Chapter 50: Gangster

Coolidge swung her staff, knocking down a pack of zombies before her, then started running towards Arthur.

“Spoils System!” Arthur screamed as a group of zombies emerged in front of Coolidge, forcing her away.

Arthur smirked, then coughed hard, grabbing his chest as his body struggled for air.

“Well, count my lucky stars!” Harding mused from the stands, “Seems like old Arthur boy is finally feeling the effects of Coolidge’s EP!"

Hoover nodded.

“Executive Power: Budget Cuts; an ability which magnifies the energy used towards any `wasteful’ action. It’s not a flashy EP, but it’s plenty effective.”

“And not taxing for Coolidge at all,” Harding added on, “since she’s so efficient with her moves and whatnot.”

“Exactly! Arthur’s gaudy fighting style doesn’t stand a chance against it.”

“…well,” Harding spoke reluctantly, “I agree he wouldn’t stand a chance in a fair fight.” She stared down at Arthur. “But that man doesn’t seem like the type to play fair…”

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

A young woman walked through the streets of New York, clenching her Bible as a burly ruffian in an army uniform whistled at her.

“Hey, you!” the man snapped. “What’s a dark-skin like you doing in a nice part of town like this?”

“I’m going to church,” the woman muttered as she continued forward, stopping as the man stepped in front of her.

“Well, I think you ought to be going to a church which is closer to your people.”

The woman tightened her scowl.

“I have no people!” she said, jabbing a finger into the man’s chest. “I am a respectable person, born and raised in New York; and I shall not stand to be insulted like this on my way to church!”

“I don’t care where you were born!” the man replied, grabbing her arm, “You don’t belong here!”

The man tightened his grip, inciting screams of fright from the young woman.

“Help! Murder; murder!”

“What’s going on here?”

The army man turned to see a young Charles Arthur swaggering towards them.

“Really now,” Arthur spoke to the man, “Don’t you know it’s against the law to harm pretty young ladies like this?”

“Back off!” the man screamed, pointing to the shoulder straps on his army uniform. “You see this? This makes me a colonel! So as long as I’m wearing these shoulder straps, I don’t wany any orders from you, punk!”

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

“Is that so?”

“It is!”

Arthur gave a light shrug.

“You heard the man…”

A pair of mobsters appeared behind the colonel and grabbed at his wrists.

“Gah!” the colonel squealed, releasing the woman’s arm as the gangsters tightened their grip. Another two gangsters stepped forward, then tore his shoulder pads off his uniform.

“Would ya look at that!” Arthur chuckled as the gangsters pushed the man to the ground. “No more shoulder pads! I guess that means you’ll listen to reason; right?”

The colonel eyed the muscular gangsters around him, then gave a soft growl.

“…you shall sweat for this,” he snarled, walking away from the scene, “I swear; I’ll leave a monument of your bones in the street when I’m through with you!”

Arthur shook his head, then turned to the woman.

“Yous alright, ma’am?”

“I am now! Thank you so much for the help!”

“Think nothing of it! Us Stalwarts are always eager to lend a hand to a friend in need.”

Arthur glanced down to his golden watch.

“Now, I hate to leave a beautiful lady like yourself like this, but we’ve still got a job that needs doing by the end of the day.”

“Of course!” she exclaimed, giving his outstretched hand a warm squeeze. “Please, keep up the good work.”

“I assure you darling; we will.”

Arthur and his gang continued on their way, stopping in front of an old house at the edge of town. Arthur nodded to his men, stepping aside as they moved up and picked the lock on the door.

The group stepped into the home, quietly making their way to the master bedroom. Inside, the gangsters spotted a sickly, middle-aged man lying on his bed.

Arthur walked up to the man, gently placing a gloved hand atop his quivering shoulder.

“Mr. Morton?”

Lev Morton wriggled himself awake.

“Wha…”

He looked up, glazing over his guests as he rubbed a hand over his eyes.

“Who…”

Morton froze, his eyes locking onto Arthur’s smiling face.

“Dear God!” He screamed, shooting himself off the bed.

“Please, Mr. Morton,” Arthur cooed, “don’t bother getting up for our sake…”

A pair of gangsters slammed Morton back onto his bed.

“Stop! Unhand me!”

“Why so jumpy, pal?” Arthur smiled as Morton looked to him with trembling eyes. “Alls we want to do is have a nice…friendly…chat…”

=====================================================================================

=====================================================================================

Budget Cuts. Calvin Coolidge was incredibly sensitive about spending government money. For example, under his Presidency, government bureaucrats would be given only a single pencil to write with, and they were expected to return the pencil if they left their job before the pencil ran out.

Arthur’s Flashback I. The start of this flashback is an amalgamation of two events. The first is Chester Arthur serving as the lawyer for Elizabeth Jennings, a black woman who sued over being rough-handled after she tried to ride a white’s only city bus.

The second event involves Billy Wilson, who was a commander during the Civil War of a rather rowdy group of Union soldiers who terrorized the civilians of the city they were stationed in. After Chester told him to keep his men in check, Billy Wilson replied “Well I’ve got my shoulder straps anyways, and as long as I wear them I don’t want any orders from any of you fellas.” Upon hearing this, Chester went over, yanked the pads off his uniform, and put Billy Wilson under arrest.