w. But he must sherry. I can't fool with these sailors. If they
see me trading with Lockwin they will swear I sell out. See? Well, I
want to see Lockwin, just the same. Now, I'll tell you what I'll do:
You Send Lockwin to Washington to explain the situation. Get in
writing what is to be done. Don't let there be any foolin' on that
point. Tell Lockwin to return by the way of Canada, and get to Owen
Sound. I know a way home that will leave us alone for two days or
more. In that time I can tell what I'll do."

"All right; Lockwin shall go."

"I'll give it out that I've gone to Duluth for the newspaper. But I've
no use for newspapers no more. It's collector or Congress, sure.
Don't attempt no smart plays. Tell that to the jam-jorum at
Washington. If they want me to take down my contest and cover up the
hole you ballot-box-stuffers is in here at home, let 'em fix _me_."

"All right."

"It's all right if Lockwin meets me at Owen Sound. I've got the
_papes_ to send a lot of you duffers to the pen if you don't come to
time."

Corkey therefore sails for Duluth. It increases his standing with the
sailors to make these trips late in the year.

Lockwin is to go to Washington. It is evident, say his friends, that
he is greatly exhausted with the efforts of the campaign. Dr. Tarpion
has hinted that Lockwin is not the ambitious man that he has seemed to
be. Dr. Tarpion has hinted that it was only through strong personal
influence that Lockwin has been held faithful to the heavy party duty
that now lies upon him.

Dr. Tarpion has hinted that Lockwin did not want the office if it did
not belong to him.

But Lockwin has had brain fever for nearly a month. What could you
expect of a man who made so many speeches at so many wigwams?

"Besides," says the political boss, "he had sickness in his family."

"Some one died, didn't they?" asks a rounder where these reports are
bandied.

"Yes, a little boy. Good-looking little fellow, too. I saw him with
Lockwin."

"When I was a young man," said the boss, "old Sol Wynkoop got in the
heat of the canvass, just like Lockwin. Old Sol was just about as good
a speaker. He would talk right on, making 'em howl every so often.
Well, his wife and his daughter they both died and was buried, and Old
Sol he didn't miss his three dates a day. He didn't come home at all.
I had a notion to tell Lockwin that. Oh, he ain't no timber for
President, or even for senator. I d