The Irish standard., 1903-08-01
"Perhaps it was politics ?"


supporters Of the present mayor"
"What causes you to think that
your activity in the Wright case
brought about your dismissal?''
II first asked the chief on what
grounds l 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 10 fault was found with me
whatever, and he could give me no
reason at all. Now, while the mayor
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
and unmake mayors. This man vir-
tually appoints the police. He is
sirewd 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 Niece
resumed his place behind the bar at
Peters Rest, and the place is now in
full blast again. This morning | saw
McGec in close consultation near the
mayors Office. At noon came my dis.
miSsal."
THAT is only Il case of circunstan-
tial evidence" said Everett but l
believe | am getting infected with the
theories of you two. If there is any
thing in it, however, some other in
tuence than Billy McGee's must have
persuaded kcrnigan to this step. and
it must have been a pecuniary or
very pcrcmptory influence. MCGEE
would have stopped when he secured
permission to reopen his dive. There
is something beyond
"There always is in this beastly
case" said Wardr.
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-
safe from it. | can hardly imagine
any cohesive power that can bind to-
| Sether 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 tckish risks"
Il see that it will be necessary to
have some detective work done in
this case, and il you are willing to
continue in the line you have begun,
| will pay you enough to keep you
going, and if he result of the Wright
estate settlement is favorable you
shall have Il handsome fee beside"
That will suit me- said Fenton,
for TO tell you the truth. | have be-
come interested in this ease, and
there are Il few points which have
suggested themselves to me. and
woli, 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 hn in danger NE first time it is
l,noWn HAT you are pursuing the
case. And you. too. Irving, must be
careful. | think You had better Let
it be unhcrS!u God that you have had
enough of it. and that your interest
in tn" affair has cooled. If it is
agreeable to you both, suppose you
meet me at my house Tomorrow
night AT eight O'Clock. | shall sec
Wright in the morning. ct his theory
of the murder. and then, perhaps, we
can makr some use of the di,jointcd
facts in otlr possession.
The n"Nt evening War,lc sought the
residence OF Mir. t.Norrit. on Union
street. sumr dis;nnc" out. He took
care iu m'!iIir himself up consider
ably, and rs it WAS very dark night
and NO lamps lighted. because the al
manar called for Il moonlight night
he felt safe from Identification. lie
WAS ushcrrd into the lawyers library
whirh was very cheerful and inviting
All the wallis were lined With books
\ few ornaments gracrd the mantle
piece. and from the generous CRATE
came The warmth that filled the en-
tire room.
Hardly had Warde taken Off his
nvcrroat and cnsconsed himself in &
chair. when the bell rang and Frntor
WAS announced. He came in disguise
wearing Il heavy beard, which at night
would easily prevent anyone from
recognizing him.
MIR. Everett was by nature a hospi
table man. so he made his guests
welcome, and before they proceeded
to business he told a few rcmnrkabl,
good anecdotes, interlinin" them Will
a choice punch of his Own making
the recipe for which WAS native o
} Virginia and had been in the famil,
for more than 100 years. The lawyc
was in exceptionally bright spirits
and his whole manner Indicated tina
, he had something to tell which woul,
} surprise them. In Il dignilirtl. lawyer
, like Way he seemed to relish the fac
that h. had Il sensations to communi
: cate.
r Il have seen Herbert Wright to
7 day" he said. and he has put me i
, possession of his defense. Ii is q
!, such a character ttat must plrdg
3 you both To secrecy. but | must ais
t put you in possession of it, bccaus
YOU can both help me. If we shout
t morrow | have no doubt that ncarl
: everybody in the city would ,lismis
= il as the invention of Il very clEms