The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-03-06
The Beat Of
the 7 ear
BY Roberf Livingston Beecher

ccrrRrcHr 1899, By THE PEARSON PUBLISHING co.
tcsrfi~sed f,e. y<sfrylsy)
Why, the afternoon papers is full
Of it." he exclaimed None OF 'em
has word about Greening."
A cunning look came into his eyes.
Are the police in this precinct
wise to this yet? . he asked
No. We've stolen march on
them" replied Bruce
Who's the captain in this pre-
cinct?" continued the janitor.
Sheehan, replied Bruce, without
hesitation.
| The dark man gavea short laugh.
You're mile off, he said mock
ingiy. Sheehan's up with the goats
in the Bronx. If you were Head.
quarters sleuth, you'd know that.
You're reporters. that's what you are.
Show me that shield again
! Bruce looked at McGinnis. The
Irishman turned roughly upon the
man at the door.
Shut up! !" he reared 1T yer
give us any more of yer CAB, wen lock
yer up"
The ianftor rested his right hand
upon the door-knob.
You can't blum me-" he said saw
agely. Show me that shield and I'll
believe you
Bruce did not move. The janitor
grinned.
It's not detectives shield" he
went on. It's reporters fire badge
That's what it is. You're reporters,
all right
Well, what Of it," Bruce said,
YEARLY What of it,?
The janitor held out his left hand,
palm upward.
It's good guess you're both from
one paper" said he. with wink.
And, of course you don't care to have
this git too public, do you? Well, what
do git for not tipping the other
papers of, eh?"
Ten dollars said Bruce. promptly.
The man with his hand on the door
knob guffawed.
Say. I'm not that easy! !" he re-
torted. This Is big thing. Can't
| see the way the papers Is booming
it?
This Greetings a queer 'un. rye
always been leery about him. fol-
lowed him one night an he went over
to Fifth avenue, an thought he was
going to turn into brownstone front
when he looked round and saw me on
the other side. He came over and gave
me tenner and told me If he ever
caught me following him again. he'd
use me for punching-bag. You bet
he's made it worth my while to stand
right with him since"
Bruce leaned over, wrote something
on sheet of paper lying on the desk.
and held the paper out toward the
speaker.
That block was between those, two
streets, wasn't it? !" he asked, quietly.
The janitor stared at the paper and
then looked straight at Bruce.
guess you know who he is all
right" he said. Hes big swell. Just
az / suspicioned. An you think r
don't know what q stink thisll kick
up, an 30 you want to hand me
tenner. No, stree.
McGinnis, who had been leaning
against the wall opposite that ON
|, which the electric light was quivering,
stood up straight, moved a little to,
ward the door, and began examining
an oil painting hanging on the janii
tors left. Bruce swung himself round
on the desk until he was directly fac,
ing the door.
Well" said the latter. slowly, as
If he were balancing the matter care
! fully in his mind perhaps ten was
bit low. Well make ii twenty-five
(; The janitor's hand almost impercepi
tfbly twisted the door-knob.
The Americdn'll give ME huns
/ dred. at least" he said, with grin
Bruce swung his long legs uncon.
! cernedly under the mahogany.
How do YOU know" he asked, care
lessly, that McGinnis and / aren't
from the American ourselves?"
Well. IL you are, can find that out
soon enough over the phone" was the
reply.
! The speaker paused.
The World pays almost as good,
I've heard tell. he added
i Bruce stopped swinging his legs.
Twenty-dve's our limit" he said,
sharply Will you take it?"
The janitor jerked the door open and
threw himself around It. The next
instant. three bodies crashed together
On the floor and the door shut with
a slam. A half-formed cry gurgled
awsy into nothingness.
Don't choke him. McGinnis." ex.
claimed the younger man. Here's
my handkerchief Gag him"
Five minutes later. figure, bound
securely hand and foot, and with a
piece of white linen tied across the
opened mouth and knotted behind the
head. was carried into little bath.
room opening out of the main room
The two men bearing the helpless fig-
ure laid 1t down beside the bathtub
and then stood up and looked down at
1t.
Much obliged, McGinnis," said the
younger man. It'd be close de-
cision as to which got TO him first. 1t
seems rough on our friend here. but I
suppose IT had 10 be done"
The big Irishman could be seen
chuckling softly in the dim light
" Sure 1t had he said. at last when
his shoulders had ceased heaying.
Sure 1t had. Faith, There was no
telling what the lad might do once
he got ont He'd a-spoilt yer story
for yer sure. and he might have laid
wait for our numbering frind in the
street and warned him off The gent