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Because of duties in maintaining peace along the uncertain boundarylines that divided a defeated people from those who had triumphed,Captain Shirley Wells was detained in the border lands of France andGermany long after his badly reduced regiment had returned to theirhomeland. Wells had been the first sergeant of a company that becamenoted for its discipline within and its activities afield. Hispromotion to a commission had been earned.
Shirley had entered the service as an enthusiastic youth. In a fewbrief years he had grown to a serious-minded man. A six-footer,deep-chested, broad of shoulders, he had the physical ability toenforce the decrees and orders of his superiors while the generalterms of boundaries were being formulated. Patiently and firmly heworked with the peasantry of any district where he was assigned togain their confidence and earn the praise of his superiors. On July2nd, 1921, his nation and the others interested having completed thegeneral terms of boundaries and occupation, the service by regulatorygroups was ended. Shirley Wells had been gratified in earning acommission, now he was happy indeed to know that he was to return tocivilian pursuits, for he might have to work out some peace terms inhis home town.
More than eighteen months ago, while his regiment was resting after aneffective foray against the enemy in the vicinity of Lyons, hereceived a letter informing him of the death of his father andindicating that a telegram had been sent. He never received thetelegram, and judging by a lack of replies to his letters, he doubtedthat one had been sent.
Now he was an orphan. In letters from friends he learned that hiselder brother, Carson, was in charge of the family bank at Bransford,a suburb of Chicago, and that he was connected with active interestsin that city. He learned, too, that Carson now lived in the ancientbut beautiful home formerly occupied by his parents. What about theboys and girls with whom he was associated in school days? Was LorettaYoung married? Was the strong little bank, the pride of twogenerations, still rendering the service that had made it famous? Andwhat of the other family assets? This returning soldier was deeplyinvolved in the complications that come to all veterans who arehastily transferred back to civilian duties and are to encounter theradical changes that have been made to maintain a vast fighting forcein distant lands.
However, Shirley Wells noted little difference in conditions in thecities of Washington and Chicago as he hastened homeward. Buildingsand streets appeared about as usual but the general populace appearedindifferent and unconcerned. Unemployment prevailed, but he seemed tocontact more women in business places than he did in former days.
At Chicago he transferred to the morning local for Bransford. He wasdisappointed that he found no old-time acquaintances among those whowere bound for the suburbs. The first person to recognize him was thestation agent at Bransford and his greeting was casual as he trundledthe truck of empty milk cans to the far end of the platform. "Maybethese London tweeds are taboo in this central zone," he grumbled as hemade his way up the shaded street to the business district.
At the bank, he planned to walk right up to the receiver's window andask old Powell if this was Tellson's bank and was Mr. Tellson in? As aschoolboy he had often kidded the aged cashier as to the closeresemblance of these quarters to the little, gloomy, narrow affairdescribed by author Dickens as being located at Temple Bar in the cityof London. But the aged cashier's place was occupied by an alert youngman who asked to be of service and Shirley could only inquire ifCarson was in.
The aged woman working at a filing cabinet turned quickly when sheheard the voice of the inquirer. She walked to the counter to get abetter view. "Why, it's Shirley!" she cried as she ran out in thecorridor. "It's Shirley!--twice as big!" She made ineffective attemptsto hug and caress the big man, who laughingly lifted her up to plant akiss on either cheek. "That's the first--and best--welcome I've hadsince I landed in America, Aunt Carrie," said he. "Now I feel that Iam home."
Carson Wells came from the little private room at the rear. Thegreetings of the brothers were not so effusive. Shirley was invited tothe private room by his brother.
"I want to loaf around for a week or two," the veteran explained. "Iwant to hunt up a few old friends and hear 'em detail the awfulexperiences they suffered during the war. If you can find me atemporary hangout where I can store some keepsakes while I get myselforiented, it will be quite all right."
"The housing situation is a little tight just now," said Carson, "butwe should be able to find quarters somewhere. The Grand Union is badlycongested of weekends and rooming houses are full up. I live in thethree west rooms of our old home and Mr. Breen and his family occupythe rest. However, there's plenty of room at the farmhouse, and Davis,the tenant, certainly needs a lot of personal supervision, the waythings have been going lately. At times I have felt that I shouldshare the big house at the farm but my wife protests--"
"Are you married?" interrupted Shirley. "And who is the fortunatelady?"
"Why, sure I'm married. Didn't you get our announcement? I marriedLoretta Young a year ago last April."
Shirley Wells occupied quarters at the family farmhome for nearly fouryears. In the first few weeks he drove an ancient model back and forthto the little city to renew acquaintances. The American Legion,quartered in a small room over a meat market, was one of his hangouts.Here, two or three of the unimportant members were in constantattendance quibbling and complaining that the general public did notplan and build for their uses the ornate structure they had in mind.For a week or two he frequented the local movies, but compared withpast experiences he failed to find the production up to theannouncements that the portrayals were stupendous and thrilling.Social affairs in the community seemed confined to "groups." Luncheonclubs, such as Rotary, Kiwanis, and Lions seemed to dominatecommercial activities while the Dramatic Club and P.T.A. organizationstook care of other community gatherings.
But to Shirley Wells, the one big change from old-time conditions wasin the liquor business. The saloons that flourished in the days beforehis enlistment were not now operating. Of the seven places whereliquor was sold only one maintained a resemblance to formerconditions. Dinty O'Neal's place, across the tracks, appeared about asdisreputable as it was in former days. Some of the young sportslaughingly insisted that Dinty's home-brew was in a fair way of makingthe city famous.
Two of the uptown places continued to operate a few pool tables andsell soft drinks. One room, formerly occupied by a saloon, was now theoffice of a trucking company with headquarters in Chicago. Shirley waslater to learn that young Anzio, the new bank employee, was a nephewof the manager of the trucking company.
Shirley gave little attention to the affairs at the bank. Carsonseemed unwilling to share the responsibilities of a business that wasseverely affected by the growing depression. As a youngster Shirleyknew much of the details of the business but he realized that he hadno present-day knowledge of credits and loans. He made no effort tointrude.
Knowing that he must rely on his own efforts to earn a living, Shirleysecured desk-room in the elaborate offices of Fred Townsend, apersonal friend and a leading lawyer in the community. Here he actedas a receiver in several complicated cases and was often busy insecuring evidence. This employment occupied much of his time and gaveopportunity to note the trend in community affairs.
Meanwhile, Carson found a customer for the family farm. "The ModelTrucking Company wants the place for storage," he explained, "and theyare the only concern on our books that has a growing account." Shirleymoved into town to an apartment over the Banner office.
Indeed, the trucking company was an active concern. Trucks grew innumber. Night shipping was a principal activity. Local "night hawks"were to learn that coal and corn composed most of the incoming loads,and the finished product went to Chicago. Local distributors weresupplied only from that central city.
As is usually the case, revulsion follows negligence. Now sober-mindedbut financially distressed citizens would correct the prevailing evil.The eighteenth amendment must be repealed. The people of the nationwere vo
ting to undo what had been done.
Locally, Reverend James Branch of the Fourth Avenue Church called ameeting of ministers and church officials to discuss the probable lossof the amendment that was to have been the cure for liquor evils. Thecall to the meeting was announced in the local newspapers.
Shirley Wells had not been specifically invited to the conference. Hewas curious to learn, however, if there was a cure for this festeringailment that afflicted the nation other than the repeal of theamendment. He quietly took a back seat at the small but selectgathering in the church parlors to listen to the protests andcomplaints. And there was little else in the several talks--protestsagainst the lack of law enforcement; complaints that Chicago gangsterswere broadening their sphere of activity to include adjacent citiesand suburbs in the distribution and sale of raw alcohol and needledbeer. In these discussions no speaker offered a solution to theproblem.
The Reverend Branch presided. Following the several talks herecognized Shirley Wells and in an elaborate introduction, recitinghis war service, he asked Shirley if he had a solution for the problemnow under discussion.
"I came here seeking information," said Shirley quietly. "I surelymust be the most ignorant one present. I wasn't in the States when theamendment was passed and have had limited opportunity to note theeffects. It is apparent, however, that there is something wrong,radically wrong, with the whole population--both the criminal and thelaw-abiding."
"Why! what's wrong with the better element?" demanded the chairmanquickly. "It was the law-abiding citizen that planned and urged andvoted for the eighteenth amendment to the Constitution. Our planningand work was effective. And now, they would nullify our past labors."
"And then, what did you do?" demanded Shirley as he rose to his feetto emphasize what was to follow. "You, figuratively, folded fat handsacross pudgy stomachs and left the enforcement of your edict to theofficers who were friends of the bootleggers. Your failure to actcauses this repeal."
"Is it your idea that the better element of a community must quittheir business to take up the matter of law enforcement?" the chairmanasked in scornful tones.
"It's my idea," retorted Shirley as he advanced from the rear to thecenter of the gathered group, "it's my idea that anyone who launches anew, untried craft in unexplored waters had better stay at the helminstead of leaving the management of the boat to those who deride theplan. It wouldn't have taken much of your time, Doctor Branch, to haveorganized an enforcement committee to assist the policeman who was afriendly acquaintance of the former liquor man, who has now turnedbootlegger. Policemen are selected because of their acquaintance withthe underworld and they are very human. Void of any contacts with thebetter element of the community, they allow their friends to run wildin lawlessness until the affair gets beyond control. That's whathappened in Bransford; that's what happened everywhere. Lawless greedflourishes in the atmosphere of negligence.
"But I didn't come here to quarrel with the better element of my hometown," concluded Shirley as he reached for his hat. "I had hoped thatyou had a solution, a plan, to meet the oncoming conditions. Just nowthe States are voting to repeal the amendment. It seems certain thatit will be repealed and within the next year or two, the old saloonwill be functioning as in former days. It will pay a tax to thegovernment on the product sold, it will pay a tax to the city, it willfurnish a bond to operate legally and at stated hours, and its returnwill be welcomed by many. But remember that the greedy and graspingback of it all will overdo, as always, and the amendment will bere-enacted. This time, if it has the support of a well-organizedenforcement committee, it will function despite the efforts of thegreedy."