The druggist trembles as he fills the graduate.

"Won't you have a bigger one?" he suggests.

"No, I ain't drinking much between campaigns. Did you know I was going
to run for the Illinois house? Yes, that's nearer to my size than a
whole congressional district. I'm in for it. But that's not now. My
mind is over there, on the avenue. Say, old man, is the scheme any
good? He dassen't come back. Do you think she'd pull out and go to
him, wherever he is?"

The druggist carries the empty graduate to the water sink. He rinses
it. His heart beats with the greatest joy it has ever known. He
returns the graduate to the prescription counter.

"It is a good scheme, Corkey."

[Illustration: "It is a good scheme, Corkey."]

"You bet it _is_. Chalmers, just fill that thimble-rig once more. It
don't hold three fingers, nohow. Hurry, for I got to go to the north
pier right off. That's your little clock striking 6 in there now,
ain't it?"




CHAPTER IX

A HEROIC ACT