ne shot tip from me, Jimmie, that this
Burke had something to do with Shepard. He may have put one of his
friends on the job. Those cops are not such dummies as we think they
are sometimes. That fellow's a dangerous man."

Clemm pondered for a moment. Jimmie was surprised, for the manager of
the "Mercantile Agency" was noted for his rapid-fire methods. The Monk
knew that something of great importance must be afoot to cause this
delay.

The manager tapped the desk with his fingers, as he moved his lips, in
a silent little conversation with himself. At last he banged the desk
with vehemence.

"Here, Jimmie. I'm going to entrust you with an important job."

The Monk brightened and smiled hopefully.

"How much money would it take to put Officer Bobbie Burke, if that's
his name, where the cats can't keep him awake at night?"

Jimmie looked shiftily at the manager.

"You mean..."

He drew his hand significantly across his throat, raising his heavy
eyebrows in a peculiar monkey grimace which had won for him his
soubriquet.

"Yes, to quiet his nerves. It's a shame to let these ambitious young
policemen worry too much about their work."

"I kin git it done fer twenty-five dollars."

"Well, here's a hundred, for I'd like to have it attended to neatly,
quietly and permanently. You understand me?"

"Say, I'm ashamed ter take money fer dis!" laughed Jimmie the Monk.

"Don't worry about that, my boy. Make a good job of it. It's just
business. I'm buying the service and you're selling it. Now get out,
for I've got a lot more marketing to do."

Jimmie got.

It was indeed a busy little market place, with many commodities for
barter and trade.

CHAPTER X

WHEN THE TRAIN COMES IN

Burke was sent up to Grand Central Station the following morning by
Captain Sawyer to assist one of the plain-clothes men in the
apprehension of two well-known gangsters who had been reported by
telegraph as being on their way to New York.

"We want them down in this precinct, Burke, and you have seen these
fellows, so I want to have you keep a sharp lookout in the crowd when
the train comes in. In case of a scuffle in a crowd, it's not bad to
have a bluecoat ready, because the crowd is likely to take sides.
Anyway, there's apt to be some of this gas-house gang up there to
welcome them home. And your club will do more good than a revolver in
a railroad station. You help out if Callahan gives you the sign,
otherwis