But
bad fortune overtook Mr. Croker and the eighteen who then held him in
partial thrall. The city ticket of the one, and the county and borough
tickets of the others, were beaten."
"They were, of a hopeful verity!" interrupted Fatfloat. "They were
beaten as flat as a field of turnips! And it was in high good time,
too. Had Tammany retained the city, before 1904 the outlaws would have
stolen everything but the back fence."
"They did not keep the city, however," continued Enfield, "and being
defeated, Mr. Croker developed with much speed an eagerness for
England. I do not blame him; while outwardly respectful, the leading
folk of his circle were cheerless and cold, for to be beaten is to be
hated in Tammany Hall. And so he made pretense of abdication and Mr.
Nixon appeared in his place. The sequel of that ill-fortuned
substitution is known.
"Mr. Croker will continue still to hold what Tammany territory he may.
He has money interests to protect. And yet, strive and plot and battle
as best he can, it is too late. His day is over and his power lost. He
will win such consideration and no more, as Mr. Carroll and the
others grant.
"It is to be doubted if Mr. Croker realizes how prone and dead he is.
One knows when one is wounded, but one knows not when one is killed.
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