CHAPTER IV
CRIME BREAKS LOOSE
ONE month had passed since the first meeting of the Public Safety Committee of Seaview City. The season was in full blast. The resort was enjoying the greatest year of its history.
Yet pessimism governed the little group of men who were again assembled in the Green Room of the huge Hotel Pavilion. These men — the same ones who had met before — wore serious faces as they listened to the report of Police Chief George Yates.
The bulky, red-faced official was addressing his remarks to Mayor Rufus Cruikshank, who sat solemnly at the head of the conference table.
“They’re running away from us,” admitted Yates, in a reluctant tone. “There’s no use dodging the facts. Who the crooks are is beyond me. We’ve railroaded a lot of small-fry gunmen, and we’ve tried to break up the game, but it won’t work!”
“Be specific,” ordered Cruikshank, in a dignified voice. “You have talked of crime at each of our meetings, chief, and we have given you orders. Nevertheless, despite our cooperation, matters seem to have become worse. Give us a resume of recent events.”
“Dope, for one thing,” said Yates, shifting uneasily. “Seaview is loaded with it! The whole town is hounded by cokers. It seems like this is headquarters for all the hop shooters.”
“You have made arrests—”
“Yes, but all we seem to get is the addicts. We’ve had Federal men down here, but they can’t seem to get at the source of supply. We’ve watched the roads; we’ve watched the trains; we’ve put on a guard up at the harbor. No luck at all!”