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Main > Fairy tale > All authors > Frank Baum > Fairy tale "Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work"

Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work

"

"There's a pretty heavy penalty against false registration," observed

the dentist, gloomily.

"There's no penalty unless we're found out, and there ain't the ghost of

a chance of that. The books are in your hands; I got all the clerks

fixed. Not a question will even be raised. I know it. Do you suppose I'd

risk state's prison myself, if I wasn't sure?"

"Look here, 'Rast," said Squiers, doggedly, "you're making a tool of me

in this campaign. Why should I be used and abused just to elect Erastus

Hopkins, I'd like to know. You sacrificed me when I might have been

Sheriff."

"You're well paid for that, Doc."

"And now you want me to put my neck in a noose for your advantage. I

won't do it, 'Rast, and that's a fact."

Mr. Hopkins coughed.

"How much, Doc?" he inquired.

The dentist was silent.

"State the figure. But for mercy's sake don't bleed me any more than you

can help. This fight has cost me a pretty penny already."

"I don't want your money," growled Squiers.

"Yes you do, Doc. I know you better than you know yourself. The trouble

with you is, you'll want too much."

Squiers laughed bitterly.

"Is Marshall to be trusted?" he asked.

"Of course. If he said a word he'd lose his job as manager. Marshall's

all right. There's nothing to worry about, Doc."

Patsy's tooth wasn't aching a bit. But her heart was throbbing as madly

as the tooth ever did, and fortunately there was no pain connected with

the throbbing--only joy.

"It ought to be worth two thousand dollars, 'Rast," said the dentist.

"What! In addition to all other expenses?"

"Why, man; it means the election. It means your whole future. If you're

defeated now, you're a back number in this district, and you know it."

"It's too much, Doc. On my word it is."

"It's too little, come to think of it. I'll make it three thousand."

"Doc!"

"If you don't close with me, 'Rast, by the jumping Jupiter, I'll make it

four thousand," cried the dentist, with exasperation.

"Say twenty-five hundred, Doc."

"Right on the nail.

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