After inspecting the bills and recovering his voice, the hog man said: “Yes, I think it is.”
The lawyer plucked him by the lapel with one hand, and shook the other in his face. “You dirty little swine, get your property off that counter. Get out of here and back to your hog pastures before I have you locked up.”
The dazed and thoroughly crushed victim hastily gathered up his things and went out with them in his hands.
I was pop-eyed with amazement at this swift, smashing reversal of the situation. The two drunks beside me were but mildly interested. Nobody, from the captain down to Julia, the accused, seemed surprised. I could not understand why the whole crowd did not fall on the hog man and tear him to pieces. The captain disappeared into his office. The detective walked out to the sidewalk. The lawyer turned to Kate and the girls, bowing:
“Madam, and ladies, shall we depart?”
“It’s about time,” said the madam in a positive voice. “I’m hungry enough to eat a raw dog.”
They all moved out into the street. I was left on the bench with the two drunks. The detective strolled back in. The desk man pointed to us.
“What will I do with this outfit, Hayes?”
Hayes appeared to be disgusted. “Oh, charge them with drunk.”
“The kid’s not drunk.”