Part 14 (1/2)
They all joined in a laugh at Flannigan's Hibernianism.
”That is a genuine Irish bull, Captain,” said Sealy. ”But as we are here we may as well have an informal talk as to the best course to pursue in the present contingency. In my opinion, it is our best policy not to make a very strong fight this time. I would be for almost letting them have a walk over. And then when they think the victory is theirs, I would commence the real battle.
After it becomes law I would sell whiskey just the same as ever, and entice all the b.u.mmers in the country to drink and have a regular drunken carnival. You will not have to pay any license, so you will be able to stand being fined a time or two. But I can tell you what it is, boys, they will have a hard time to convict.
From my experience--and it has been considerable--I have learned it is a pretty difficult thing to worm the truth out of unwilling witnesses. Then there is another thing in your favor, the majority of the magistrates have no sympathy with this movement. I would therefore badger and bother them all I could, and have free trade in whiskey; and after the people are thoroughly disgusted I would go in for repeal. I saw Jobson, the President of the Licensed Liquor Sellers' a.s.sociation, the other day, and when I suggested this course to him he said he thought it would be the wisest one to pursue. Have you heard from him, Rivers?”
”Yes, I received a letter yesterday,” answered Rivers. ”And I have notified the members of the a.s.sociation in the county to meet here on Sat.u.r.day, when I shall use my influence to get them to play a waiting game, and then, when the time comes, we will force the fighting.”
”I think that will be the wisest policy,” said the sheriff.
”If the Act is carried, there will be whiskey enough drunk here to satisfy Bacchus himself. We won't have to fight our battles without a.s.sistance, as we have had promised to us all the money that is really necessary from the outside. The Licensed Liquor Sellers' a.s.sociation will supply all the needful we want. And if we don't flood this county with whiskey, then you may call Charley Rivers a liar. They may have a chance to chuckle for a while, but we'll be more than even with them yet.”
”Your craft is in danger,” sneered Dalton, who, though he was such a slave to liquor, sympathised with the temperance party and constantly manifested his sympathy with them. ”There is no doubt but you will fight for your interest, no matter who suffers.”
”Now, Charley, don't be raising another row,” said Ginsling. ”You are as p.r.i.c.kly as a hedgehog.”
”What I say is the truth,” he answered. ”When the tavern-keepers fight against the Dunkin Act they are fighting in company with their father, the devil, and his angels, their brethren, against the right. My sympathy is with the temperance party, for I know that every one who really cares for me is among them, and my only hope in this world and the world to come is in their success. If there was no liquor to be got I might be a man yet.”
”Well, if you sympathise with them you had better a.s.sociate with them. We would manage to exist without you.”
Rivers spoke very angrily, for he was irritated almost beyond endurance by the words and manner of Dr. Dalton.
”It is my intention to join them; so you had better not concoct any more schemes in my presence; but I promise what I have heard to-night shall never be repeated outside. Yes, I will join them; for if I continue as I am the end is not far off, and G.o.d only knows what that end will be.”
”Come, Judge, let us go. I perceive you have about as large a cargo as you can conveniently carry. You will not be fit for court to-morrow, if you don't take time to sober off.”
The judge had not been in the room during the time they were doing the greater part of their talking, as he had been called out just after he had replied to the sheriff; for though he sympathised with them they would not have talked quite so freely in his presence. In answer to Dalton he said:
”You will oblige me if you take care of yourself, Doctor, and leave me to mind my own affairs. I--hic--hic--have an idea it is just about as much as you can attend to, and I think I know what I am doing.”
The worthy judge then turned to the company and said: ”Good night, gentlemen. Don't all get drunk, or some of you may be more formally introduced to me. Come, Doctor, if I leave you here there is sure to be a row.”
He then took the arm of Dalton, and bowed himself out, and as the last bow he made was rather an elaborate effort, he lost his equilibrium; and, if Dalton had not held him up, he might have demonstrated that a judge could be lowly as well as learned.
When they were out of hearing, Rivers said: ”I am glad that fellow, Dalton, has gone. If the judge had not been with him I would have kicked him out long ago. He has a sharp, impudent tongue, when he has a mind to be ugly.”
”Yes,” said Sealy, ”I am glad he has gone and taken the judge with him; for, even though he was more than half-seas-over, he did not wish to compromise himself by listening to our conversation upon that subject. I think he was glad that Peters called him out.”
”He is on our side, though,” said Rivers, ”and will use every technicality that the law furnishes to baulk the fanatics and make their efforts fruitless.”
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE CONSPIRATORS FORMULATING THEIR SCHEME.
After the judge and Dr. Dalton had left, the worthies who remained sat long in council concocting their Satanic schemes for the final defeat of the Dunkinites. Each one who was present promised to exert all his influence to make as many drunk as possible, after the law was adopted in the county.
”You, Bottlesby, will be able to give a good account of Dalton, and you, Ginsling, can take care of Ashton,” said Rivers. ”I know that old Gurney and his wife will be doing their level best with them, but if you only work your cards for what they are worth they will not succeed worth a cent, for if whiskey is put in their way they are bound to drink.”