The boss beamed approval. “Now look here,” said he, “you know McAteer, don’t you? Well this other crowd want to do him out of the nomination because he sticks like glue to the party, see? Old Owen Dwyer’s on the ticket, instructed for him; so give Owen your support, eh?” “McAteer,” spoke Mr. Burns, “is an able man, an’ Owen Dwyer, is a daysint wan, an’ a friend av my own.” “So he is; you’re right, Tim! And then there’s Abrams for judge--Jimmie Hurley stands for him. Abrams is a sheeney, but he’s all right.” “I’m agin no man because he sticks till what his father wur before him.” “And there’s Kelly for select--a neighbour of yours; and here’s Haley for school director.” “I knew yez father,” said Tim to Haley; “he wur a United man, an’ an A. O. H., so I’ll do what I can till give his son a boost. But for James Kelly--never!” Tim smacked his hands together loudly. “Gartenheim gits me vote; for he give me a job av work when the rist av yez passed me by!” “Don’t let any o’ those young fellows jolly you, Tim; for they’re goin’ to git it in the neck, sure! Kelly’s the man! He’s the only one that can hold the workers, for he stands in with the mayor. He can git jobs.” “I’ve heard that afore now,” remarked Tim, stubbornly. McQuirk touseled up the eldest boy’s head once more and also shook hands with the mother. “Gartenheim’s name won’t be mentioned,” prophesied he as he buttoned up his light overcoat and paused at the door. “Stand in with the party, that’s the thing, eh, Mrs. Burns? The right kind o’ people never forgets who puts them in office. Do what’s regular, Tim, that’s all I ask, do what’s regular; vote to hold the organization together and keep the snide reformers out. And, remember, we’ve got a congressman to elect, the only one o’ the right stripe in the city.” He opened the door and stood aside while Haley stepped out. “Good night, Tim; I just thought I’d drop in and talk to you about the thing. No harm done?” “Not a bit,” answered Mr. Burns, “Good night.” And so it went from house to house, from alley to alley, from division to division through the ward. McQuirk did not trust himself in the hands of his workers; he saw the voters in person, raised the standard and appealed to the partisanship that is born in every man; and so if there was glory to be gained, he was the gainer; if there was a harvest of defeat to reap, it was not because of lack of personal attention on his part.