Howard R. Garis

“ ELECTION NIGHT
“I had no idea,” the chemist continued, “how many people there were in New York who had stains that they desired removed from their hands or faces. It's astonishing, that's what it is. Men and women came here, covered with ink, or else marked with acids and chemicals, and wanted me to make 'em look nice again so they could go to a dance, or appear in public. Mothers brought their sons and daughters, all marked up from playing with paint or something else, and wanted me to make 'em right again.”
“But did Noddy come?” insisted Mr. Newton. ”

“ The men in charge of the tables got them ready, spreading them out on large boards. The tables looked like big-sized war maps, with little blocks and spaces for each election district, a place devoted to each candidate, and squares where the total vote might be cast up. ”

“ In the meanwhile I had used up about ten dollars' worth of chemicals removing stains.”
“Didn't any of them offer to pay you?” asked Larry.
“Not a one,” replied the chemist, sadly. “I guess they thought this was a dispensary for the poor. Well, never mind that. But last evening, just as I was about to close up the shop, there came a ring at the bell, and in came a man, who, the minute I set eyes on him, I knew to be the person we wanted.”
“It was Noddy, eh?” asked Mr. Newton. ”