The Water Goats and Other Troubles | Page 4

really have something to do, and he
felt the honour. He boldly took a place between the big mayor and
Alderman Grevemeyer, and said: "One of th' same, Casey," with the air
of a man who has matters of importance on his mind. He felt that things
were coming his way. Even the big mayor seemed to appreciate it, for
he put his hand affectionately on Toole's shoulder.
"Mike," said the mayor, "about thim dongolas, now; have ye thought
anny about where ye would be gettin' thim?"
"I have not," said Toole. "I was thinkin' 'twould be good t' think it over
a bit, Dugan. Mebby 'twould be best t' git thim at Chicagy." He looked
anxiously at the mayor's face, hoping for some sign of approval or
disapproval, but the mayor's face was noncommittal. "But mebby it
wouldn't," concluded Toole. As a feeler he added: "Would ye be
wantin' me t' have thim made here, Dugan?"
The big mayor patted Toole on the shoulder indulgently.
"It's up t' you, Mike," he said. "Ye know th' way Dugan does things, an'
th' way he likes thim done. I trust thim that I kin trust, an' whin I put a
man on committee I'm done wid th' thing. Of coorse," he added, putting
his mouth close to Toole's ear, and winking at Grevemeyer, "ye will see
that there is a rake-off for me an' th' byes."
"Sure!" said Toole.
The big mayor turned back to the bar and took a drink from his glass.
Grevemeyer took a drink from his glass, also. So did Toole, gravely.
Dugan wiped his mouth on the back of his hand and turned to Toole
again.
"Mike," he said, "what do ye think? Mebby 'twould do as well t' git a

couple of sicond-hand dongolas an' have thim painted up. If they was in
purty good shape no wan would know th' difference, an' 'twould make a
bit more rake-off fer th' byes, mebby."
"Th' same word was on th' ind o' me tongue, Dugan," said Toole,
nodding his head slowly. "I was considerin' this very minute where I
could lay me hand on a couple of purty good dongolas that has not been
used much. Flannagan could paint thim up fine!"
"Or Stoltzenau could do such paintings," interposed Grevemeyer.
"Sure!" agreed the big mayor. He toyed with his glass a moment.
"Mike," he said suddenly, "what th' divil is a dongola, anyhow?"
Mike Toole was just raising his glass to his lips with the movements of
one accustomed to hold conversation with the mayor. His left hand
rested on his hip, with his arm akimbo, and his hat was tipped
carelessly to the back of his head. The hand raising his glass stopped
short where it was when he heard the mayor's question. He frowned at
the glass--scowled at it angrily.
"A dongola, Dugan"--he said slowly, and stopped. "A dongola"-- he
repeated. "A dongola--did ye ask me what a dongola might be,
Dugan?"
The big mayor nodded, and Grevemeyer leaned forward to catch the
answer. Casey, too, leaned on his bar and listened. Alderman Toole
raised his glass to his lips and filled his mouth with the liquor. Instantly
he dashed the glass furiously to the floor. He jerked off his hat and cast
it into a far corner and pulled off his coat, throwing it after his hat. He
was climbing on to the bar when the big mayor and Grevemeyer laid
their hands on the little man and held him tightly. The big mayor shook
him once and set him on the floor.
"Mike!" said the big mayor. "What's th' matter wid ye? What are ye
goin' afther Casey that way for? Is it crazy ye are? Or have ye gone
insane?"

"Knock-out drops!" shouted Toole, shaking his fist at Casey, who
looked down at him in astonishment. "Knock-out drops! I will have th'
law on ye, Casey. I will have th' joint closed! I'll teach ye t' be givin'
knock-out drops t' th' aldermin of th' city!"
"Mike!" cried the big mayor, giving him another vigorous shake. "Shut
up wid ye! Casey wouldn't be givin' ye annything that wasn't good for
ye. Casey wouldn't be givin' ye knock-out drops."
"No?" whispered Mike angrily. "No? Wouldn't he, Dugan? An' what
has he done t' me mimory, then, Dugan? What has he put in th' drink t'
rob me of me mimory? Wan minute ago I knew as well anny other man
what a dongola is like, an' now I have no mimory of anny dongolas at
all. Wan minute ago I could have told ye th' whole history of dongolas,
from th' time of Adam up till now, an' have drawed a picture of wan
that annywan could recognize--an' now I wouldn't know wan if