Charlevoix county herald., 1915-10-16
CHAPTER Viii.

Some of crewe's Strange Methods.
Fifteen minutes after the two OFF,
GERS had gone out of Crewe's, after
swearing bitter vengeance upon him,
a smallish man of compact build and
rather flashily dressed entered the
barroom.
He came in with that sort of air
which says, louder than words could
express It: well, here I am. Take
a look at me. I'm IT."
He staggered across the room to
the bar and announced:
"'Lo. Crewe. Here I am. What's
doin'?"
There won't be anything doing,
Bobcat, If you keep that voice Of
yours as loud as your clothes. You'd
better beat it out of here if you're 60
ing to play any of your fool manners
on me-"
"Say," lowering his tone until it
was a mere murmur and could not
have been overheard ten feet away, 81
just butted into Christy, crossin' the
square, an he said you wanted to see
me important. Was that on the level
as was he stringin' me?"
1T WAS on the level when I sent
him out to find you, Bobcat; but, aft
er looking you over and getting onto
that style of yours, l don't think you
will pass"
"Aw, say, Crewe, Just got these
new blankets from the tailor's, an the
shoes an spats an hat and the hull
layout, and I guess I was feelin'
little bit chesty. I'll be good. Tell
me what's doin', won't your"
eco home and take off those clothes
and put on something respectable, and
then come back here. Maybe, if you
walk into the place like human be-
ing, I'll talk to YOU"
"Say, Crewe, on the level, I'm
sorry. I'll go an take 'em off the
minute you've spoke your little piece.
Honest"
He stepped upon the footrail to
make it possible to bend nearer to
Crewe, and in tone that was barely
audible added: "Christy said that you
wanted me an my best an lightest
kit. How about it?"
"That Is what I told Christy to tell
you, Rickett. But l am not looking
for a Ravenshaw nor a Cagliastro."
II don't know either of 'em, so help
me, only I'd dope it out that the last
guy you named is a dago, all right"
"Where are you living, Bobcat?"
Crewe asked.
ooh, I've got nest around bore in
Fourth Street; second floor, back;
right-hand door," and he gave the
number.
Crewe pretended to consider deep
ly. Then he said:
eco to your room and stay there.
Don't go out again only to get your
dinner, and get back after you have
had it as soon as you can. If decide
to pull off what I wish you to do,
will be there after you at one o'clock
tonight or about that time. If I
don't show up tonight I will probably
do so tomorrow night; and If not
then, the night following. Got that?"
"Say, is this a continuous perform
ance, with me playin' the part Of
waiter"
"That is about the size Of It, Rick
EFT. It's yours for sleepy hollow until
I get there-if you want the job. II
you don't, there are plenty of others"
"Of course I want the job, an
there amt any others not like me.
An besides, amt never done any
jobs with you, Crewe, an I'm achin'
for a chanel. Do you mean that
amt to poke my mug outa doors till
you git there. not even If it takes a
week?"
"Only for eats, and they must be
sudden and quick, and II / hear OF
your talking to a person in the street,
man or cop, it's off,"
"Say, Crewe, can't you give me a
line on what 1t is?"
'T1l give you nothing whatever as
lOuS dS yOu wear tIOoc CioIiCot oO
duck. And, Bobcat. II hear that you
have stopped in ut a booze-can or
stopped to talk with anybody on your
way to your nest-well, keep out Of
here afterward; that's all. Beat IT,,
now"
well, wouldn't that give you the
bives?" the Bobcat muttered as he
turned away, and Crewe looked after
him, smiling oddly.
But as soon as Rickett had closed
the door behind him, Crewe caught
the eye of one of the ferret-eySd be-
ings at the opposite side of the room
and crossed the middle finger Of his
left hand over the first finger.
The man thus signaled to rose laz-
lily from his chair, stretched himself,
and slouched out of the room on the
trail Of Bobcat.
Come here, Pincher," Crewe
called presently. Then: "Tell the
boys along the wall that I'm going to
blow and ask them what they will
have. You can do the serving. Then