BROOKY:  What’s he done?

PERKINS:  (Looking at BROOKY surprised.) You’re up on that Worthington robbery, aren’t you?

BROOKY:  What robbery is that?

PERKINS:  (Disgusted.) Don’t tell me you don’t know that burglars entered Mrs. Demming Worthington’s house last night, and made off with a five thousand dollar necklace?

BROOKY:  I hadn’t heard of it.

PERKINS:  Good heavens, man! hasn’t your paper got it?

BROOKY:  (Going L.) I don’t know.  I never read our paper. (Perkins follows BROOKY in disgust.)

O’MARA:  (Smiling.) Well, I don’t know but what you’re just as well off. (Enter INSPECTOR door C., O’MARA comes from behind desk and stands above it for INSPECTOR to cross him.)

PERKINS:  Good evenin’, Inspector.

INSPECTOR:  (Glancing about room, without stopping, goes straight to stool behind desk.) How are you, boys! (INSPECTOR salutes O’MARA as he passes him, O’MARA returns the salute, then goes to upper end of desk, where he stands.)

BROOKY:  How do you do, sir.

INSPECTOR:  (Back of desk.) Well, O’Mara.  They’ve got the Eel.

O’MARA:  They have?

INSPECTOR:  Dugan is on his way up with him now.

PERKINS:  I guess it will go pretty hard with him, won’t it Inspector?

INSPECTOR:  If he is guilty.

PERKINS:  Well, he is, isn’t he?

INSPECTOR:  I believe every man innocent until proven guilty.

BROOKY:  Bravo, Inspector!  Those are my sentiments.

INSPECTOR:  I’ve sent for Mrs. Worthington.  When we get her, Goldie, the Eel and Dugan together, we shall be able to get a clearer view on the matter.  Bring up Goldie. (O’MARA exits door L.)

PERKINS:  (Coming R. C.) Inspector, has this girl Goldie Marshall ever been up before?

INSPECTOR:  Well, she’s been arrested a number of times, on shop-lifting charges, but we’ve never been able to prove anything on her.

PERKINS:  Perhaps she’s square after all.

INSPECTOR:  Not at all unlikely; as I said before, I believe a person innocent until proven guilty.

BROOKY:  (Crossing R. to railing of desk.) And as I said before—­Bravo, old chap. (The INSPECTOR looks at BROOKY sternly and he retires up stage R. confusedly, bumping into chair, sits in it.)

PERKINS:  (Crossing R. to railing.) Inspector?

INSPECTOR:  Well?

PERKINS:  I suppose many a person has been railroaded through the
System?

INSPECTOR:  (Rising angrily.) System!  How dare you!  What do you mean?

PERKINS:  I—­I—­beg your pardon, Inspector, I—­

BROOKY:  (Rising from chair and coming down L. of PERKINS.)
I say, don’t make a bally ass of yourself.

INSPECTOR:  Don’t ever let me hear you say that again. (Voices of
O’MARA and GOLDIE are heard off L.) (Enter GOLDIE, followed by
O’MARA.  Door L.)