Advertising -- Fiction; Bank employees -- Fiction; Labor unions -- Fiction; New York (N.Y.) -- Fiction; Satire
"Touch these gentlemen at your peril!" he said to the policeman. "Here
is a sworn copy of the statute referred to by that person." He shoved a
typewritten document under the officer's nose. There were two seals on
it; one was in anarchistic red and the other in Wall Street gold.
"Observe," pursued Mr. Onthemaker, impressively and very distinctly,
that the reporters might not misquote, "that the statute says _the name
of a living person_ must not be used. But Valiquet's is a corporation.
Do you get that, officer? A _corporation_!"
The officer read the newspapers. He knew what corporations were. They
bought votes for the Republicans; and, besides, they only paid the men
higher up. He therefore informed Mr. MacAckus:
"I can't do not'n."
"And even if you could, officer," said Mr. Onthemaker to the reporters,
"the magistrate would let them go with a reprimand for you. We are ready
for him." Then he said to MacAckus: "Get out of the way, or I'll have
you arrested for blocking traffic, causing a crowd to collect, for
assuming that you own the sidewalk, and for interfering with honest
working-men who are trying to earn a peaceful living. Also for
oppressing the poor. We have not asked you for money. We do not wish
your charity." He paused, and, shaking a finger at Mr. MacAckus, said,
loudly, "_We spurn your tainted money!_"
H. R. had not made a mistake in picking out this man to represent the
society. Indeed, one reporter, in a stage whisper, actually hissed:
"_Bribery!_"
The officer looked at Mr. MacAckus and said, "Please move on, sir."
"That's polite enough," said one of the reporters, making a note of it.
But Mr. MacAckus said:
"Why, you infernal--"
"_Move on!_" said the cop.
"I am Mr. MacAckus, of Valiquet's--"
"Tell him who you are, officer," said the diabolic Onthemaker, guessing
the cop's nationality.
"I am Mr. McGinnis, of the thirty-first precinct."
People began to clap their hands--people who never went into Valiquet's.
Mr. McGinnis thereupon laid a hand proudly on Mr. MacAckus's arm.
Mr. MacAckus lost his head; that is, he shook off the white-gloved hand
of the law.
The law blew its whistle, as the law always does in civilized
communities.
Instantly, as though the whistle had been the cue, the stirring sound
of galloping steeds smote the asphalt of Fifth Avenue.
"Let him go, Officer McGinnis," said Max Onthemaker, magnanimously. "We
do not care to appear against him."
"Ain't he fine-looking?" a woman asked her companion, looking at the
law. She even pointed at him.
Mr. McGinnis therefore haughtily said, "Resisting an officer--"
H. R. on horseback, in correct riding attire, following seven mounted
traffic-squad men, appeared on the scene.
"There he is!" said Mr. Onthemaker to the reporters, dutifully yielding
the center of the stage to its rightful possessor. After all, there was
only one H. R., and both H. R. and Max Onthemaker knew it.
"That's the commissioner," said a clerk to the atmosphere.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account