“Tell me, Mr. Everley,” said the boy, “how can the Bartons believe in free love?” “Believe in free love?” echoed Everley. “What put that into your head?” “But don't they believe in free love?” persisted Samuel. “Why, of course not. Who said they did?” “But they are Socialists!” And the other put down his work and laughed heartily. “Where did you pick that up?” he asked. “Why,” stammered the boy, “I've read everywhere that Socialists believe in free love!” “Wait till you get well going in this reform of yours!” laughed the young lawyer, “and then see what you read about yourself!” “But,” gasped Samuel, aghast, “don't Socialists believe in free love?” “Some of them do, I suppose,” was the reply. “I know one who believes in ghosts, and one who believes in the Pope, and one who believes in Adam and Eve. How can I help what they believe?” There was a pause. “You see,” explained Everley, “we are a political party; and we can't keep anybody from joining us who wants to. And because we are an advanced party, all sorts of wild people come to us. How can we help that?” “But,” exclaimed Samuel, “you are against religion!” “We have nothing to do with religion,” replied the other. “I told you we are a political party. Some of us have found it necessary to leave the capitalist churches--but you will hardly blame us for that!” “N-no,” admitted the boy; then he added, “But don't you want to destroy the Government?” “On the contrary, we want to strengthen it. But first we have to get it away from the capitalists.” “Then, what DO you believe?” asked Samuel in perplexity. Then the other explained that they were seeking to organize and educate the working class, for the purpose of bringing about an economic change. They wished to take the land and the mines, the railroads and the factories out of the hands of the capitalists. “We believe that such things should not belong to individuals,” he said, “but to the people. Then there will be work for everyone, and everyone will get the full value of his labor, and no man will be able to live without working.” There was a pause, while Samuel was getting the meaning of this into his mind. “But,” he exclaimed in amazement, “that is exactly what _I_ believe!” “Of course,” replied the other, “it is exactly what everyone with sense believes.” “But--but--” gasped the boy, “then am I a Socialist?” “Nine tenths of the people in the country are Socialists,” replied Everley--“only they haven't found it out yet.” “But,” cried Samuel, “you ought to teach them!” “We're doing our best,” laughed the other. “Come and help us.” Samuel was quite dumfounded. “But how do people come to have all these false ideas about you?” he asked. “Those are the ideas that the masters want them to have.” Samuel was clutching at the arms of his chair. “Why--it's a conspiracy!” he cried.