"Congressman David Lockwin, of the First Illinois, died of his wounds about daylight in a yawl off Cape Croker. His body is lost with the yawl!"
There is a shriek that awakens the household. There is a white form lying in the hall near an open front door.
The servants rush up-stairs. There is a hubbub and a giving of orders.
The voices of the street come into the hall-way as winds into a cave:
"Extra! Extra! 'Palling calamity! Hundred and fifteen congressmen drowned! Extra! Extra!"
CHAPTER II
CORKEY'S FEAR OF A WIDOW'S GRIEF
Corkey and Noah are nearing the residence of Esther Lockwin.
"You bet your sweet life I don't want to see her nibs. It just breaks me all up to hear 'em take on, rip and snort and beller. Now, see here, you moke, when we git in you stand behind where I stand, and don't you begin to beller, too. If you do I'll shake you--I'll give you the clean lake breeze. If you walk up to the mark I'll get you into the league nine. You'll be their man to hoodoo the other ball clubs."
"Yessah!"