"That's all right, J. J., but forget that voting stuff for a minute and listen to me." And briefly, rapidly, and not without art, Carlin retold the story--retold it in prose entirely--of Paymaster Totten and the bale of blankets. When he had done he added: "Now, J. J., what do you think of a man doing a good job like that and losing out by it?" "Always the way, Carlin--always," replied the Honorable Flavin briskly. "What most of these fellows on these ships need is a little course in practical politics. Why didn't that paymaster sit tight in his bunk, the time his captain came to him with that hurry-up message, and tell him he couldn't get any coolies or sampans? If he'd just rolled over in his bunk and said, 'Captain, it can't be done,' or if he'd gone ashore and made a bluff it couldn't be done, he wouldn't 'a' had any bale of blankets to pay for--see? This doing things you don't have to do, and nothing in it for yourself when you do do 'em--that's kid's work." "All fine, J. J., but how about Christmas for the fleet?" "Christmas? Let 'em look out for their own Christmas! He'd be getting his pay envelope every week just the same, wouldn't he?" "Fine again--and as beautifully practical as you always are, J. J. But how about doing what Totten thought was his duty?" "Duty? That ain't duty--that's foolishness. Duty's doing what you got to do, not doing something just to make a good fellow of yourself." Slowly Carlin began to count: "One, two, three----" "What's the matter?" demanded Flavin. "A dream I had is taking the count--eight, nine, ten, out! Say, Flavin, did it ever occur to you that your duty included knowing something about your business--who can vote, for instance, among a thousand other things, and who can't?" "The mistake you make and all you wise high-brows make, Carlin"--and the Honorable Flavin fixed him with a knowing eye--"is in thinking I don't know my job. My job ain't in being in Congress. A hell of a lot they'll know at home what I'm doing in Washin'ton after I get there. My job is being elected to Congress. And getting elected means to be able to get votes, and getting votes means being with the people who'll give you the votes. And your paymaster friend"--the Honorable Flavin favored Carlin with a wink and another knowing smile--"and his push, they don't swing any votes. But o' course that's for them. With you it's different. Now, you being in Washin'ton with a string o' newspapers--huh?" Carlin had walked off. "There he goes," muttered Flavin, "pluggin' the game of a lot of people who can never do a thing for him."