"'Gink' Cummings, my dear," said Gibson, "is the boss of the element I hope to drive out of Los Angeles. He rules like a king over burglars, gamblers, pickpockets, bandits, swindlers and crooks of every description."
John took advantage of an opportunity.
"It's true, is it not, that the mayor and Cummings are enemies?"
"Yes, that's true, but they're political enemies," Gibson said. "The trouble is, however, that the mayor is afraid of Cummings. And so is Sweeney. They don't seem to have the courage to go after him."
"Why don't they take this 'Gink' person and put him in the penitentiary?" asked Consuello.
Gibson laughed.
"That appears to be an impossibility," he said. "They have tried it time and again, but each time he was too clever for them."
"Of course," smiled Consuello. "It was silly of me to have asked such a question. I confess I'm a perfect ignoramus about such things."
A few minutes later they left the studio, Gibson offering to convey John to his home in his automobile.
"As often as I can I call for Consuello and take her to her home," he explained. "We are both so busy these days we have little other time in which to see each other. I'm glad I saw you this afternoon, Gallant, and you may want to know that it won't be long before I'll have some more real news for you."