The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-10-31

when he went, it was ION the chance"
of getting a story. For the inspector,
in his magnifcenCe, delighted to drop
a bit of news.
There was no news for dinner that
night. The chief took his corner seat,
and he was very splendid in his enter
tainment as TO food, but absent-minded
and dull. Mickey did the talking, and
his topic, the politics of his ward, was
dull. It wasn't duh to Mickey, but the
chiefs dullness spread, over him and
was depressing.
They both were glad to light their big,
black, police cigars and walk out upon
the cool Bowery. Mickey was for start
ing back TO headquarters, but the
chief stopped upon the curb and, stand
ing there, scrutinized closely the pas
sersby.
"Playin' detective" Mickey muttered,
and he pointedly looked away.
Sweeney" said the chief, after a
while, "do you see that express wagon
coming up the street,"
Mickey looked. He saw an old wagon
drawn by an old horse coming toward
them.
DO you notice anything unusual
about it?" the chief asked.
Mickey didn't notice anything IN
usual.
H.. q. 1
lieve that that wagon has in it the swag
of the silver robbery up in Madison
avenue"
The robbery to which the chief re-
ferred was a recent scandal The man
| whose house had been broken into re-
/ ported his loss first to the newspapers.
| The police everywhere warn citizens
not to let anybody but the police know
/ of such troubles. They say that if the
/ newspapers get hold of the news they
/ viii publish it, this will brighten away
| the thieves and prevent the police from
! recovering the stolen property. This is
/ only a police trick to avoid criticism.
| They give to the press all their sue
! cesses; they suppress their failures. and
| thus keep up the appearance of efficient
! service. As a matter of fact the first
/ thing that the victim Of a robbery
/ should do is to telephone to the news
/ papers-all of them. That would soon
show what a small proportion Of the re-
| ported cases a detective bureau like
/ that Of New York detects" and-it
4 viii make the police work on your case
The newspapers had driven the whole
police department to work on this sill
yer robbery. Mickey himself had asked
| the chief twice a day ever since It hap
| pened the irritating question:
by the way, chief. you amt got no
| clue TO those silver burglars yet, have
/ your"
So he was interested now in the
| chiefs suggestion that the silver was in
! that wagon. He had d confusing sense
of incredulity crossed by admiration
| What sort Of game" Half thought.
/ the question was pushed aside for the
/ news interest: WAS the silver in the
/ wagOn?"
Mickey was excited. The Inspector
/ was perfectly cool.
Yes" he said, as II to himself, Eyes,
| 1 believe I'm right"
And he turned around. There was,
| luckily, a policeman on the corner. The
/ inspector whiStled low to him, and the
man came up quickly.
! Officer" said the inspector, with his
| best drawl, 'step out there and ask
| that man on the express wagon to drive
/ up here to the curb
The officer obeyed. The passersby saw
| The movement, and a crowd gathered
as the policeman led the horse up to
the chief. The driver made as if TO
jump and run.
Keep your seat there" the inspector
commanded sharply, and it gave even
Mickey a thrill to feel the driver sink
on his seat.
ment at the driver It was very dra-
matte, and the crowd, passing the word
| Foley" about, breathed hard with the
! effect. And Foley. at his best. dropping
! his eyes from the man with the feins,
stepped back and lifted the edge of a
blanket that lay over a large laundry
basket. One glance was enough.
"Ohicer," he said, Jump up there on
the seat with the driver and take this
wagon to headquarters. I'll be right
| over"
That was all. Don't you ike these
long cigars. Sweeney" the inspector
remarked as he turned TO go The
| crowd made way respectfully, nay.
| with reverence Great" Mickey heard
them say. Hes great" SAY amt
he a bird?" And the way he did it,
! Yes, and that crack about the cigars -
Wonder what the case tsp
I'VE were right" the inspector said.
! as he and Mickey proceeded slowly
across the street toward headquarters.
TT was the silver?" the boy asked.