“Not on your tintype!” replied Carter. “Look here, Newell, you’ve been talking pretty plain to me lately and perhaps I’ve deserved it, but it leaves me free to give you a few ideas of my own. What we’ve got to do is to face this war—not duck it. We aren’t going to win with substitutes but with sacrifices. The trouble with you and your crowd—the trouble with me—is that we’ve been trying to eat our cake and save it too. What’s the use of those fool recipes of yours? The time has come to give up cake and pie and doughnuts—then why in thunder not give them up and be done with it?”
“But the Government doesn’t ask that,” cut in Newell.
“Who’s the Government?” demanded Carter.
“Why—why——”
“You are. I am,” Carter cut in, answering his own question. “That’s all there is to it. And if you want to understand how important you are, just multiply yourself by a hundred million. That’s what Hoover does. Do it for yourself.”
Newell smiled a little maliciously.
“Perhaps you’re right, old man. By the way, I’m on this Third Liberty Loan committee, and if you’ll tell me how much I can look ahead for from you it would help.”
“Ten thousand dollars,” answered Carter. “In the meantime, if you hear of anyone who wants to buy a house, let me know.”
“You aren’t going to leave us?”
“Not if I can hire a cheap place round town,” answered Carter.