The Voice On the Wire

k of the rings. Tried for the pneumogastric nerves, to quiet you.""Whatever he tried for he nearly got. Kelly's nightstick got his pneumonia gas jet, or whatever you call it. He's still quiet, in the station house--You know old man Van Cleft, who owns sky-scrapers down town, don't you?--Well, he's the center of this flying wedge of excitement. His family are fine people, I understand. His daughter was to be married next week. Monty, that wedding'll be postponed, and old Van Cleft won't worry over dispossess papers for his tenants for the rest of the winter. See?""Killed?""Correct. He's done, and I had a hell of a time getting the body home, before the coroner and the police reporters got on the trail."Shirley lowered his high-ball glass, with an earnest stare."What was the idea?""Robbery, of course. His son had me on the case--'phoned from the garage where the chauffeur brought the body; after he saw the old man unconscious. Just half an hour before he had left his office in the same machine, after taking five thousand dollars in cash from his manager."