Chapter 5
HERKOMER, Commissioner of Police, yawned over his evening paper. It was incredible, the virtue of New York! Beyond a few petty breaks, the routine of gathering in criminals "wanted" in other cities, the restraining of the drunk and disorderly, the town was as dull as a United States Senator making a speech against women's suffrage.
Not a major crime of any sort in seven days! Truly, the millennium was here! Not a line in the paper abusing his administration of the department, no letters from indignant citizens criticising the traffic arrangements.... He turned idly to the financial page. A headline caught his eye
Herkomer carelessly read the half-column story that followed. Condensed, it was to the effect that certain bear interests had taken advantage of the Amalgamated Gener
