Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-27

15x1S feet in area and was divided about
third of the way from one end by wood
en- railing. behind which were two DESKS
one of them on q sort of PLATFORM 1901
above the floor Through a dirty Wlnoo"
back of the desks the beams or an arc
light struggled in to lessen the gloom. On
the other side of the railing were a num-
Der of chairs two or three long wooden
settees, and a small stove. The three men
were near the railing, on the side OF the
room opposite the stove. In the latter
small fire smouldered A box OF soft coal
stood on one side of the stove and on the
other a box of sawdust Over the door,
which was at the end of the room directly
opposite the desks. was transom. and in
the dingy glass could be deciphered in re-
versed letters:
William Cullen. Justice of the Peace
Justice Court. Attorney at Law and
Notary Public"
1T seems to me-" said the man in the
middle, speaking slowly that this wages
graft is about played out now, and w~'d
better let it rest for awhile But Jes got
to hey some stuff tonight, no two ways
about it."
Same here" said the man on his right.
lie was a heavy-set. smoothfaced man, ap-
parently about forty years old. His race
was red and the top of his head was as
smooth as a billiard ball. He was Cullen.
7 u The first sneaker who was a tall,
big bnned lantern jawed man, also smooth
faced was Michael Madden, better known
as BLACK Mike from his heavy black hair
and dark eyes. Madden was constable in
the same town in which Cullen was justice
of the peaCe-Ctcero, adjacent 10 thlcaSo
on the west.
Thu two turned with a simultaneous
movement to their companion, who had till
then remained silent.
.'Well?" asked Cullen. as the third party
still did not offer to speak. He was the
smallest man of the three. with washed
out complexion and a sandy mustache HIS
clothes did not fit him very well, and ne
sat with his derby hat on one side, tilted
over his forehead. and he chewed the end
of his cigar meditatively.
II ben a studyin'." he said at last II
guess l see where we get square with
the world, all right. You know that big
fellow Max, that keeps the saloon next to
Tonys?'
His listeners assented.
"Wen he ain'r been in this country very
long and don't know the beauty Of its laws.
I was in there the other day an l sees him
sellin' glass of beer to young man at
don't know but was minor. Come to
think ont I guess he was a minor. Bill,
you get a warrant made out for Max fer
sallin' to minors Make out two or three of
'em to make sure it's all right"
You can't prove nothin' against that big
Dutchman," put in Madden, IAN you'll jes'
be usin up the evenin, and gettin no.
where This is Saturday night, an l got
too Now you think o somethn easier.
''Jes' do as l say" persisted the third
man. II know what I'm talking about
We amt goin' to try him. Well just bluff
him bit and let him go after he coughs
up bunch of money"
He spoke decisively, as well he might.
He was Henry Wade, attorney at law. ana
was the directing spirit in the coalition.
The three men made up what is popularity
known as a collecting agency, one or
those combinations of constable. Justice or
~, ph nyfriY1
pecularities of Illinois law, Is able to levy
constant tribute on small tradesmen, man
ufacturing concerns and the poor and
ignorant in and about Chicago.
Accepting the decision as settled, Cullen
made out two warrants, charging Max
Eidelheimer with having on two separate
occasions sold liquor to a minor, In viola
ton of the law. The warrants were ap-
parently sworn out by Wade. The three
put on their overcoats and went out into
the night. Cullen opened the door of the
stove as he passed and threw a shovelful
more coal in.
.I.et her go out" said Wade; you won't
want her again tonight.
.Ain't we coming back?"
we got to do You. Bill, go down to O'Con-
nors place and wait till we come over
there. Mike and nell go down to Maxs
and see what we can do. 1 guess we can
bluff him into giving up the graft to save
takin' trip to this godforsaken place a
night like this. If he don't We'll stumble
on you over there some way, an you can
let him out on bail Anyway you can get
him off our hands IL he gets troublesome,
but guess he'll cough up, all right
AS the three men stepped out into the
night a fierce west wind swept drizzling
rain and snow about them. They scurried
around a nearby corner and assembled the
steps leading to the platform OF the eie-
waited railroad which ran closet at hand.
train carried them to the center of Chicago,
and they descended to the ground at the
Clark street station. Cullen left the other
two and they went south few blocks The
clocks were striking II as the two turned
into n brightly lighted saloon. over the
door of which a stained-glass arch bore
the name of Eidelheimer-
That's Max, said WADE IN a low tome
nodding toward a big. pleasant-faced Ger
man who stood at one end OF the bar He
had his coat off, for 1t was warm inside the
saloon. and a bar apron was tied under his
arms. Madden sized him up and stepped
toward him
Mister Eidelheimer?" he asked. when he
had reached him.
'Ya. dot vas me-" replied that worthy.
''Vot can / do for you. my friendt?"
II have here, Mr.. Eidelheimer, two war
rants charging you with selling liquor to
minors / must place you under arrest
AS ne spoke Mike threw back his coat.
displaying a constable's star. and at the
same time he handed Max the two warrants
to read. Max looked them over. slowly.
without seeming TO gather much from
them. and handed them back. The star at
Watts dot? You arrest me, Max Eidel-
heimer? Wy so?'
This warrant says that you have been
selling beer TO little boys-to minors"
But dot ish nod so. I never sells nod
dings, only TO men. No boys don't come In
here as everybody tells you. An besides
II dey did sells dem holdings"
II guess that's right, Mr.. Eidelheimer. but
that don't alter the case. am only con-
stable. and l was sent here to serve these
warrants. 1 have no discretion, and must
arrest you and ask you to come with me
without trouble Otherwise I must call for
assistance and take you anyway
''Ver would you go NIT me?" asked Max
ITO jail in Cicero. where these warrants
were sworn out"
Cicero? Yer Is dase"
Just out west here a few miles"
out vest few miles. a night like desc?
Me? Den vat?"
We'll, as this is Saturday night I am
AFRAID you Will have to stay in the lookup
until Monday, when the justice will take
your case up The justice lives out there
and you may be able TO get him up and get
ball tonight"
Max looked around helplessly He was
not disposed to dispute the authority OF
any one who wore a star stamping him as a
Cook county constable. At the same time
he was eager TO find a way out of The
scrape. At this juncture Wade stepped up