"Give him this," he said, and stepped back into the street to wait.
The man closed the door upon him. It was presently reopened by Quirk, his round face smiling, his manner jovial.
"Hello," said Quirk. "It’s time good little boys were in bed, but I’m glad to see you, anyhow. Come in and have a drink."
"No, thank you," Irwin replied. "I’ll be back here in two hours. There’s something you’ve got to do in the meantime."
"You; right away. We’ve been too slow about that little business, Quirk. We can’t stand them off much longer. There’s not much more time for delay, and the people higher up want to be shown action."
"Want to see the goods, do they?" chuckled Quirk. He rattled some coins in the pocket under his round abdomen.
"I’m on," said Quirk. "Come back in two hours. I’ll run right upstairs and get my hat. An’ here, if you won’t take a drink, have a cigar: it’s a long wait. See you later."
§6. The great bulk of Police Lieutenant Donovan was hunched up in an upholstered armchair beside the table in his private office when Quirk entered. He looked as if his caller was not welcome.
"I know it," said he. "They fell down so hard in that raid scheme that they must have had all the sense knocked out of them. Well, you’ve got to put some in."
"To-night?" Donovan stood up. "What in hell do you think I am?"
"Do you? Well, I’d just like you to have my job."
"Donovan," said Quirk, "if you don’t put this thing across, an’ do it soon, somebody’ll have your job sooner than you think."
"What’s that?" thundered the lieutenant. But before a reply was possible, his tone changed; his hands thrust deep in his pockets, he turned away, his shoulders drooping. "Oh, I know you’ve got the evidence to use for an excuse," he said: "I know you could do it, an’ I know you would."
"I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t have to," said Quirk gently; "but you know how I’m fixed myself. Don’t take it so hard, Hughie. You can pull this thing across, if you’ll only try. I’m sorry, but if I haven’t something to show pretty soon, I’ll get it in the neck—hard, I will."
Donovan walked to the door of the rollroom. He opened it.
"Say, one o’ you fellows," he called to a group of officers in plain clothes. "Go out an’ find Guth an’ tell him to come in here right away. I want him." Then he turned to Quirk: "It’s got to be to-night?"