I
"Dockbridge," said the District Attorney, coming hurriedly out of his
office, "I've got to send you to Seattle. We've just located Andrews
there--Sam Andrews of the Boodle Bank. One of Barney Conville's cases,
you remember. Here's the Governor's requisition. Barney's down in
Ecuador, so McGinnis of the Central Office will go out to make the
arrest; but I must have someone to look after the legal end of it--to
fight any writ of _habeas corpus_--and handle the extradition
proceedings. They might get around a mere policeman, so I'm going to ask
you to attend to it. The trip won't be unpleasant, and the auditor will
give you a check for your expenses. Remember, now--your job is to _bring
Andrews back_!"
He handed his assistant a bulky document bedecked with seals and
ribbons, and closed the door. Dockbridge gazed blankly after his
energetic chief.
"Oh, certainly, certainly! Don't mention it! _Delighted_, I'm sure!
Thank you so much!" he exclaimed with polite sarcasm. Then he turned
ferociously to a silent figure sitting behind the railing. "Sudden, eh?
Don't even ask me if it's convenient! Exiles me for two months! Just
drop over to Bombay and buy him a package of cigarettes! Or run across
to Morocco and pick up Perdicaris, like a good fellow! Don't you regard
him as a trifle _inconsequent_?"
Conville's side partner McGinnis, a gigantic Irishman with
extraordinarily long arms and huge hands, climbed disjointedly to his
feet.
"_In_-consequence, is it, Mister Dockbridge?" The words came in a gentle
roar from the altitudes of his towering form. "Sure, the
_in_-consequence of it is that we're to have the pleasure of travellin'
togither." He looked big enough to swing the little Assistant lightly
upon one shoulder and stride nimbly across the continent with him.
"An iligant thrip it will be! I'm only regretful I can't take me wife
along wid me."
Pat's matrimonial troubles were the common property of the entire force.
The only person totally unconscious of their existence was McGinnis
himself. His lady, the daughter of fat ex-Detective-Sergeant O'Halloran,
made one think inevitably of the small bird that travels through life
roosting on the shoulder of the African buffalo. His domestic life would
have been one of wild excitement for the average citizen, but McGinnis
had a blind and unwavering faith in the perfection of his spouse.
Conceive, however, his surprise when the Assistant District Attorney
suddenly smote him sharply in the abdomen, and shouted:
"I'll do it!"
"Phwat?" ejaculated Pat.
"Take _my_ wife!"
"Yez have none, ye spalpeen!"
"I'll have one by to-morrow!"
"An' is it Miss Peggy ye mane?"
"No other. The county pays part of the bills. I'll make this my wedding
trip!"
"God save us, Mr. Dockbridge!" gasped McGinnis. "Ain't he the little
divel!" he added to himself delightedly.
Peggy had at first opposed strenuously Jack's proposition. The idea of
going on one's honeymoon with a policeman! Yes, it was all right to
combine business and pleasure on occasion, but one did not usually
associate business with marriage--at least she hoped she did not--for
Jack Dockbridge knew he hadn't a cent, and neither had she. He explained
guardedly that that was the principal reason in favor of the plan. They
would have part of their expenses paid.
Peggy, being a New Englander, acknowledged the force of the argument but
pointed out that there was still the policeman.
Then Dockbridge pictured the West in glowing colors. Why, there were so
many bad men out there, one actually needed a body-guard. Had she never
heard of the Nagle case? What, not heard of the Nagle case, and she
going to marry a lawyer! A newly married pair could not travel alone,
unprotected.
Peggy said he was a fraud, an unadulterated fraud--an unabashed liar!
Still, she had those furs that had belonged to her mother. She admitted,
also, wondering what the Rockies were like. If she did not marry him
now, how long would he be gone? Six months?
Jack explained that he might be killed by Indians or desperadoes. In
that case the wisdom of her course would undoubtedly be apparent. She
could then marry someone else. But that was the reason a policeman would
be desirable. And then he was only a sort of policeman himself, anyway.
One more would make little difference. In the end they were married.