"Meaning that the news has been gently broken to you by one William Adolphus Turnpike?" "Yes." "Well, put your money on Jimmy Duggan, coal and woodyard man, defender of the rights of the common people, candidate of the People's Party, the valiant David that's going to knock the stuffing out of the false Goliar----" "Isn't it Goliath?" suggested Whimple, mildly. "Well, maybe you're right, but, any way, there'll be an awful explosion in Mid-Toronto on August tenth, duly fixed by royal proclamation as the day on which the manhood of this fair province----" "Oh, drop it, Tommy----" "If the gentleman has any questions to ask I'll be pleased to answer them at the close of my address," Tommy went on. "I was about to say this fair province of Toronto, rising in their might, will go to the polls, well knowing that under the freedom and liberty which is theirs by right of the grand old flag----" "Tommy, shut up!" "I was about to say, they can vote as they darned well please, and the same will be mostly the way they've voted every election the last fifteen years--except in Mid-Toronto." "Are you through?" "Well, that's all I can think of just now." "But what's the use? You haven't got the shadow of a chance. Why, the government 'll be returned hands down." "Sure; but 'The Big Wind' won't. He'll be returned sky high. Don't you forget it. Why, Mid-Toronto's just seething, Whimple--just seething. Every patriotic soul in the riding is repeating that well-known verse from Bill Shakespeare's 'Saturday Night in London':-- 'Breathes there a man with soul so punk, Who never to himself has thunk, By hedges and by hook or crook, We'll surely give Big Wind the Hook.'" "Shakespeare! Shakespeare! Are you sure, Tommy?" "Well, perhaps it wasn't him; but he's as good as any to tack it to." "But, Tommy--seriously, is Jimmy Duggan going to fight?" "Fight!--you bet your life he's going to fight, and he's going to win, too." "Umph!" "Umph again, Whimple, you and the government will be umphing to the finish, and then you'll umph some more." "But look here, Tommy, you know the opposition and its press has had the government tottering to its fall every election these fifteen years, and it's as solid as ever." "Well, we'll make a dint in its solidity any way. You keep your eyes on Jimmy Duggan."