I worried about this battle, though we had gained steadily.

There was an element in the district, led by shrewd politicians, of the graduated saloon-keeper type, which did not lack large numbers.

Outside one ward, though we had practically beaten them, Grant had invoked everything.

He had stood up squarely on every platform, and as well in every drinking-shop and den, and almost bagnio, and explained to whom he found the nature of the contest, and told them what he wanted to do, and what all the hearings were, and told them then to conduct themselves as they pleased--he had but put his case as it was.
And there are men among the thugs, and humanity is not altogether bad, even in the slums, and help had come to us from unexpected places.
More than one man, brutal-looking, but with lines in his countenance showing that he had once been something better, came around and worked well, and all to his future advantage, for Harlson's memory of such things was as the memory of that cardinal--what was his name ?--who never forgot a face or incident or figure.

We were what the politicians call "on top," a week before election, save in that same Ninth Ward.