Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-10-29
CHAPTER XII.
On Reconsideration.

VII nCCOHStuCTdIiCV.
Gently but with decision Sergt,
Hickey set his face against the allure,
ment Of his wine-cup and the impor.
tunities Of his fellow-ot!icers.
He was tired, he affirmed with a
weary nod; the lateness OF the hour
rendered him quite indisposed for con,
vivial dalliance. Even the sight OF
OHagan, seduction incarnated in the
vestibule. bottle under either arm,
clutching box Of cigars jealousy
with both hands. failed to move the
temperate soul.
Nah" he waved temptation aside
with gesture OF finality. 81 don't
guess III take nothin' tonight, thanks.
G'night all"
And wheeling. shaped course for
Broadway.
The early morning air hreathed chill
but grateful to his fevered brow. Odd
ly enough, in view OF the fact that he
had INDUCED in no very violent exer.
else, he found himself perspiring pro.
fusely. Now and again he saw fit to
pause. removing his hat and utilizing
a large soiled bandana with grim
abandon.
At such times his face would be up.
turned, eyes trained upon the dim in.
finites beyond the pale moon-smitten
sky. And he would sigh profoundly
not she furnace sigh Of lover think.
ing OF his mistress but the heartfelt
and mo eing sigh Of the man Of years
and cares Who has drunk deep OF that
cup Of bitterness called Unappreciated
Genius.
Then, tuckinE the clammy bandana
into hip pocket. and withdrawing his
yearning gaze from the heavens. would
struggle on, with funereal counte
nance as the outward and visible mani
festation of q mind burdened with
mundane concerns; such as Zone
might shrewdly surmise) that auto
graphed portrait OF a deputy commits
sioner OF police which the detectives
lynx.like eyes had discovered on Matt
lands escritoire. unhappily, toward
the close Of their conference. or. pos.
sibly, the mighty processes Of depart
mental law, with its attendant annoy.
ances Of charges preferred, hearings
before an obviously prejudiced yet
high-principled martinez, reprimands
and rulings, reductions In rank,
"breaking," transfers; or-yet third
possibility-with the prevailing rate
of wage as contrasted between detec-
tive and "sidewalk.pounder." and the
cost Of living as contrasted between
Manhattan, on the one hand and ia.
maica, Bronxville. or st. George, Sta
ten Island, on the other.
A dimly-lighted side entrance pres
emily doomed invitingly in the ser
geant's path. He glanced up, some
thing surprised to find himself on
Sixth avenue: then, bowed with the
fatigue OF busy day. turned aside,
entering dingy back room separated
from the bar proper (at that illicit
hour) by curtain OF green baize. A
Of tables whose sloppy imi-
tation rosewood tops shone dimly in
the murky gaslight. were set about.
here and there. for the accommodation
Of herd Of sleepy-eyed, case-hardened
habitues.
Into vacant chair beside one OF
these the detective dropped, and famil-
iarly requested the lantern-jawed
waiter, who presently hustled to his
side, to Back meh up tub Of suds,
George. NAH" in response to
= concerned query, * amt feelin' UP
to much tonight"
Hat tilted over his eyes, one elbow
on the chairback, another on the table,
habby jowls quivering as he mumbled
the indispensable cigar, puffy hands
clasped across his ample chest, he
sat for many minutes by the side Of
MS UNDECIDED drink, bordering, turning
over and over in his mind the one
dca it was capable of harboring at .
lime.
HE c'u'd We wrote that letter to
himself. He's wise enough.
Yeh can't fool Hickey all the
time. I'll get him yet. Got
,uh make good r it's the sidewalks
,'r mine. Me- tryin' hard to
make an 'onest livin'. Nd
lin with all kinds of money!"
The fat notified fingers sought q
waistcoat pocket and. fumbling there
n, touched caressingly little pellet
If soft paper. Its possessor did not
'equire to examine it to reassure him
self as to its legitimacy as work OF
lrt, nor as to the prominence of the
Roman G in it's establishment of en-
.raved arabesques.
"a century," he reflected sullenly;
one lonely little century for mine.
Nd he had wad like ham /. on
Tim. ND I might We had it
Ill for my very own if :" His
ROW clouded blackly.
"Sleuth!" Hickey ground the cpl
het vindictively between his teeth.