oesn't want a doctor. He'll
sleep it off all right. He's only drunk."

"Drunk!" said Leicester solemnly, "I'm sober as a judge. Word of honour,
gentlemen. Overcome with 'motion, tha's whass marr w'me."

Both the reporter and the editor laughed ironically.

"We must get him back to the hotel," said Mr. Smith, "and we must have
the doctor immediately."

"Yes, put him to bed at once," said the opposition editor. "He'll be all
right in the morning, except for a bad headache."

"Bed," said Leicester, struggling with himself, "bed, who dare talk to
me 'bout bed? I mus' do duty. Two thousand faithful s'porters are
waitin' for word from thr leader. Hic! I must s'port my party also.
'Scuse me, gentlemen, I--I must return to th' platform. I want to warn
my countrymen 'gainst the ter'ble evil 'v drink! No, nod ev'n sorr-ow
shall keep me fr-rom duty. Has ses poet, 'Whr duty calls or danger, O
ner be wantin' there.'"

He tried to rise; but in vain. Again he fell back with a drunken giggle,
while the editor and his reporter laughed gleefully.

"I hope you'll not take an unfair advantage of Mr. Leicester's illness,
gentlemen," said Mr. Smith.

"I assure you we'll only report faithfully what we have seen," was the
reply. "But, really, I don't think there is any need for newspaper
reports, the people have seen for themselves."

With all speed Leicester was taken back to the hotel, protesting all the
while that he wished to address his faithful followers, and warn them
against the evils of drink. Presently, when he reached his room, he rang
the bell.

"Boll whisky, James," he said. "Gen'l'men, le's drink 'elth
party--sobriety 'n' freedom."

"No, Mr. Leicester," said the chairman of the political organisation
which had accepted him as their candidate, "you have drunk too much
whisky already. You have not only disgraced yourself, but you've
disgraced your party. You've ruined our chances of winning this
election, you have made us the byword of our opponents, and of the
country."

"Qui' m'stak'n, gen'l'men; sob'r's judge. Wha'! Rafford Lester drunk? I
cu'nn be drunk if I tried. Whisky cu'nn do it. Le's 'ave a drink!"

A doctor entered the room, and came to his side.

"They say I'm drunk, doctor. Tell 'em wha' fools they are. Tell 'em I'm
avocate ov temp'rance."

"Get him to bed," said the doctor. He had been a supporter of
Leicester's, and was disgusted at what had taken place. "Here, take
this," he said, pouring some li