“That was a cinch!” said the Camera Chap to his two companions, as the touring car sped through the quiet street. “Didn’t I tell you, Fred, that there wouldn’t be much danger?”
“Well, we can’t expect that they’ll all be as easy as that one,” Carroll replied. “Ye gods! Just imagine the lives and property of the people of Oldham being intrusted to the care of a lazy, good-for-nothing shirker like that! I hope you got a good picture of him, Frank. It certainly ought to make the taxpayers of Oldham sit up and take notice.”
“At all events, it ought to make ’em buy Bulletins,” the Camera Chap chuckled. “I bet you a new hat, Fred, that your paper’s circulation will be more than doubled as a result of this crusade.
“But, say,” he exclaimed, as the touring car swung around a corner, “aren’t we on another cop’s beat now? If so, hadn’t we better slow down, and hunt for him?”
This remark was addressed to Parsons, the Bulletin’s police reporter, who was running the car. Parsons had been “covering police” for some years, and knew the majority of the members of the force by name, and what beat they were supposed to patrol. This expert knowledge made him a valuable member of the expedition. As he was aware also of the habits and weaknesses of many of the bluecoats, he was able to lead the Camera Chap to those who were most likely to be caught shirking their duty.
The reporter glanced quickly up and down both sides of the street, and reduced the speed of the touring car.
“This is ‘Red’ Horgan’s beat,” he announced. “And I guess I can tell you where he is right now. Horgan is the most notorious shirker in the department, and when he’s on night duty he generally spends most of the time in ‘Dutch Louie’s’ place on Allendale Street. I have no doubt that you’ll find him there now playing pinochle in the back room.”
The Camera Chap’s face lighted up at this informa[Pg 42]tion. “Playing pinochle, eh?” he exclaimed eagerly. “That ought to make a bully snapshot. Is it possible for a stranger to get into this Dutch Louie’s place at this hour?”
“Sure!” Parsons answered, with a laugh. “He runs his place wide open all night. Anybody can walk in and order a drink right at the bar, no matter what the hour. Dutch Louie is a politician, as well as a liquor dealer, and he doesn’t have to worry about his joint being pulled for violation of the excise laws.”
“Good!” exclaimed Hawley joyously. “I was afraid I might have difficulty in getting into the place. Is this Allendale Street we’re on now?”