Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-08-05

and puts up this here propositions
Quint IS to open a elegant place In
Paris on the q. 7. In fact, it's ready
now. There'll be all the backing
men he can trust-three men who can
shoot in pinch! He picks us three
and stakes us. Ger me?"
Doc nodded
Brandes said in his narrow-eyed,
sleepy way:
There was a time when they call
ed us gunmen-Ben and me. But, so
work like that ourselves. We never
fired a shot to croak any living guy.
Did we, Benz"
"AIl right" said Stull impatiently.
And, to Curfoot: eddie and L know
what we're to do. If it's on the
cards that we shoot-well, then, Well
shoot The place is to be SMALL Sc
act as capper. You deal, too. Eddie
sets 'em up. l deal or spin. All
right. We three guys attend to any
thing American that blows our way
Get that?'
Curfoot nodded.
"Then for the foreigners, there's
to be a guy called Karl Breslau."
Neeland managed to repress a
start, but the blood tingled in his
cheeks, and he turned his head a
trifle as though seeking better light
on the open pages in his hands.
This here man Breslau," continued
Stull, speaks all kinds of languages.
He is to have two friends with him,
a fellow named Restner and one call
ed Weishelm. They trim the foreign
ers, they do; = and
well, I don't, see nothing new
about this began Curfoot; but
Stull interrupted:
"Wait, can't you! This amt the
usual. We. run a place for Quint.
The place is like CUNTS. We trim
guys same as he does-or did. But
there's more to it,.
He let his eyes rest on Neeland,
obliquely, for full minute. The
others watched him, too. Presently
the young man cut another page of
his book with his penknife and turned
it with eager impotence, as though
the story absorbed him.
Don't worry about Frenchy," MUIR
INJURED Brandes with a shrug. Go
ahead, Ben"
stull laid one hand on Curfoot's
shoulder, drawing that gentleman
trife nearer and sinking his voice:
Here's the new stuff, Doc" he
said. And it's brand new to us, too.
Theirs big money into it. Quint
swore we'd get ours. And as we
was on our uppers we went in. It's
like this: We lay for Americans from
consulates. They are our special
game. 1t amt so much that we
trim them; we also get next to them;
we make 'em talk right out in church.
Any political dope they have we try
to get. We get it any way we can.
'em; if not, we dope 'em and take
their papers. The main idee is to
get holt on 'emi
That's what Quint wants; that's
what he's payin' for and gettin' paid
for-inside information from the en-
bassy and consulates-"
What does Quint want Of that?"
demanded Curfoot, astonished.
How do [ know? Blackmail?
Graft? 1 can't call the dope. But
listen here! Don't forget that it
amt Quint who wants it. It's the
big Teller behind him who's backin'
him. It's some swell guy higher up
who's payin' Quint. And Quint, he
pays US. So where's the squeal COM
ing?"
where's the holler? insisted StuIl.
Il amt hollerin, am I? Only this
here is new stuff to me"
Listen, Doc. 1 don't know what
it is, but all these here European
like toms in back alley. 1 think
that some foreign political high
upper wants dope on what our people
are finding out here. Like this, he
says to himself L hear this kinlz
is building ten sooper ferry boats.
If that's right, 1 oughta know. And
L hear that the Queen of Marmora
has ordered a million new nifty fifty
shot bean-shooters for the boy scouts!
That is indeed serious news' So he
goes to his broker, who goes to a
big Teller, who goes to Quint. who
goes to us. Flag me?'
Sure"
That's all There's nothing to it,
Doc. Says Quint to us: Trim a few
says Quint; and there's somethin'
in it for me and you! And that's
the new stuff, Doc"
You mean we're spies?"
Spies? I don't know. We're on
salary. We get big bonus for
every letter we find on the carpet"
He winked at Curfoot and relighted
his cigar.
Say" said the latter, Its like
a creeping joint. It's panel game
TITS politics like they play 'em
in Albany. only it's ambassadors and
kinks we trim, not corporations"
VIC So1l w IL. w Hat IHG hell
do we know about kinks and at
taches?"
mo; Weishelm, Breslau and Kest-
ner do that. We lay for the attaches
or spin or deal or act handy at
the bar and buffet with home
sick Americans. No; the fine
work-the high-up stuff. is done by
Breslau and Weishelm. And I guess
there's some fancy skirts somewhere
in the game. But they're silent part
ners; and anyway Weishelm manages
that part"
Curfoot, one lank knee over the
other, swung his foot thoughtfully
to and fro. his ratty eyes lost in
dreamy revery. Brandes tossed his
half-consumed cigar out of the open
window and set fire to another. Stull
waited for Curfoot to make up his
mind. After several minutes the lat
ter looked up from his cunning alb
straction:
"WeH, Ben, put it any way you
like, but were just plain political
spies. And what the hell do they
hand INC us over here if were pilnnched?'
Nothing. If there's good money
in 1t, I'll take a chance"
"There is. Quint backs us. When
we get 'em coming"
All" said Doc with a wry face,
that's all right for the cards or the
wheel. But this pocket picking"
"Say; that amt what I mean. It's
like this: Young Fitznoodle, of the
embassy staff, gets soused and
starts out lookin' for a quiet game.
We furnish the game. We don't go
through his pockets; we just pick
up whatever falls out and take
shorthand copies. Then back go the
letters into Fitznoodles pocket"
eyes Who reads tom R,S+2,p
"Breslau. Or some skirt, maybe"
whats Breslau?"
Search me. He's a Dutchman or
Rooshfan or some sort of Dodo.
What do you care?"
81 don't. All right, Ben. You've
got to show me; that's all"
"Show you what?"
"Spot CASH"