"You have undoubtedly saved the life of your boy by making him take the
emetic. He will love you just as much. I know--Mrs. Lockwin was
telling me how much it disturbed you. Don't lose your empire over him,
and he will be all right in a week. He must not have a relapse--that
might kill him."
"Doctor, I am risen out of hell, the third day. I cannot tell you what
I have felt, especially since midnight. But I can tell you now what I
want. I desire that you shall take my place on this case. My personal
affairs are extremely pressing. What yesterday was impossible is now
easy. In fact, it seems to me that only impossibilities are probable.
Remember that money is of no account. Throw aside your other practice.
See that the women keep my boy from catching that cold again and I will
pay you any sum you may name."
In Lockwin's school money will purchase all things. Money will now
keep Davy from a relapse. Money will carry the primaries. Money will
win the election.
After all, Lockwin is inclined to smile at the terrors of the evening
before. "I was in need of sleep," he says.
He has not slept since. Why is he so brave now? But brave he is. He
carries an air of happiness all about him. He has left his Davy
talking in his own voice, breathing with perfect freedom and ready to
go to sleep.
The people's idol appears at head-quarters. He tells all the boys of
his good fortune. They open his barrel and become more in hope of the
country than ever before.
The great Corkey appears also at Lockwin's head-quarters. "Hear you've
had sickness." he says. "Sorry, because I guess I've knocked you out
while you was at home. I never like to take an unfair advantage of
nobody."
"Glad to see you, Mr. Corkey. Go ahead! Nobody happier than me
to-day."
"He beats me," said Corkey; "but he isn't goin' to be so sweet
to-night."
"Oh, I'm elected, sure!" Corkey announces on the docks. "Harpwood he
offer me the collectorship of the port if I git down. But I go round
to Lockwin's, and he seem to hope I'd win. He beats _me_."
"Why, he's the machine man, Corkey. You don't expect to beat the
machine?"
"Cert. All machines is knocked out, some time, ain't they?"
"Not by the marines, Corkey."
"I can lick the man who comes down on these docks to say I'm going to
get the worst of it."
Corkey is accordingly elected, and all hands take a drink at the other
fellow's invitation, for which the great Corkey demands the privilege
of paying. With this prologue the crowds start for the primaries.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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