Just when all the tavern owners in Atlantic City were troubled by the WCTU, Donnie arrived at the first hospital in Atlantic City!
"I'm very sorry that you were hurt because of me, it was my mistake," he said.
Donnie placed the fresh flowers he was holding in front of the hospital bed and looked with regret at Margaret, who was lying in bed, cradling her bandaged arm.
Margaret felt extremely ashamed at this moment; she didn't want Donnie to see her in this state.
However, since Donnie had already come to the hospital, and Margaret couldn't flee, she could only force a smile and completely avoid mentioning the beating she had endured.
"This is my problem, it has nothing to do with you, Donnie. I'm very grateful that you came to visit me at this time!" she said.
"Alright, don't talk, just rest. I'll take care of the rest for you!" he replied.
Donnie sat by Margaret's bed, his hand gently stroking her hair. This intimate gesture made Margaret enjoy the moment despite her embarrassment.
So she didn't refuse Donnie's touch.
"I've heard from Elena that of all the taverns in Atlantic City, only yours has been closed these past two days. Elena asked me to tell you that she's very grateful for your support of our WCTU!" Margaret said, trying to find a topic to chat with Donnie.
Donnie said, "It's what I should do, but this can't last too long. You still need to tell Elena that!"
Margaret looked puzzled. All the taverns in Atlantic City were now afraid to open officially. When Elena came to visit her, she was excitedly talking about this as a major victory they had achieved in Atlantic City. So why would Donnie say it couldn't last?
After hearing Margaret's confusion, Donnie told her the rationale he had already thought through.
After listening, Margaret's expression turned sad, and she asked, "Is there really no way to change it?"
Donnie shook his head, "There's no way to change it. I know this answer will make you all very upset, but some things are beyond our capacity to resolve."
Margaret struggled to sit up, and Donnie helped her adjust her pillows.
"Donnie, thank you very much for telling me this. I want to arrange for you to meet Elena before our WCTU speech, so she can have a plan in mind ahead of time. How about that?" she proposed.
Seeing that Donnie didn't answer immediately, Margaret said softly, "Think of it as doing it for me, okay?"
"Alright," Donnie reluctantly nodded. "You know I can't refuse any of your requests."
Margaret: "..."
That afternoon, Donnie met the chairman of the Atlantic City WCTU, Elena Dorne, in the somewhat dilapidated church-like building that housed WCTU's headquarters.
"Margaret is a poor woman; thank goodness she had your help, Mr. Block. I want to thank you on her behalf!" said Elena Dorne as she stood up from her desk and extended her hand to Donnie.
"By the way, Mr. Donnie, what would you like to drink? I have whiskey and wine here?" she offered.
It sounds rather ironic, doesn't it? The WCTU emerged to advocate for prohibition, yet in the office of the president of the WCTU headquarters, one could offer alcohol to their guests.
But that was indeed the state of affairs in the United States, and no one found it inappropriate.
Donnie waved his hand, "No need, I am very good friends with Margaret, and helping each other is only right."
Elena nodded and took her seat again, also inviting Donnie to sit down.
"Mr. Block, you told Margaret that our march could only have a temporary effect; I'm afraid I can't agree with that. You've seen the situation in Atlantic City yourself, and not only have we received the support of women from all over Atlantic City but also from the WCTU in Philadelphia, New York, and other places. We believe we can keep Atlantic City away from liquor!" she stated proudly.
With his legs crossed, Donnie sat there calmly and said, "Ms. Dorne, I acknowledge that the WCTU's current achievements are significant, but I say that this situation is temporary for a reason."
Elena Dorne took a pack of cigarettes from her drawer, glanced at Donnie, who gave no objection, and then Elena lit a cigarette before finally speaking.
"Please enlighten me, Mr. Donnie!" she requested.
Donnie said relaxedly, "Because, Mrs. Dorne, your husband is going to run for State Senator this year, and whether Mr. Dorne can be elected and whether your WCTU can continue to receive donations from all sectors depends on the support of Atlantic City."
Elena Dorne was married and even had a child, but she still retained her charm. Combined with her years of experience as the chairwoman of the WCTU, at thirty, not only did she possess the grace and elegance of a woman her age, but she also had a refined temperament.
"My husband supports me," she said, her expression unchanging. "He has told me that to support my ideals, he is willing to give up running for State Senator!"
Elena kept her demeanor steady as she spoke.
Donnie didn't believe what Elena was saying, yet he wouldn't expose her lie on the spot. "Of course I believe that," he said, "but you must understand, Mrs. Dorne, not every woman in the WCTU is as selfless as you. They have families, husbands, and children, and they live in Atlantic City. Only if the economy of Atlantic City thrives will their lives improve.
With Atlantic City's act of defying Prohibition, during what should have been the off-season for tourism, the flow of visitors has already exceeded peak season levels.
In such circumstances, how many women in the WCTU do you think can continue to stand with you?"
"Without the WCTU's support, I'm afraid Mr. Dorne's chances of being elected State Senator would indeed be in jeopardy!"
The reason Elena wasn't worried about what Donnie said regarding her husband's candidacy for State Senator was because she was confident that as long as she remained the chairwoman of the WCTU, at least half the women of Atlantic City would cast their votes for her husband.
"Mr. Block, are you threatening me?"
Elena crossed her legs, her long skirt hiding them, keeping their allure a mystery.
"Of course not," said Donnie. "I'm simply offering you some advice, Mrs. Dorne!"
Elena leaned forward slightly and asked, "What if I choose not to accept your advice?"
At that moment, Donnie took a cigarette that Elena had placed on the desk, put it to his lips, and leaned in close to Elena to light his own cigarette with hers.
"I naturally won't do anything," he said, "but in Atlantic City, Nucky won't tolerate anyone hindering his development plans. If that happens, Mrs. Dorne, you will have to face Nucky's tactics. As for what methods Nucky will use, I think you understand better than I do!"
"I understand Nucky, but I trust myself more. I don't believe that under the scrutiny of the press in Philadelphia and New York, Nucky would dare to do anything outrageous," replied Elena, not minding Donnie's actions, and spoke indifferently.
Donnie let out a light laugh and said, "The reporters you brought in have already returned to Philadelphia and New York. But my friends there tell me that no stories about Atlantic City have been seen in their local newspapers!"
Elena, who had maintained composure until now, finally showed a slight change in expression, furrowing her brows.
"I believe, Mrs. Dorne, you are still not fully aware of Nucky's influence in Philadelphia and New York, nor do you truly understand him as a person," Donnie continued.
"Are you saying that you understand these matters about Nucky?" asked Elena.
"Certainly," Donnie nodded. "Don't you know that Nucky is very well-known in New York? There, every member of New York's elite is his friend, and friends always make things easier for each other!"
If it hadn't been for this year, with Prohibition starting at this time, Nucky would have been in New York by now.
In New York, Nucky was like the flamboyant characters written by Damon Runyon, frequenting every high-class club in New York, mingling with either the city's tycoons or political heavyweights.
A New York gossip columnist once described Nucky and oil magnate Guy Lumis as 'the most generous and uninhibited spenders of the moment!'
At this point, Elena found herself in a dilemma. Much like an arrow on a bowstring, if she stopped their marches and protests, Elena would lose her prestige within the WCTU, meaning she would lose votes for her husband.
But if Elena didn't back down, she and her husband would lose upper-class support, which would also jeopardize his chance of becoming State Senator.
Elena loved her husband and was willing to sacrifice everything for him.
Elena loved her current status and was prepared to give up everything for it.
So when Elena realized she was stuck in a dead end and didn't know how to resolve it, seeing Donnie sitting there, legs crossed and self-satisfied, a thought immediately came to her.
"If you, Mr. Block, could provide me with some advice, I would be immensely grateful to you," she said.
Donnie smiled, lowered his leg, and said, "Of course, but in doing so, what do I stand to gain? As I've said before, I know Nucky very well."
Elena stood up, her conservative long dress barely concealing her shapely figure. Flicking her skirt, she sat on Donnie's lap, her breath hot as it sprayed out and fell on Donnie's earlobe.
"Here, Mr. Block, you can have everything you want," she whispered.