“In order to do so,” continued Cruikshank severely, “we must pursue a wise course. A resort that is tight shut may be as bad as one that is wide open, so far as progress is concerned.
“Nevertheless, I shall not hesitate to impose curbing regulations. I feel convinced that our existing ordinances are sufficient, if properly enforced. Do you agree?”
“Let me make a suggestion,” said Hurley, the hotel owner. “This establishment of mine represents a tremendous investment. I intend to make it a credit to Seaview City. Bad places hurt good places. I don’t want to see any bad places.
“The chief made a vital statement when he said that people come here to enjoy themselves. Let them do so. Be ready with strict enforcement, and begin it with the cheap, undesirable places. They cause the real trouble. Eliminate them, and you eliminate complaints.”
Murmurs of agreement followed. Rufus Cruikshank studied his companions closely, as though anxious to determine their sincerity. At last he nodded thoughtfully, and the others appeared relieved by his reluctant agreement.
“We have the matter of open crime,” he said. “My investigation shows that it is not prevalent in Seaview City. Am I correct, chief?”
“We can handle crooks,” declared Yates emphatically. “We bottle them up when they float in here. They’re all small fry that think they’re going to get easy pickings. Leave them to me. They don’t amount to much.”
“Is your force adequate?”
“Sure, the way things have been going. We don’t get organized crime here. If we did, I could shift the squads that watch the other places.”
“Seaview City has doubled in population in two years,” observed Cruikshank. “There has been no increase in the size of the police force.”