The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1903-07-23

in the way of it's accomplishing some
great end. He was put out of the
way, but not without some telltale
evidence being left behind. Herbert
Wright having in some way come
across these evidences is marked for
death; and the attempt made on my
life satisfies me that I was on the
right track. Mr.. Wright's death was,
I am convinced, but a part of some
f~ar-reaching enterprise, some great
undertaking that had been planned
with commercial nicely. His death
vas not a matter of passion, but
business, and the interest that de-
manded it now wish to close Her
bert's mouth, and put a period to my
Investigations"
81 can hardly believe it," said the
lawyer. because it implies the pos
session of power almost unlimited,
not to speak of the money necessary
to hire all the agents."
At this juncture the door opened
| and Detective Fenton entered the
room.
81 am glad to find you both here"
he said.
you've struck something new in
the Wright case?" asked Irving.
Eyes; I have been discharged from
the police force on account of my ac-
tivity in the case"
"How do you know that?" said Mr..
Everett. "Do you mean to say that
the chief of police has lent himself to
a plot to prevent the truth from COM
ing out?"
Not at all. The chief is my friend,
and he did not want to see me 60.
I have been Oh the force Is years and
have never had a complaint lodged
power to retain me than I have my
self"
perhaps it was politics?"
Couldn't haven't been. I happened
to have been one of the most active
supporters of the present mayor"
what auses you to think that
your activity in the Wright case
brought about your dismissal?"
81 first asked the chief on what
grounds I was retired. He replied
! very warmly that he had received a
peremptory note from the mayor to
discharge me from the service. I
looked up the mayor and put the
same question to him. He replied
that no fault was found with me
whatever, and he could give me no
reason at all. Now, while the nay
controls the chief, he is in turn con-
trolled by the boss"
"The boss?" "
Pat Kernigan, you know; the man
who can vote the slums as he pleases,
who knows every wharf rat, every
den keeper and every criminal that
haunts the Rest and other places of
the same order, and who can make
land unmakeEmayorsSTks man viz
tually appoints the police. He is
shrewd enough not to abuse his pow
er. He knows that there must be
good men On the force, but he draws
the line at any interference with his
followers. Last night Billy MCGEE
resumed his place behind the bar at
Peters Rest, and the place is now in
full blast again. This morning I saw
MCGEE in close consultation near the
mayors office. At noon came my dis
missal."
That is only a case of circumstan-
tial evidence" said Everett, "but I
believe I am getting infected with the
theories of you two. If there is any
thing in it, however, some other in
fuence than Billy McGee's must have
persuaded Kernigan to this step, and
it must have been a pecuniary or
very peremptory influence. MCGEE
would have stopped when he secured
permission to reopen his dive. There
is something beyond"
case" said Warde.
IF this organization can, in adj
dition to its power to commit crime,
discharge at will members of the po-
lice force, why nobody-nothing-is
-safe from it. I can hardly imagine
any cohesive power that can bind to-
gether such diverse elements"
"A great prize must be at stake,
for which some one is willing to
spend vast sums of money, and to
take very ticklish risks"
Il e that it will be necessary to
have some detective work done in
this case, and if you are willing to
continue in the line you have begun,
l will pay you enough to keep you
going, and if the result of the Wright
estate settlement is. favorable you
shall have a handsome fee beside
'That will suit me,'' said Fenton,
"for to tell you the truth, I have be-
come interested in this case, and
there are a few points which have
suggested themselves to me, and I
would like to work them out"
You had better do your work as
quietly as possible, and when you
have anything to communicate come
to my home after dark. If the theory
we are working is correct, your life
will be in danger the first time it is
known that you are-pursuing the
case. And you, too, Irving, must be
careful. I think you had better let
it be understood that you have had
enough of it, and that your interest
in the affair has cooled. If it is
agreeable to you both, suppose you
meet me at my house tomorrow
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