which packed the corridor.