"He is not so selfish as all that. His zeal has reached out to embrace the regeneration of the whole human race--or at least the part of it that inhabits San Francisco."
"What do you mean? I may be thick-headed, but I don't get your meaning."
"Oh, it is just as I say. And to carry out his benevolent purposes he has engaged the services of the Council of Nine--or at least has entered into active cooperation with it."
"The Council of Nine! I never heard of it." Wharton Kendrick looked at me in amazement.
"Well, to confess the truth, I never heard of it myself until to-day. However, you are likely to hear more of it later. It has a valiant recruit in Bolton."
"But what is it? What is it trying to do?"
"So far as I can find out, it is the head-center of the local organization of the International Reds. It is made up of anarchists, socialists, communists, and the discontented of all sorts. I'll admit that I don't understand fully the distinctions between these elements, and they are so mixed up here that you can't tell one from another."
"That's a promising combination," laughed Wharton Kendrick; and then a thoughtful look followed his laughter, as he added: "But what does P. Bolton think he can get out of that crowd?"
"A liberal education--or at least an education in liberality. He has given a handsome contribution to their funds--"
"What!" ejaculated Kendrick, starting forward in astonishment. "You don't mean to say that he has given them money?"