Queed, somewhat interested in spite of himself, and tolerably familiar with history, interrupted to ask who Henry G. Surface might be.  The question brought the Colonel up with a jolt.

“Ah, well,” said he presently, with a wave of his hand, “you will hear that story soon enough.”  He was silent a moment, and then added, sadly and somewhat sternly:  “Young man, I have reserved one count in the total, the biggest and best, for the last.  Keep your ear and eye open—­and I mean the inner ear and eye as well as the outer—­keep your mind open, above all keep your heart open, and it will be given you to understand that we have here the bravest, the sweetest, and the kindliest people in the world.  The Lord has been good to you to send you among them.  This is the word of a man in the late evening of life to one in the hopeful morning.  You will take it, I hope, without offense.  Are you a Democrat, sir?”

“I am a political economist.”

The Colonel smiled.  “Well said, sir.  Science knows no party lines.  Your chosen subject rises above the valley of partisanry where we old wheel-horses plod—­stinging each other in the dust, as the poet finely says.  Mr. West has told me of your laurels.”

He went on to outline the business side of what the Post had to offer.  Queed found himself invited to write a certain number of editorial articles, not to exceed six a week, under the Colonel’s direction.  He had his choice of working on space, at the rate of five dollars per column, payment dependent upon publication; or of drawing a fixed honorarium of ten dollars per week, whether called on for the stipulated six articles or for no articles at all.  Queed decided to accept the fixed honorarium, hoping that there would be many weeks when he would be called on for no articles at all.  A provisional arrangement to run a month was agreed upon.

“I have,” said the Colonel, “already sketched out some work for you to begin on.  The legislature meets here in January.  It is important to the State that our whole tax-system should be overhauled and reformed.  The present system is a mere crazy-quilt, unsatisfactory in a thousand ways.  I suggest that you begin with a careful study of the law, making yourself familiar with—­”

“I am already familiar with it.”

“Ah!  And what do you think of it?”

“It is grotesque.”

“Good!  I like a clean-cut expression of opinion such as that, sir.  Now tell me your criticisms on the law as it stands, and what you suggest as remedies.”

Queed did so briefly, expertly.  The Colonel was considerably impressed by his swift, searching summaries.

“We may go right ahead,” said he.  “I wish you would block out a series of articles—­eight, ten, or twelve, as you think best—­designed to prepare the public mind for a thorough-going reform and point the way that the reform should take.  Bring this schedule to me to-morrow, if you will be so good, and we will go over it together.”