Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1915-12-16

.gangway got me what I wanted-an
opportunity to view the mems quart
ers in the steerage while remaining
unseen myself.
Down greasy companion-ladder to
the smelly 'tween-decks my blue-jer-
seyed guide led me, and then along to
a bulkhead separating the steerage
from the second-class Accommodations.
A rolling iron door was opened
few inches, and l was free to peep in
to the half lit mems quarters in the
steerage.
Luck, for once was with me, for
less than twenty feet distant from my
position, directly under an electric
bulb, squatted on their nondescript
baggage were the men was seeking.
They were eating while conversing
together in low tones, and bottle of
what appeared to be red wine was
circulating from hand to hand.
Blackboard had shaved off his whis-
kers, but his evil face and cruel eyes
were not soon to be forgotten by one
who had exchanged words with him.
The two Greeks, one with his jaun-
diced skin and the other with his
blind eye, appeared much the same as
had last seen them, save that they
all seemed to be more neatly dressed.
Only for few moments did tarry
at the rolling door-long enough to
cast my eyes over the almost vacant
steerage-then returned to the wait
ing motor-car, where Casey was ex-
pecting his ten dollars.
l paid the lad and then sought a
telephone. The time was ripe for call
ing in the police.
Police headquarters refused to give
me third deputy's address or pri-
vate telephone number, stating that
the official had long since left his Of
flee for the day and could not be dis
turbed. But a telephone talk with
my assistant superintendent placed me
in possession of the wanted address,
and l was soon speeding across-town.
Commissioner Rodgers was just
finishing his dinner at the Yale Club
when one of the servants handed him
the personal card of his college chum.
He Immediately gave orders for me
to be shown into the grill; and after
kindly nod and manly handshake,
waved me to chair, look of inquiry
in his keen, gray eyes.
Briefly l gave him an account of
the whole affair, from the admittance
to the hospital of John Doe up to the
locating of the three culprits.
"And now," l concluded, cts up to
the police and the district attorney"
81 should say it was" chuckled the
deputy commissioner. at seems to
me-" he went on, quizzical grin on
his face, "that you hospital people
ought to have enough to do down at
Bellevue, without butting-in on my de-
partment. Have a highball? No?
Well, We'll travel along"
The police official paused to scribble
his name across the dinner check, then
he tossed the servant coin, and head
ed for the telephone.
"Spring - three one hundred" 1
heard him call through the open door
of the booth.
"This is Deputy Commissioner
Rodgers speaking" he went on, after
a moments wait. "Give me the
Eighth Precinct"
Another pause, then he continued.
"This is Lieutenant Ryan? This is
Deputy Commissioner Rodgers. Call
out your patrol wagon; put eight of
your huskiest reserve men in it, and
drive to the corner of Laight and
Hudson. Let the wagon stay there,
then have the sergeant in charge
spread the men around the entrance
of Pear %. And don't let a rat
come off that pier without grabbing
it. I'll be down in twenty minutes.
Do you get me? Yes-Pier %. Good
by"
Working the hook up and down, the
deputy commissioner finally persuad-
ed the police switchboard to give him
"the outside" where he called up a
Bryant number and ordered his car.
"Better get rid of your car" sug-
gested the third deputy as we stood
on the sidewalk before the club.
'We're going to do some rapid trav-
cling, and if you tried to keep up with
my car one of the traffic boys might
shy club at your driver"
ordered my chauffeur back to the
hospital, and stepped into the big lin
CUISINE which drew up at the curb.
Smoothly and swiftly the machine
purred its way downtown.