Read Online Sweet Mercy by Ann Tatlock - Free Book Online

research. I had won first place in the essay contest. “Are you sure?”
    â€œOf course I’m sure.”
    â€œDon’t they know moonshine is illegal?”
    Jones laughed again, louder this time. “You’re kidding, right?”
    â€œI’m not kidding, Jones. I can’t believe they’re hauling that stuff right out here in the open. They could be arrested and go to prison. They should be arrested.”
    â€œYeah? And who’s going to turn them in? You?”
    I drew back. I didn’t know how to respond. “You mean, nobody does anything about it? Nobody tries to shut down the stills?”
    â€œAnd just what would people drink if they shut down the stills?”
    â€œBut that’s the point! People shouldn’t be drinking anything at all. Aren’t there any Prohibition agents around here?”
    â€œOf course not. There aren’t enough agents for the big cities, let alone a little Podunk town like Mercy. Anyway, it’s a losing battle. There’s stills all over the county. Too many to count.”
    â€œBut Prohibition is the law!”
    â€œA stupid law, itching to be broken.”
    â€œIt’s not a stupid law. It’s one law that makes completely good sense.”
    â€œAnd who are you? Carrie Nation? You go around with an axe chopping up saloons?”
    â€œMaybe I would if there were any saloons to chop up!”
    â€œWell, there aren’t. They’ve all gone underground and turned themselves into speakeasies and blind pigs. And believe me, someone like you would never get in.”
    â€œI wouldn’t want to get in! I don’t believe in drinking. All it does is ruin people’s lives.”
    He stared at me a moment, brows turned down, nostrils flaring. “I guess Cyrus forgot to tell me you were a saint.”
    â€œYou don’t need to be sarcastic just because I believe in obeying the law. But then, I wouldn’t drink even if the country were wet again. It’s just a sin, plain and simple, and it leads to no good.”
    â€œYou’re all-fired sure about that, are you?”
    I lifted my chin. “I am.”
    â€œAnd how do you know so much about it?”
    I thought about Cassandra. I thought about the drunks down at the St. Paul Mission. I thought about the gangsters that wreaked havoc, killing each other and even innocent bystanders over the selling of illegal booze. “I’ve seen it,” I said. “I’ve seen what it does to people. But folks keep on drinking because other people, terrible people, keep on making illegal liquor and selling it.”
    â€œNow hold on just one minute there, St. Eve,” Jones spat out. He pulled the oars into the boat and turned around on the seat to face me. “I’d wager those two men who just went by aren’t terrible people. I’d wager they’re not bad people at all. They’re just a couple of men trying to feed their families, and they got no other way to do it except to sell spirits to people who want an occasional drink. If it’s between making moonshine and letting their kids starve, they’re right to choose moonshine, and you’re wrong to judge them.”
    Looking away, I could taste the disgust at the back of mythroat like something sour. “There are other ways to make a living,” I said.
    â€œIt’s not all that easy, especially now, times being what they are.”
    â€œThe times being what they are isn’t an excuse to do what’s wrong. If everybody would obey the law and work together, I’m sure we’d be able to find jobs for everyone. Or at least make sure no one goes hungry. People don’t have to resort to crime to stay alive.”
    â€œSelling liquor wouldn’t be a crime if we got rid of the law. Then people could just go about their business and take care of their families.”
    â€œBut it’s the law and—”
    â€œYou sound like that