The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-03-22

Tile STOCK market, II was 30
straight to the old man and get 'em,
Do know the old man? Didn't ] put
him in shape to stand that gruelin' he
got when u. 2. was bumpin' the
bumps? That's how it comes that
Rolly'S a student of mine.
Says the old man to me; "Roliy's
good boy-when he's kept busy He'll
have enough on his mind in about two
months, for I've fixed up a deal to
marry him off, and after that I'm
going TO take him into the firm. He
don't take very kindly TO either propo-
sitiOn; so in the meantime, Shorty, I'm
going to leave him to you. He's Just
got back from abroad with some fool
notion or other in his head | haven't
had time to find out just what it is.
but If it's anything you can knock
out, hammer away"
So Rolly and me has been having
two-hour sessions every day-gloves,
mat, medicine ball, and all that-and
for a youngster that began by goin'
short of breath after the second round
he's turned out well. But, say, there's
a few things that's clean out of my
line. Playin' shappyrone is one of
'em.
I'll tell you how it was: You see.
Rolly shows up here at this physical
culture studio of mine regular every
day at g. Well. we was having one of
cur little experience meetin's and was
warmin' up to some fine short-arm
work, when Swiftly Joe-he's my new
assistant from Williamsburg - Joe
butts in and says. kind of wild like:
Professor McCabe'-that's me. you
know-''there's been some funny work
on the studio door"
Well, we chases out TO see what kind
of a fool crack Swiftys maxim this
time, and there we finds the thing that
ties us up to trouble. It was dinky
lace handkerchief, pinned up there
with the wickedest little bIood-letter
that ever came off the kninerack. Halt
an inch of the blade sticks through the
panel.
Rolly, he jerks it loose, sizes it IN a
minute. and says: "Stiletto. Ell? Made
in Firenze-that's Florence, Italy.
Shorty, have you any friends from
abroad that are In the habit of leav-
ing their cutlery in place of visiting
cards?"
Il know folks as far west as Ho-
boken, if that's what you mean," saws
!; k'but none of 'em are in the meat
business. Then picks up the hand |
kerchier and takes a look at it,
Hello" says /. There's writin' on
this. writin' done in red ink"
Read it," says ROlly.
could play it better on a flute"
says /. You try"
He didn't have to try hard. The
minute he skinned his eye over that
his jaw goes loose like he'd STONED a |
oody wallop with his short ribs IT'S
message for me- he SAYS.
New kind of wireless from vour
Yash-lady?" says I.
Shorty says he. lettin' my vaude- |
vile lead go over his shoulder, come |
inside and shut the door" Then when
we'd locked ourselves in the dressin'
room he opens up. Did you ever hear
OF Sicily?" says he
rs ii breakfast food or a new lsfnd /
of eigarette?" says /.
It's an island" says he, "off the |
toe of Italy. / YVES there last summer |
In Sicily | met a girl, a native, Who
well, she saved my neck. Now she is
somewhere i'm this city, probably in the
Italian quarter, and she needs helm.
shes in trouble, serious trouble. I'm
going to look out for her"
Think she's mixed up with the da-
goes?" says l.
IT'S quite likely" says he. kickiD'
off his gym shoes and reaching for
his shirt.
Coin alone?" says +.
Unless you're willin' to so along"
says Rolly.
Then that's a Hey RUDE for me-
says |.
In ten minutes by the watch we were
dressed and rattlin' down Broadway in
one of those 'lectric hansoms, with the
throttle yanked wide open.
Il know dagO roundsman" says l.
No police in this" says he. I'm
going to call on the Italian consul.
He's friend Of the old gentleman"
he. Wa f,sar.t 2
some, but We were just in time to
catch Mr.. Consul on the fly, for he was
about punchin' the time-card and
shuttin' up shop when we blew in. He
Wore rich set of Peter Cooper Whis-
kers; but barring them he was a we'll
finished old gent. When Roliy let on
who he was he gave us a bow that
Vas an address of welcome all by it
self, and the way he showed out leather :
hairs you'd thought he was maxim a :
present of 'em to us.
But Rolly didn't have no time for
'lourishes. He comes right to cases:
wants to know where the Sicilians usu-
lily mead for when they leave Ellis ;
Island; and what kind of Black Hand ;
ieVlltry they were most given to. He ;
asked forty questions and never an ;
iwered one. Then he shook hands with
hr. Consurand we chased out.
IL looks ike the Mala biStOS," saws l.
2olly. They have kind of headauar-
ers over a basement restaurant. Per- :
laps they've shut her up there. Wen :
OOk at the place, anyway"
A lot OF good it cid US. tool The
works was in full blast. with !
gang of husky low-brows goin'
n and out, smokin' cheroots half
is long as your arm and
-ctiEg as if the referee had Just :
declared a draw. The opening for A q
ouple of bare-fisted investigators c
wasn't what you might call promisin'. '
Iot having their grips and passwords.
We didn't feel as though we could L
make good in their lodge
Il could round up a gang and then v
re could rush EN-" says I. o
That wouldn't do" SAYS Rollv. '
Strategy is what we need here" c
I'm just out Of that" saws l. e
Perhaps there's a back door, saws f
2olly b
So we mOseyS around the block s
luntin' for an alley. But that amt t
he way they build down in Mulberry d
I Y