Besides, a fighting chance invariably seems more
prodigious to the one who is said to have it, than to anyone else.
There were certainly weak joints in the armor (an analogy supplied me
by the committee) of my opponent, who was a dyed-in-the-wool
politician, and indisputably I had a great many friends. Could I
afford to disregard the piteous, eloquent argument of the spokesman,
Honorable David Flint, that the sacred cause of Reform demanded me as
its champion, and that victory was possible only under my banner? I
had promised to think it over, which was a coy way of stating that I
would accept. Having made up my mind to run, I was obliged to tell
Josephine that this would mean good-by for many a long and weary month
to our jaunt.
"If you're elected, Fred, I shall be only too glad to postpone it. And
if by any chance you don't get in, we'll forget all about it in dear
Japan."
"You do not quite understand the situation, pet. We stay at home in
any case, election or no election. The expenses will eat up my savings
for a rainy day in Japan. I shall have to contribute handsomely to
everybody and everything. It's an outrage, but one of the painful
results of having greatness thrust upon one."
Thereupon Josephine flung her arms around my neck and informed me that
I was not only a dear, noble hero, but that Japan or no Japan, she
would not begrudge one copper of any sum I might be obliged to spend in
order to defeat that odious wretch, Mr.
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