"And that isn't all. Hennesy was one of your best supporters. He worked faithfully for Clark and recommended you for chief. If I were you I would tell my police to lay off of Hennesy's place and of every other place where the proprietor is a well established tax-payer and has some influence."
"I told the people that if I were appointed chief I would see that the laws were enforced."
"That's all right, Roberts; but you can't afford to endanger your political future and damage your friends to enforce a law that was placed on the statute books through the influence of cranks and some old ladies."
"I will tell the boys to stay away from Hennesy's place. I really don't know anything against it anyway."
During the entire conversation the lean banker had been rubbing his hands nervously together. Now he smiled. Scarcely ever did he laugh. "Roberts," he said, speaking in a very confidential tone, "there are plenty of law violators who are transients or who have no influence in the community whom you can prosecute and make an enforcement record for yourself without interfering with the business of your friends and supporters."
"I thank you for your suggestions," said Roberts as he rose to go.
"That's all right, Roberts, I am always glad to help my friends. Let that note run as long as you like." Stover smiled blandly as the chief left the office.
After Roberts left the bank he began at once to put Stover's advice into practice. He instructed his policeman on the beat where Mike Hennesy operated his pool hall not to see anything when he passed there. He also instructed other policemen to pass up other joints and bootleggers.
A few days later Roberts received word that a common bootlegger known as "Slim" was due to arrive that night with a carload of booze. Slim had been a resident of Wilford Springs only a year. He had no established place of business. Slim was in disfavor with Mike Hennesy and the other joint keepers of the town. He worked independently and had refused to contribute anything to the campaign fund, which Hennesy had been appointed to raise among the liquor fraternity during the campaign. Hennesy furnished Roberts the information and told him to "pinch" him.
It was two o'clock in the morning when "Slim" was halted as he was entering the city limits. The chief took possession of the car and booze and "Slim" was taken to the city jail. The next morning another wheel in the machinery turned and the police judge gave "Slim" sixty days in jail and a two hundred dollar fine.