Page:Keeban (IA keeban00balm).pdf/138

 ness, with its logic, such as it is. What is the end and aim of Fanneal and Company, Steve?"

"Why," I said, "why to"

"To what?"

"To sell good food."

"Why?"

"Why, for people to eat?"

"Your effort is to increase the consumption of food, isn't it?"

"Of course."

"You do it for profit, don't you?"

"Of course."

"Now which is the fact—that most people, here in this country, eat too much or too little?"

"Too much."

"Which is a decided detriment to health and longevity, is it not?"

"Yes."

"Then the actual result of your business, which you steadily push for your own profit, is to lessen health and shorten life?"

I laughed now. But he was at me, "Why the laugh, Steve?"

"That's bunk and you know it."

"Where's it bunk, Steve? Where's the flaw? Where, if anywhere, did the fallacy creep in? Now let us leap to the safe-blowing business.