"He is not in," retorts the clerk with spirit.
"Has he sold out?"
"No."
"When will he be in?"
"I can't tell you. Excuse me." A customer waits.
"Yes, yes, yes!" growls Corkey. But he never was busier. He is trying to do his work at the office and to get through election week.
"Where is Chalmers?" Again Corkey is at the drug store. "See here, my friend, I don't take no street-car way down here to have you do no cunning act. Is Chalmers in town?"
"I do not know."
The clerk is telling the truth, and is in turn offended. "I do not know," he says, resolutely.
Corkey is convinced. "I'll bet it's true," he says, suddenly summing up the situation.