considerable
enthusiasm for the Republican cause. In the wards and sections where
the so-called "better element" prevailed it seemed probable, because of
the heavy moral teaching of the newspapers, that the respectable vote
would array itself almost solidly this time against Cowperwood. In the
poorer wards it would not be so easy. True, it was possible, by a
sufficient outlay of cash, to find certain hardy bucaneers who could be
induced to knife their own brothers, but the result was not certain.
Having heard through one person and another of the disgruntled mood of
both Kerrigan and Tiernan, and recognizing himself, even if he was a
Republican, to be a man much more of their own stripe than either
McKenty or Dowling, Gilgan decided to visit that lusty pair and see
what could be done by way of alienating them from the present center of
power.
After due reflection he first sought out "Emerald Pat" Kerrigan, whom
he knew personally but with whom he was by no means intimate
politically, at his "Emporium Bar" in Dearborn Street. This particular
saloon, a feature of political Chicago at this time, was a large affair
containing among other marvelous saloon fixtures a circular bar of
cherry wood twelve feet in diameter, which glowed as a small mountain
with the customary plain and colored glasses, bottles, labels, and
mirrors. The floor was a composition of small, shaded red-and-green
marbles; the ceiling a daub of pinky, fleshy nudes floating among
diaphanous clouds; the walls were alternate panels of cerise and brown
set in rosewood. Mr. Kerrigan, when other duties were not pressing,
was usually to be found standing chatting with several friends and
surveying the wonders of his bar trade, which was very large. On the
day of Mr. Gilgan's call he was resplendent in a dark-brown suit with a
fine red stripe in it, Cordovan leather shoes, a wine-colored tie
ornamented with the emerald of so much renown, and a straw hat of
flaring proportions and novel weave. About his waist, in lieu of a
waistcoat, was fastened one of the eccentricities of the day, a
manufactured silk sash. He formed an interesting contrast with Mr.
Gilgan, who now came up very moist, pink, and warm, in a fine, light
tweed of creamy, showy texture, straw hat, and yellow shoes.
"How are you, Kerrigan?" he observed, genially, there being no
political enmity between them. "How's the first, and how's trade? I
see you haven't lost the emerald yet?"
"
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