The fat one, she never do no work.

Ed Flanagan was a man of iron. At least that's what his political supporters believed, as well as a good many of his enemies. They could see it in his massive forearms, and his poise and bearing when interacting with others, in the way his cold steely eyes seems to stab straight through people. Surveying his tavern on a cold winters night Iron Ed could see that he may be compelled to prove his reputation before the night was through. The tavern was packed to bursting with factory workers, bohemians, with a few cops scattered here and there. Ed despised the cops, but there was no keeping them out, they were part of the neighborhood, the working classes. There were others also in the smoky backrooms, doling out the jobs, the patronage, plotting the uplift of some, the downfall of others. He had a knack for matching faces to names. It was something he had learned early on, to remember peoples names and to call them by it. It left an impression on them and tended to inspire loyalty. Ed could recall the names and occupations of every single person who came into the tavern weather for business or pleasure. Not only was it useful in endearing yourself to people, Ed learned, it was also useful for rooting out those who might cause trouble. He could see trouble developing at the other end of the tavern near the fireplace. It came in the form of the two large men warming themselves near the fire. Veteran's Ed knew. Between the two of them they had been through every major battle of the Army of the Potomac. They still wore the war on them as part of their character. Ed had seen the elephant as well, seen more than his share at Gettysburg, but he had never held unto it. He used it to further his political ends but beyond that it meant little to him. It was over. Still he knew that was not the case with the two Confederates sitting at the table nearby sharing a bottle of whiskey. Both still had the look as if they had just gotten back from the march. A thin film of dust seemed to cover them both. They had been spies in the war, going from New York to Montreal and Vermont to gather intelligence about Union troop movements and sending them back in coded telegrams to Richmond and then unto the Commanders in the field. Both the Union men knew this, as few things were a secret among the regulars at the tavern, and were not pleased by their presence. They were Irishmen, and from what he had heard, professional fight starters. They lived to drink and fight, as if for them the war had never ended. The Reb's had their own axe to grind but from what Ed could see the Irishmen by the fire were the one's intending to start the trouble. They case disparaging eye's on the Reb's and were talking to each other in low tones. Ed knew it would be necessary to diffuse the situation. Ed poured two beers from the barrel and walked through the throng to where the Irishmen were sitting. 'You enjoying yourselves tonight?' He asked placing the two glasses of beer at the table. 'Aye, I suppose so.' The one on the left said. 'Good, then have another, on me.' They raised their glasses and drank. Ed's tone lowered,'Just one word of advice, if your thinking of starting something with those lad's over there, I'd advise against it.''Yeah and why's that?' the one on the right said who had been silent all this time. He had thick sideburns and a barrel chest. Ed's voice was calm yet firm. 'Because if you've got a problem with them you've got a problem with me. And I won't have that in my establishment.' Sideburns rose, he was six feet tall and wide about the chest, but he was too drunk Ed could tell, unsteady on his feet. The punch he threw Ed could see from a mile away and he easily ducked it coming up with powerful blow to sideburns stomach. The man doubled over and the threw an uppercut that connected with his nose. The man fell back on the table spilling the beers, his friend, who had remained still staring agape. 'Both of you out now!' He roared and the quiet man picked sideburns up from the ground and led him out. As he opened the door Ed could feel the cold blowing from outside and see the snow fluttering about. He hated to put anyone out in the cold, but those two had earned it, he thought.