Mr. Pardriff a reformer who did not believe that the railroad should run the State.  But the editor of the Ripton Record was a man after Emerson’s own heart:  “a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds”—­and Mr. Pardriff did not go to Wedderburn.  He went off on an excursion up the State instead, for he had been working too hard; and he returned, as many men do from their travels, a conservative.  He listened coldly to Mr. Tooting’s impassioned pleas for cleaner politics, until Mr. Tooting revealed the fact that his pockets were full of copy.  It seems that a biography was to be printed—­a biography which would, undoubtedly, be in great demand; the biography of a public benefactor, illustrated with original photographs and views in the country.  Mr. Tooting and Mr. Pardriff both being men of the world, some exceeding plain talk ensued between them, and when two such minds unite, a way out is sure to be found.  One can be both a conservative and a radical—­if one is clever.  There were other columns in Mr. Pardriff’s paper besides editorial columns; editorial columns, Mr. Pardriff said, were sacred to his convictions.  Certain thumb-worn schedules were referred to.  Paul Pardriff, Ripton, agreed to be the publisher of the biography.

The next edition of the Record was an example of what Mr. Emerson meant.  Three columns contained extracts of absorbing interest from the forthcoming biography and, on another page, an editorial.  The Honourable Humphrey Crewe, of Leith, is an estimable gentleman and a good citizen, whose public endeavours have been of great benefit to the community.  A citizen of Avalon County, the Record regrets that it cannot support his candidacy for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.  We are not among those who seek to impugn motives, and while giving Mr. Crewe every credit that his charges against the Northeastern Railroads are made in good faith, we beg to differ from him.  That corporation is an institution which has stood the test of time, and enriches every year the State treasury by a large sum in taxes.  Its management is in safe, conservative hands.  No one will deny Mr. Crewe’s zeal for the State’s welfare, but it must be borne in mind that he is a newcomer in politics, and that conditions, seen from the surface, are sometimes deceptive.  We predict for Mr. Crewe a long and useful career, but we do not think that at this time, and on this platform, he will obtain the governorship.”

“Moral courage is what the age needs,” had been Mr. Crewe’s true and sententious remark when he read this editorial.  But, bearing in mind a biblical adage, he did not blame Mr. Tooting for his diplomacy.  “Send in the next man.”

Mr. Tooting opened the study door and glanced over the public-spirited citizens awaiting, on the porch, the pleasure of their leader.

“Come along, Caldwell,” said Mr. Tooting.  “He wants your report from Kingston.  Get a hustle on!”

Mr. Caldwell made his report, received many brief and business-like suggestions, and retired, impressed.  Whereupon Mr. Crewe commanded Mr. Tooting to order his automobile—­an occasional and rapid spin over the country roads being the only diversion the candidate permitted himself.  Wishing to be alone with his thoughts, he did not take Mr. Tooting with him on these excursions.