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316 made it up, and he's made it up all right so far as I am concerned. I have decided also, Farrar, to withdraw from his house and family."

"Why should you do that?"

"He says I may stay there as a matter of grace on his part. But, you know, that's contrary to our creed. We socialists don't believe in charity. What we want is simple justice."

It sounded gruesome and uncanny, coming from Barry's lips, this repetition of a doctrine that the rector himself had spread broadcast. Was this another victim of an unsound creed? The question forced itself in upon the minister's mind with appalling insistence. "But, Barry," he exclaimed, "this is tragic! It is unnecessarily tragic! Does he give you no alternative?"

"Oh, yes. He'll take it all back on certain conditions. You see he's practically disowned and disinherited me now. If I'll do what he wants me to he'll restore me to his favor."

"What does he want you to do?"

"Well, in the first place he wants me to cut out socialism. I can't cut out socialism, Farrar. I believe in it. It's the road to comfort and peace and happiness for the human race."

How trite and hollow the pet phrase sounded in the face of a calamity like this! From whom had he learned it, that he should repeat it, parrot-like, to the confusion of his host? The rector turned sad eyes on his visitor.

"Is that all you are to do, Barry?"

"Oh, no! I've got to repudiate you, and everything you stand for. Can you imagine me doing that, Farrar? Why, I've looked up to you as the biggest and bravest and brainiest man in this city. I'd follow you straight to the bottomless pit, if you said the word."

"Barry! Oh, Barry! Am I leading you to destruction?"

"The president says so. That's where he and I