In Old Chicago Page #7

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Sure, I paid you in cash, but I always | sent it by a different man.

What? What do you mean?

Those 15 or 20 people would make fine | witnesses if you ever got any ideas.

Blackmail, eh?

All right. I'll fight.

Go ahead. Fight.

And you'll be back pounding the pavement | so quick, it'll make your head swim.

Come on. | He'll be there.

Hey, you! | Where's your ticket?

- I'm with him. | - You know this guy?

- I never saw him before in my life. | - One of us is in error.

Outside, before I cloud up | and rain all over you.

- That severs our relationship. | - One of them Reform guys. They got no manners.

Belle, when you were working | for me at The Hub...

I bet you didn't think you'd be having the | first dance with the future mayor, did you?

Are you counting your chickens | before they're hatched?

- It's a lead pipe cinch. | - Oh.

You looking for me, | Commissioner?

Hey, look what you done | to my suit!

- Hey, what's the idea? | - Stop it!

Stop them, somebody.! | Stop them, somebody.! Stop them.!

Ladies and gentlemen! | The house is pinched!

Stay back!

Get back! | You can't get out this way.

Can you beat that? And just when | we were beginning to have a little fun.

You let me catch you with that Colby | woman again, and you won't call it fun.

Come on, come on. | Inside. Inside.

All right, | take it away.

- What about it, chief? | - Yes, what about it?

It's all right, boys. It's all right. | You haven't got a thing to worry about.

I'll have you out of here | in no time at all.

- What about the bail? | - If it's bail they want, I've got it!

Better hurry, chief. | The polls are open already.

Don't worry. You'll be at your posts | in 30 minutes. All right. What's the bail?

Sorry, Mr. Warren. Orders are to hold them | 24 hours without bail...

- On suspicion. | - What kind of suspicion?

- Suspicion of what? | - Just plain suspicion.

You can't do that. This is Election Day. | They're my workers.

By the Eternal, | you've got to let them go!

- It ain't up to me. | - I'll get the commissioner!

I'll get Senator Colby!

I'll get my lawyer! | I'll tear this town wide open!

- Where's Commissioner Beavers? | - Gone to the sanitarium.

- What sanitarium? | - I'm not allowed to give out his address.

Doctor's orders.

- Where's Judge Bender? | - Oh, the jud-jud-judge...

- I've got to seeJudge Bender! | - Judge Bender left...

on a h-hunting trip | this m-morning.

All the jud-judges | in town went with him.

They're o-organizing | a h-hunting club.

- Then I've got to see Senator Colby. | - I'm afraid that's imposs...

You can't do it. | See, S-Senator Colby...

It's 12:
00! The polls have been opened | six hours, and I'm tied hand and foot!

Every man in that jail controls at least | 10 votes, enough to swing the election.

- What are we gonna do? | - We're gonna stop squawking.

- What's that? | - You're through. I've sold you out.

Don't try anything, Warren.

And now, if you'll excuse me, | I'll go and vote for my brother.

We O'Learys | are a strange tribe.

Look at him. You know, | he really looks like a mayor.

Gee, I bet Ma feels great.

Dion, look at this!

Huh.

Huh, indeed.

Belle, we're friends, | aren't we?

I hope so.

I've got a proposition | to put up to you.

It may startle you at first, | but I think you'll see my point.

I'm gonna clean out the Patch. I want | to be sure Dion doesn't oppose me.

- And you want me to help you? | - Exactly.

But after all, | what has it to do with me?

You know how things | are down there.

Everything that's rotten in | Chicago comes out of the Patch.

The whole thing is an atmosphere | of vice and crime.

It's getting out of control, | and I'm gonna wipe it out.

How?

The law gives us the right | to condemn property.

The courts will have it | appraised and set a fair price.

It's what they call the right of eminent | domain. It's perfectly legal and fair.

But all of Dion's money | is tied up in The Senate. Mine too.

That's what's worrying me.

If he won't see it our way, | there'll be trouble.

I don't know what to say.

Dion's a great person. | He can go anywhere, do anything...

if he only gets | on the right track.

Belle, I want | to see him marry you...

have a home and children, | get something real out oflife.

Don't you think that's | what I've been hoping for?

That's what he wants too, | if he can only see it.

What do you want me to do?

He couldn't stand | a public investigation.

You know how he operates | in the Patch.

I couldn't do | a thing like that.

Believe me, Belle...

if I can't bring him | to his senses any other way...

I'll start an investigation | that'll crack this town wide open.

I'll use you | as chief witness against Dion...

let you tell the whole rotten story | ofhow he operates in the Patch.

How do you feel | about that, Belle?

I just wanted Belle | to understand my position...

same as I want you | to understand it.

- Dion, listen toJack. | - I heard him. I know now where he stands.

You knew exactly where | I stood before the election.

I told you and I told | the people of this city.

- I elected you, not the people. | - You?

Sure. It was my idea. I sent | that committee to see you.

I paid for it, ran it, framed it, | threw Warren's men into jail.

I even voted for you.

I don't believe you.

Is that true?

- Yes. | - I just wanted it to look hunky-dory.

Why did you want me | to be mayor?

Oh, a lot of reasons. | I wanted to see if I could do it.

Or maybe it was because I wanted | to see the smile on Ma's face...

when she rode with you | in the carriage election night.

All right. You elected me, | but I'm mayor.

Yes, you're mayor, | but I'm Chicago.

I'd hate to | have to kick you out.

Don't try it. A lot of people | like what I'm doing.

- What are you going to get out of this? | - Nothing.

But I happen to have sense enough to see | whatJack's after, even if you haven't.

- Now, wait a minute. Don't you two start... | - You keep out of this!

Well, of course, | since you've gone for Reform...

I guess we won't be seeing | very much of each other.

You're not gonna walk out | on Belle like that.

It seems that she's the one | that's done the walking out.

Dion. Dion!

Oh!

A grandjury investigation.! | Terrible.! Terrible.!

How did you ever get involved | in such a mess?

I wouldn't be a bit surprised | if you weren't...

in for a bit of sweatin' | yourself, Senator.

You've been milkin' the Patch | for a long time.

Me? Why I'll give you to understand, sir, | that my life is an open book.

Open or shut, brother, your shirttail's | out with the rest of us.

It's my daughter | I'm thinking of.

I'll have to take her to Europe, | get her away from here.

- The trip would do her good. | - I'll have to ask you...

not to see my daughter | again ever.

- To think I should be so deceived in the character... | - I've always wanted to see...

what a senator looks like...

when he gets a good, | swift kick in the pants.

- Oh, Hattie, hurry, will you? | - I'm hurrying, honey.

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