low over, but you'll have to
withdraw a while for repairs. The bottom has dropped out of your boom,
and of course you can't be a candidate for President. Let's go quietly
home. I'll go along with you. _The Lyre_ has had to drop you for the
time. _Scribblers'_ has sent back the first article I wrote for you,
and they say your name has lost its commercial value. I've seen Jonas.
He's here to make sure of a friendly candidate, and he says you're out
of the question. He's doing well, I tell you. I asked him how it paid
to run a war for half a million a day and get a trade in return of a
few millions a year? 'It's the people pay for the war and we get the
trade,' said he. He'd like to have you President to help them along,
but he says it won't be possible. It's a shame. You'd have run so well,
if----Your platform of 'Old Gory, the Army and Navy,' would have swept
everything before it. But never mind. We'll try it again some day. I
suppose your luck couldn't hold out forever."

"Thanks, my dear Cleary," said Sam, grasping his hand. "You've been a
true friend. I don't think it makes much difference. I am a sick man,
and I must go home as soon as I can."

CHAPTER XVI

The End

[Illustration]

Sam was indeed a sick man, and the journey to the East proved to be a
severe strain upon him. Cleary saw that it would be unwise to let him
travel alone with his wife, and accordingly he accompanied him to
Slowburgh, which was on the way to Homeville. They arrived in the
afternoon, and Sam could hardly walk to the carriage which awaited him.
He was put to bed as soon as he reached his uncle's house, and on the
advice of his uncle's doctor they sent at once to the county town for a
trained nurse to take charge of him, for it was out of the question for
him to travel farther. There was no train which Cleary could
conveniently take that evening to the metropolis, and he accepted the
urgent invitation of Congressman Jinks to spend the night. It so
happened that it was a gala day for Slowburgh. Four of her soldier sons
had returned a few days before from Porsslania and the Cubapines, and
this day had been set aside for a great celebration and a mass-meeting
at the Methodist church to welcome them. The procession was to take
place early in the evening, and after supper Cleary went out alone to
watch the proceedings, leaving his friend to the care of his relatives.
He took his place on the curbs