“‘What Club?’
“‘The District Club.’
“Then it came out, bit by bit, that McCarren had been a ‘regular’ in the Organisation and a member of the District Club. During the last year, however, he had wearied of the proceedings and had absented himself from the meetings. At the last election he hadn’t voted. The District Leader had spoken to him once jokingly about his absence from the meetings, and once, not jokingly, about his absence from the polls.—‘I knew they had it up for me,’ concluded McCarren resignedly.
“‘Well, don’t you let them frighten you, Barney. I’ll soon show them they can’t play with the law.’
“‘You mustn’t do it, Sir. You really mustn’t do it.’
“Holcomb argued and expostulated at length. He explained to his client that the Courts would not permit such violations of the law, and that the legal proceedings would be free of cost. He showed him that prompt action would not only gain him his rights, but would make them respected in future. He urged his personal and professional interest in the matter and begged his client to take action. But all in vain. McCarren knew he’d win the lawsuit—but there were his oyster-stands for which licenses were necessary. He’d like to stand up for his rights—but he wanted his children to get into the schools next Fall. He knew how Mr. Holcomb felt about the matter—but it helped out for his wife to continue as janitoress of the tenement where they lived.—In a word there were a hundred points where the Powers could and would reach him. He couldn’t afford it!
“Holcomb looked hopelessly at his client, and seeing the disappointment in his face, McCarren tried to soften the effect of his decision.
“‘Wait—just wait a few days, Sir. Then maybe I’ll come and see you about it again.’
“At the end of a week he came.
“‘Will you take up that matter again, Mr. Holcomb?’ he said, ‘Try it once more just as though’—he hesitated a moment—‘just as though I hadn’t asked you before.’