friends should put him wise that he ain't.' And Tony Gaston, what
drives oner Jimmy Duggan's coal-wagons, he says, 'The Bigga de Wind is
an awful mutt,' so he ups and asks why don't Jimmy Duggan run, so Pa
says 'Carried,' and Tommy Watson makes 'em do it all reg'lar, and they
forms the People's Party and puts Jimmy Duggan up for their man."

"It sounds foolish," said Wimple, reflectively.

"Well," said William, slowly, "that's what Tommy Watson says. 'It
looks foolish,' he says, 'and that's just where a lot of other people's
goin' to be made look foolish too. The party men'll be thinking
there's no chance for Jimmy, and first thing you know he'll slip in.'
So they asked Jimmy is he game, and Jimmy says he's game to buck up
against any government anywheres, he says, especially one what'll stand
for 'The Big Wind.'"

William paused, and then went on slowly, "Say, Mister Whimple, my Pa's
a wonder to know what's what, and he says quite solemn to Tommy Watson
after the meeting's over, 'Jimmy's the best man in a fight of any kind
I ever knew,' he says; 'b'lieve me, Mister Watson,' he says, 'he'll
punc-ture "The Big Wind." This part of the city don't have to stand
for a gas-bag that ain't even got sense enough to burst when it's too
full, and we ain't going to stand for it,' he says."

CHAPTER XVII

Whimple found the secretary and press agent of the People's Party
busily engaged in the back of his store preparing reports of the
nomination meeting for the newspapers.

"What's this I hear about a fight in Mid-Toronto, Tommy?" he asked.

"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