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As that active one, who had saved the ballot-box when the downfall of the building seemed threatened came edgewise through the throng, he passed close to Big Kennedy. The latter gave him a sharp glance of inquiry.
I stuffed it full to the cover, whispered the active one. We win four to one, an you can put down your money on that!
Big Kennedy nodded, and the zealot who saved the ballot-box passed on and disappeared.
When the Tin Whistles fell upon their prey, I started to go with them. But in a moment I saw there was no call; the foe went off at top flight, and my twenty would keep them moving. Thus reasoning, I turned again to see what was going forward about the booth.
My interest was immediately engaged by the words and actions of the reputable old gentleman, who, driven to frenzy, was denouncing. Big Kennedy and all who wore his colors as scoundrels without measure or mate.
I defy both you and your plug-uglies, he was shouting, flourishing his fist in the face of Big Kennedy, who, busy with his own plans, did not heed him. This is a plot to stuff the ballot-box.
The reputable old gentleman had gone thus far, when a hulking creature of a rough struck him from behind with a sandbag. I sprang forward, and fended away a second blow with my left arm. As I did so, I struck the rough on the jaw with such vengeful force that, not only did he drop like some pole-axed ox, but my right hand was fairly wrecked thereby. Without pausing to discover my own condition or that of the sandbag-wielding ruffian, I picked up the reputable old gentleman and bore him out of the crowd.
The reputable old gentleman had come by no serious harm; he was stunned a trifle, and his hat broken. With me to hold him up, he could stand on his feet, though still dazed and addled from the dull power of the blow. I beckoned a carriage which Big Kennedy had employed to bring the old and infirm to the polling place. It came at my signal, and I placed the reputable old gentleman inside, and told the driver to take him to his home. The reputable old gentleman was murmuring and shaking his head as he drove away. As I closed the carriage door, he muttered: This is barbarous! That citizens and taxpayers should receive such treatment The balance was lost in the gride of the wheels.
The hurly-burly had now ceased; all was as calm and equal as a goose pond.
So you saved the old gentleman, said Big Kennedy, as he came towards me. Gratitude, I spose, because he stood pal to you aginst Sheeny Joe that time. Gratitude! Youll get over that in time, and Big Kennedy wore a pitying look as one who dwells upon anothers weakness. That was Jimmy the Blacksmith you smashed. Youd better look out for him after this. My dander was still on end, and I intimated a readiness to look out for Jimmy the Blacksmith at once.
Mind your back now! cautioned Big Kennedy, and dont take to gettin it up. Let things go as they lay. Never fight till you have to, dye see! an never fight for fun. Dont go lookin for th Blacksmith until you hear hes out lookin for you. Then, as shifting the subject: Its been a great day, an everything to run off as smooth an true as sayin mass. Now lets go back and watchem count the votes.
Did we beat them? I asked.
Snowedem under! said Big Kennedy.
CHAPTER VI THE RED JACKET ASSOCIATION
BIG KENNEDYS success at the election served to tighten the rivets of his rule. It was now I looked to see him ferret forth and punish those renegades who had wrought against him in the dark. To my amazement he engaged himself in no such retaliatory labor. On the contrary he smiled on all about him like the sun at noon. Was it folly or want of heart that tied his hands? Assuredly it was error, and this I submitted to Old Mike. That veteran of policy disagreed with this, meanwhile beaming upon me in a way of fatherly cunning.
Jawn knows his business, said Old Mike. Thim people didnt rebel, they sold out. Thats over with an gone by. Everybodyll sell ye out if he gets enough; thats a rishk ye have to take. Theres that Limerick man, Gaffney, however; yell see something happen to Gaffney. Hes one of thim patent-leather Micks an puts on airs. Hes schemin to tur-rn Jawn down an take th wa-ard. Yell see something happen to that Limerick man, Gaffney.
Gaffney made his money with flour and horse feed and hay and similar goods. Also, as Old Mike said, Gaffney was ambitious. It was within the week, when a midnight shower of stones smashed sash and glass and laid waste that offensive merchants place of business. Gaffney restored his sash and glass only to invite a second midnight storm of stones. Three times were Gaffneys windows smashed by hands unknown; and no police officer would go within two blocks of Gaffneys. In the end, Gaffney came to Big Kennedy. The latter met him with a hectoring laugh.
Why do you come to me? asked Big Kennedy. Somebodys been trying to smash the windows of my leadership for over a year, but I never went howling about it to you.
Gaffney showed not a little shaken. He asked, in a manner sullen yet beaten, what he should do.
Id get out of th ward, replied Big Kennedy as cool as ice. Somebodys got it in for you. Now a man thatll throw a brick will light a match, dye see, an a feed store would burn like a tar barrel.
If I could sell out, Id quit, said Gaffney.
Well, responded Big Kennedy, I always like to help a friend.
Grocer Fogel bought Gaffneys store, making a bargain.
This iron-bound lesson in practical politics I dwell on in full. I drew from it some notion of the stern character of that science. Old Mike, from the pinnacles of his hard experience, looked down to justify it.
Gaffney would do th same, said Old Mike, if his ar-rm was long enough. Politics is a game where losers lose all; its like war, shure, only no ones kilt at any rate, not so many.
As the days drew on, I grew in favor with Big Kennedy, and the blossom thereof took this color.
Why dont you start a club? he asked one afternoon, as we sat in his sanctum. You could bring two hundred young fellows together, couldnt you?
Yes, I replied. I spoke doubtfully; the suggestion was of the sharpest, and gave me no space to think. It was one, too, which asked questions of the kind that dont answer themselves. But where would they meet? I put this after a pause.
Theres the big lodgeroom over my saloon, and Big Kennedy tossed his stubby thumb towards the ceiling. You could meet there. Theres a dumb waiter from the bar to send up beer and smokes.
How about the Tin Whistles? I hinted. Would they do to build on?
Leave the Tin Whistles out. Theyre all right as shoulder-hitters, an a swifter gang to help at the polls, or break up the oppositions meetins, never walked the streets. But for a play of this kind, theyre a little off color. Your Tin Whistles can join, man by man, but if they do they must sing low. They mustnt try to give the show; its the back seat for them. What youre out for now is the respectable young workin-man racket; thats the lay.
But wheres the money? said I. These people I have in mind havent much money.
Of course not, retorted Big Kennedy confidently, an what little they have they want for beer. But listen: You get the room free. Then once a year your club gives an excursion on the river; it ought to sell hundreds of tickets because therell be hundreds of officeholders, an breweries, an saloon keepers, an that sort wholl be crazy to buyem. If they aint crazy to start with, you ought to be able to makeem crazy th first election that comes round. The excursion should bring three thousand dollars over an above expenses, dye see. Then you can give balls in the winter an sell tickets. Then theres subscriptions an honry memberships. Youll ketch on; theres lots of ways to skin th cat. You can keep th club in clover an have some of the long green left. Thats settled then; you organize a young mens club. You be president an treasurer; see to that. An now, here Big Kennedy took me by the shoulder and looked me instructively in the eye, its time for you to be clinchin onto some stuff for yourself. This clubs goin to take a lot of your time. Itll make you do plenty of work. Youre no treetoad; you cant live on air an scenery. Big Kennedys look deepened, and he shook me as one who demands attention. Youll be president and treasurer, particularly treasurer; and Ill chip you in this piece of advice. A good cook always licks his fingers. Here he winked deeply.