Johnston McCulley

“ Casey's place had an evil name, too; worse than the one Noggins had just left. It was dominated by the Jim Grale gang, and was the scene of many brawls. The front room originally had been a bar of ill repute, and now it was cigar store, pool hall, loafing place. There were smaller rooms in the rear dating from the old days of private wine rooms.
Noggins swung through the swinging doors and entered. Casey himself was in front, talking to a thug. Half a dozen men were scattered around the room, some sitting at tables playing cards, others in close conversation regarding nefarious things. ”

“ Noggins said. “Grale gave you instructions not to say where he had gone, did he? A bully is always a coward!”
“Jim Grale ain't afraid of you or all the other bulls, and he's got friends ready to back him up!”
“Well, he doesn't seem eager to show himself,” Noggins remarked. “If you should happen to run across him tell him that I'm wanting to ask him a few questions—if he isn't afraid to answer them.”
Noggins' face was white, but not necessarily from fear. Noggins always got angry when a man sought to defy the police. ”

“ I've got brawn enough in the department, Heaven knows, and I need Noggins' brains. If necessary, I'll send a bodyguard with him whenever he goes to investigate a case. His work is smooth, take it from me, and quick. Noggins simply looks around, listens a bit, gets his common sense working—and brings in his man.”
“What does he look like?” the visitor asked.
“Gosh! I don't know. He isn't a man to impress you with his appearance. He is small and colorless, and that's all I can say. He is one of these men that it is difficult to describe. ”

“ Peter Noggins got through the crowd slowly, for the spectators seemed to resent his attempt to get near the front of the shop, and Noggins could not bring himself to announce his identity and command a path. But he finally got close enough for the patrolman to see him, and the uniformed officer cut a way through the tangled humanity with his stick and escorted Noggins to the front door. ”

“ He'll never last to get to the receiving hospital. Poor old devil! It's time the Grale gang was put in jail. That crowd has terrorized this section of the city for several years now. And all any of them ever got was a month or two for vagrancy. They've got everybody scared off, even some of the police.”
Just then the ambulance arrived, and Smalley was put into it and taken away. The physician disappeared after giving Peter Noggins his name and address. Noggins ordered the patrolman to lock the shop and remain on guard until a relief could be sent from headquarters. ”

“ Noggins said. “Same charge against Casey, here. And there's a wounded man over in the corner who needs attention.”
He walked away from the end of the counter now, staggering a little. He held one of the doors aside while the prisoners were taken out. Then he ordered one of the patrolmen to shut Casey's place and got into the wagon himself.
Peter Noggins said nothing during the drive, and he was asked no questions. The other officers looked at him in wonder, for it had been their opinion that Noggins had no nerve, though he did possess brains. Their opinions were being changed. ”

“ He signaled the chauffeur, and the cab drew in to the curb. Noggins paid the bill, took the chauffeur's voucher, and walked down the street toward the scene of disturbance.
Half a hundred men, women, and children of the district were crowded before the shop, which was that of a pawnbroker. Noggins could see a uniformed policeman on duty at the door, fighting to keep back the curious. Faces were glued to the dirty windows of the shop as their owners tried to peer inside. ”

“ I gave you a chance to get out and save yourself, and you didn't do it. Now you'll be given your lesson. If you've got a gun on you we'll take it away from you and jam it down your throat, and your handcuffs, too. ”