the play a little. Oh,
she's no use. She even wants me to bring the coon, and I let the
ball-players take him. He can't be going down there. I don't want him
along nohow. I tell you I'm going to change the box. I'm going to
bring her round to the idea that he's alive."

Corkey is earnest. His eyes are sparkling. He is chewing hard on his
tobacco. His head is quaking.

"He's alive, and so he's a--well, he's a no-gooder."

"Yes," says the druggist huskily.

"But I hate to see her pining away, and I'm going to steer her against
the idea that she can get him if she wants him. She's so rich she can
do anything she wants to. I guess if she wants him she can clear out
with him and live in--where is it?--in Moscow. That's about the place
for ducks like him."

"Yes," says the druggist.

Corkey takes the glass graduate in hand. He turns sideways and puts
his arm heavily on the frail show-case. He lifts his foot to place it
on the customary iron railing of a whisky shop. He ruminates.

"The David Lockwin Annex--that means a wing, doesn't it? Yes, I
thought so. Well, the wing is bigger than the--than the--than the--the
wing is bigger than the bird."

It is an observation that Corkey believes would be applauded among the
sharp blades of the telegraph room. He drinks in a well-pleased mood.

"The David Lockwin Annex! The monument! They've given that a stiff
name, too. I've seen some gay things in this town, but that beats me.
It takes a woman to make a fool of herself. And there she is over
there crying for her great hero. Fill this jim-crack with the budge
again. Let her draw as much water as she will--put it to the top
notch!"

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 th