""But I am not mistaken," persisted Holcomb. "You must be bewitched! I don"t understand."
""Well, don"t try to, old man. I"d do anything for you--you know, but I can"t do this."
""I don"t want you to do anything for me!" interrupted Holcomb, indignantly. "I only want you to enforce the law as you find it, and not----"
"He paused, feeling that he might say too much.
""You"ll have to excuse me," murmured the Sheriff, impatiently, "I"d do anything to oblige, but really, this time----"
"Holcomb gazed at the man in silence for a moment--nodding his head in comprehending pity and contempt, and left the room without another word."
--"When did you say your friend dreamed all this rot?"
It was Hartruff who roughly interrupted the story.
At the sound of his voice Norris turned his gaze toward the window, and continued looking out of it while he answered slowly:
"Why do you think he dreamed it? Have you heard the rest of the story?"
"No--but anyone can see what"s coming."
"Is it such an every-day affair with you? So much the less reason for thinking Holcomb dreamed it."
Hartruff laughed contemptuously.
"O, well, never mind--go on with your tarradiddle."
"You will pardon me then for telling what must, of course, be commonplace to a member of the General Committee?"
"O, go to the devil!"
"You forget yourself, my dear Hartruff. Why direct me to headquarters, when his deputies are members of decent down-town clubs?"
"Come, come, gentlemen," interposed Lawton, "this is going too far."
"Precisely what I just remarked to Hartruff," drawled Norris.
Hartruff saw the smile on the faces of the company, and rose from his seat.
"I will leave this gentleman to continue his pipe-dreaming, advising him, however, that it is a dangerous practice."
"Is that a warning, Hartruff? If so, write it out, please. Those warnings always look so much fiercer in mis-spelled words signed with crosses. But I forget, your Organisation never puts itself on paper."
"No--but it puts itself on record!"
"Makes its mark, you mean? Well, that"s merely a defect of early education, easily overcome with men like you to guide its fist."
"Take care you don"t feel the weight of it."
"My dear Hartruff, haven"t they taught you yet to keep your teeth on your temper? Really, you"ll never rise from the ranks unless you learn to smile and smile and,--well--you"d better learn to smile."
Hartruff turned on his heel, strode to the door and slammed it behind him.
"When Holcomb left the Sheriff," continued Norris calmly, "he promptly sent for his client Barney McCarren and explained the entire situation to him. McCarren expressed no surprise, but when Holcomb announced his intention of bringing mandamus proceedings to compel the Sheriff to give the required certificates, Barney laid a protesting hand on his counsel"s arm.
""Shure "tis no use, Counsellor," he said. "I was afraid you couldn"t do anything, but I knew if you couldn"t, n.o.body could."
""What do you mean by its being "no use"--and why should you "be afraid"? I"m going to get out papers this instant and show those fellows up."
""Please don"t do it, Sir. At least not until I come again."
""For goodness" sake, why not, man? It shan"t cost you a cent."
""It isn"t that, Sir. But--well--I shouldn"t have troubled you--I might have known----"
""Might have known what?"
""That they"d lay for me."
""Why?"
""For not attending meetings at the Club."
""What Club?"
""The District Club."
"Then it came out, bit by bit, that McCarren had been a "regular" in the Organisation and a member of the District Club. During the last year, however, he had wearied of the proceedings and had absented himself from the meetings. At the last election he hadn"t voted. The District Leader had spoken to him once jokingly about his absence from the meetings, and once, not jokingly, about his absence from the polls.--"I knew they had it up for me," concluded McCarren resignedly.
""Well, don"t you let them frighten you, Barney. I"ll soon show them they can"t play with the law."
""You mustn"t do it, Sir. You really mustn"t do it."
"Holcomb argued and expostulated at length. He explained to his client that the Courts would not permit such violations of the law, and that the legal proceedings would be free of cost. He showed him that prompt action would not only gain him his rights, but would make them respected in future. He urged his personal and professional interest in the matter and begged his client to take action. But all in vain. McCarren knew he"d win the lawsuit--but there were his oyster-stands for which licenses were necessary. He"d like to stand up for his rights--but he wanted his children to get into the schools next Fall. He knew how Mr.
Holcomb felt about the matter--but it helped out for his wife to continue as janitoress of the tenement where they lived.--In a word there were a hundred points where the Powers could and would reach him.
He couldn"t afford it!
"Holcomb looked hopelessly at his client, and seeing the disappointment in his face, McCarren tried to soften the effect of his decision.
""Wait--just wait a few days, Sir. Then maybe I"ll come and see you about it again."
"At the end of a week he came.
""Will you take up that matter again, Mr. Holcomb?" he said, "Try it once more just as though"--he hesitated a moment--"just as though I hadn"t asked you before."
"Holcomb "took it up again" with the same papers he had prepared the first time, and called on the Sheriff"s deputy.
""I want a receipt for your fees in this case," he said, laying the papers before the official and placing a fifty-cent piece on his desk.