Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-13
ONE NIGHT AT TIERNAN'S
Her hesitancy didn't escape me.

'"Then II he knows what's on to.
night, why isn't he sticking around I"
HE had to beat 1t up across the
line. few days back. and some Malta
mutt tipped him off I'd been ridin' in
Jumbo Feeney's fire-wagon".
A Dago stone-getter that week had
gone up across the line. This meant
that he had gone up into Canada. And
that week I'd seen stone-getter
there, with my own eyes. That stone-
getter was also a Dago. And that
Dago was Pareto himself. And Pareto
was the man that the present dead.
fall had been duly prepared for.
My interest in the underworld Helen
Of Troy sitting across the beer table
from me suddenly became subsidiary
She claimed the distinction Of being
Pareto's rib" My first contact with
him had come about through a crime
Of passion on his part, yet had never
thought Of him as moll-b uzzer. had
never stopped to realize that this soft.
eyed and soft-spoken son of Sicily
could be lady-killer.
I watched her as she watched the
door.
But II you feel sure you're in dam
GER" argued with her. why don't
you go to the police? That's what
they're for"
Say. I amt runnin' away wit the
idear I'm important enough for dou.
BILE shift O. bodyguards. And nothin'
short O. state militia Is goin' to keep
Dock Callahan from gettin' what he's
AFTER"
She was beyond my reach. beyond
my power to change or move. Yet in
that half-empty little head of hers.
with all its dwarfed and crooked
processes Of thought. she nursed. like
diamond wrapped In a soiled hand.
kerchief. point Of knowledge that
was doubly precious to the Alliance.
She knew where Angelo Pareto was
and Just why he was absenting HIM
self from Tiernan's "ink-pot" at
time when his natural impulses should
have brought him there on the run.
WELL" announced as gathered
up my skirts. II guess can't do any
good by butting in on this family
meeting. So I'm going to breeze out
before the mix-up comes alongi"
She said nothing to this. She mere.
ly sat watching me with an oddly
detached glance as I drifted away
through the crowd. But I directed
my course SO that 1t brought me IN
contact with Toosey and her table.
"Toosey," I guardedly inquired,
did you ever see the girl was talk.
ing to at that table over thereT'
Sure" was Toosey's leisurely re-.
Spouse. That's Gas-House Aggie."
did you ever hear that she'd
hitched up with q man called Duke
Callahan"
Among Others" admitted Toosey,
there sure was Dookw
well, watch that girl until I get
back here" I said, "and watch her
closely. For House Aggie is 70.
Ing to mean more to us tonight than
YOU imagine"
l made my way out of Tiernan's and
the moment I was we'll clear Of that
dump OF abomination I made a dive
for telephone booth and was send.
Ing my call across the city for Sloan
himself
How soon can you get down to
Tiernan's?" I asked him.
when I'm needed" he snapped
back. But his curtness no longer
impressed me. Never again did I in.
tend to be overawed by that once.
intimidating personality. Never again
did l propose to see him ride rouRh-
shod over my sensibilities.
well, I imagine you might be need.
ed any old time. There's going To
be some rough-house down there no.
fore midnight"
I could hear him snort, even over
the wire.
That's where you're dead wronq,
And I've Just sent word down for
Doyle and Toosey to get back to the
uptown office. There's no use wa,t.
Ing for any Pareto down there a.
Tiernan's. Paretos been in touch
with Chick Eberts and found ont tbot
nice little decoy duck Of yours Is solid
wood. What's more, Pareto's aid MI.
ropes for safe-job in the hote, a,.-
trict, just to give us the laugh. Ana
It's up to this Office to see who's go-
ing to enjoy the final grim,
-k T..