Part 18 (1/2)
”Well, evidently his charity begins at home!” thought the young man as he stepped toward the desk.
Tiring of the wait he addressed the absorbed reader.
”I beg your pardon, Mr. Trubus, but I was announced and told to come in here to see you.”
Trubus raised his eyebrows, and slowly turned in his chair. His eyes opened wide with surprise as he peered over the gold rims at the newcomer.
”Well, well, well! So you were, so you were.”
He put down his gla.s.s reluctantly.
”You must pardon me, but I always spend my noon hour gaining inspiration from the great Source of all inspiration. What can I do for you? I understand that you are a policeman--am I mistaken?”
”No, sir; I am a policeman, and I have come to you to get your aid. I understand that you receive a great deal of money for your campaign for purifying the city, and so I think you can help me in a certain work.”
Trubus waved the four-carat ring deprecatingly.
”Ah, my young friend, you are in great error. I do not receive much money. We toil very ardently for the cause, but worldly pleasures and the selfishness of our fellow citizens interfere with our solving of the great task. We are far behind in our receipts. How lamentably little do we get in response to our requests for aid to charity!”
He followed Bobbie's incredulous glance at the luxurious furnis.h.i.+ngs of his office.
”Yes, yes, it is indeed a wretched state of affairs. Our efforts never cease, and although we have fourteen stenographers working constantly on the lists of people who could aid us, with a number of devout a.s.sistants who cover the field, our results are pitiable.”
He leaned back in his leather-covered mahogany desk chair.
”Even I, the president of this a.s.sociation, give all my time to the cause. And for what? A few hundred dollars yearly--a bare modic.u.m. I am compelled to eat this frugal luncheon of crackers and grape juice.
I have given practically all of my private fortune to this splendid enterprise, and the results are discouraging. Even the furniture of this office I have brought down from my home in order that those who may come to discuss our movement may be surrounded by an environment of beauty and calm. But, money, much money. Alas!”
Just at this juncture the door opened and the telephone girl brought in a basket full of letters, evidently just received from the mail man.
”Here's the latest mail, Mr. Trubus. All answers to the form letters, to judge from the return envelopes.”
Trubus frowned at her as he caught Burke's twinkling glance.
”Doubtless they are insults to our cause, not replies to our importunities, Miss Emerson!” he hurriedly replied.
He looked sharply at Burke.
”Well, sir, having finished what I consider my midday devotions, I am very busy. What can I do for you?”
”You can listen to what I have to say,” retorted Burke; resenting the condescending tone. ”I come here to see you about some actual conditions. I have read some of your literature, and if you are as anxious to do some active good as you write you are, I can give you enough to keep your entire organization busy.”
It was a very different personality which shone forth from those sharp black eyes now, than the smug, quasi-religious man who had spoken before.
”I don't like your manner, young man. Tell me what you have to say, and do it quickly.”
”Well, yours is the Purity League. I happen to have run across a gang of procurers who drug girls, and make their livelihood off the shame of the girls they get into their clutches. I can give you the names of these men, their haunts, and you can apply the funds and influence of your society in running them to earth, with my a.s.sistance and that of a number of other policemen I know.”
Trubus rose from his chair.
”I have heard this story many times before, my young friend. It does not interest me.”