They started for Chicago, Ill.,
To ratify the people's will,
But——
"That's all there is," said the Barrister, stopping abruptly.
"Yes, that is all there is," said the Red Knight, "and a nice mess you made of it."
"Mercy, Sire," cried the Barrister, falling on his knees.
"Failure deserves no pity," said the Red Knight sternly. "If it were not for the chance that you may do better in 1916, I would make short work of you at once. As it is, you will, as a penalty, between today and the first of next year, read and briefly summarize every one of my past Presidential messages."
"Including the paragraph about the tariff which Joe Cannon made you take out?" sobbed the Barrister.
"Everything!" said the Red Knight. "Come, Alice. The trumpet calls to battle. It's now or never—unless the circumstances change."