human
Colonel McCorkle, said Fatty,
gpt
--here Fatty's arm took in the bottles and the cigars with a sweeping gesture--
human
I should expect, said Mr. Brassfield,
gpt
Good! said Fatty.
human
But we've all heard that before. Colonel McCorkle, or the Reverend Absalom McCosh, would say _that_.
gpt
Well, said Brassfield,
human
Exactly, replied Fatty.
gpt
But now as to reasonableness: when the hour for closing comes, our customers bein' gathered for social purposes, it seems abrupt to fire 'em all out when the clock strikes. Now, when a policeman comes along after hours an' finds one of us with a roomful of customers discussin' public questions, we don't want to turn up in court next morning. See?
human
I see, said Brassfield.
gpt
My view of the function of the saloon is that it is a sort of club for those too poor to belong to the more exclusive organizations. As long as they are performing these functions in an orderly way, why inquire as to the hour?
human
That seems reasonable, said Fatty.
gpt
And about how long ought a man to have to slow up an' stop performin' functions, do you think?
human
Well, said Mr. Brassfield,
gpt
No, said Mr. Pierson,
human
I shall do the right thing,
gpt
An' you wouldn't feel obliged, queried Pierson,
human
Not at all, said Brassfield.
gpt
I shan't disturb things. Alvord can tell you that. What I want is the policy that is best for the property owners; and things as they are are good enough for me. Is that satisfactory?
human
Well, I should smile! said Mr. Pierson.
gpt
And now, gentlemen, before we go an' begin work for the caucuses to-morrow, in the interests of our friend here, I propose a toast to Mr. Eugene Brassfield, who will be the best mayor Bellevale ever had!
human
You've got to give me a bed to-night, said Brassfield, as the last of the delegations Alvord had brought to the Turkish room retired in apparent satisfaction.
gpt
I don't care to go to my rooms--there are too many folks up there at the hotel who seem anxious to see me. And I want to be where I can talk the situation over with you.
human
Glad to have you, said Alvord.
gpt
Come on, and we'll turn in. As for the situation, how can you improve it? If Conlon and Sheehan and Zalinsky can't control these caucuses, I'm mistaken. Put them along with the saloons and the others that depend on police permission for existence, and you've got a dead open-and-shut.