MEET ME ON THE BARRICADES

“Quite true. [Turning to a secretary who sud-
denly appears, notebook in hand, at the President’s
right] Remind me to acknowledge with thanks
Mr. Browder’s services in the last campaign.”

“Landon had to be defeated at all costs,” Simpson
went on.

“You’re telling me .7” .

“Of course, I sometimes have my misgivings about
the sincerity of the new communist policy.” Simp-
son interrupted himself, tripping over his rapid
speech. “The new communist line; you know, war
is indivisible [flustered] I mean peace is indivisible,
a happy prosperous America. . . .”

“And a merry Christmas to you, Simpson,” the
President said cheerily. A

——A redder-than-the-rose wisecrack, Simpson
thought, as the President began to fade and look like
an under-exposed photographic print. If I think of
any more stuff like that, I’m not going to’ pay any
attention to it.

“During your first term in oflice, Mr. President, I
often said to Mathilda that I’d like to be alone with
you on a fishing trip. We’d do some real solid read-
ing, really worthwhile books.”

“Name them!” the President commanded.

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