“Wouldn't you be accomplishing more,” I inquired, “if you hadn't antagonized the Hutchinses?”
“It depends upon what you mean by accomplishment,” he answered, so mildly that I felt more rued than ever.
“Well, from what you say, I suppose you're going in for reform, that these workmen up at Elkington are not satisfied with their conditions and imagine you can help to better them. Now, provided the conditions are not as good as they might be, how are you going to improve them if you find yourself isolated here, as you say?”
“In other words, I should cooperate with Colonel Varney and other disinterested philanthropists,” he supplied, and I realized that I was losing my temper.
“Well, what can you do?” I inquired defiantly.
“I can find out what's going on,” he said. “I have already learned something, by the way.”
“And then?” I asked, wondering whether the implication were personal.
“Then I can help—disseminate the knowledge. I may be wrong, but I have an idea that when the people of this country learn how their legislatures are conducted they will want to change things.”
“That's right!” echoed the waiter, who had come up with my griddle-cakes. “And you're the man to tell 'em, Mr. Krebs.”
“It will need several thousand of us to do that, I'm afraid,” said Krebs, returning his smile.