The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-07-26

My interest in the underworld Helen
of Troy sitting across the beer-table
from me suddenly became subsidiary.
She claimed the distinction of beirs
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-buzzer. I had
never stopped to realize that this soft
eyed and soft-spoken son OF Sicily
could be a lady killer.
watched her as she watched the
door.
But If you feel sure you're in dan
ger" I 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
double shift O. body-guards. And moth
in short o. State militia is goin' TO
keep Dock Callahan from gettin' what
hos after"
She was beyond my reach. beyond
my power to change or move. Yet Il
that half-empty little head OF hers,
with all its dwarfed and crooked pro-
cesses of thought, she nursed, like
! diamond wrapped in q soiled handksr-
chief, a point of knowledge that was
doubly precious to the Alliance. She
knew where Angelo Pareto was and
just why he was absenting himself
from Tiernan's 'ink-pot" at a time
when his natural impulses should have
brought him there on the run.
We'll" announced as gathered up
my skirts, Il guess 1 can't do any good
by butting in on this family meeting.
So I'm going to breeze out before tho
mix-up comes alongi"
She said nothing to this. She merely
sat watching me with an oddly de-
tached glance as drifted away
through the crowd. But I directed my
course so that it brought me in con-
tact with Toosey and her table.
"Toosey," guardedIy inquired. did
you ever see the girl 1 was talking to
at that table over there?"
Sure" was Toosey's 1eisurely re-
Spouse. That's Gas-House Aggie."
Did you ever hear that she'd
hitched up with a man called Duke
Callahan
Among others" admitted Toosey,
there sure was Dooki"
well, watch that girl until I get back
here" I said, and watch her closely.
For Gas-H House Aggie is going to mean
more to US tonight than you imagine
! I made my way out of Tiernan's
and the moment I was well clear of
| that dump of abomination I made =
}, dive for telephone booth and was
sending my call across the city for
Sloan himself.
! How soon can you get down to
Tiernan's?' asked him.
When I'm needed" he snapped back
But his curtness no longer impressed
: me. Never again did I intend to be
overawed by that once-intimidatins
' personality. Never again did I propose
30 - vi rtael,
. sensibilities.
r We'll. I imagine you might be needed
D any old time. There's going to be some
I rough house down there before mid
! night"
could hear him snort. even over tn,
wire.
, That's where you're dead wrong
: And I've just sent word down for Doyl
and Toosey to get back to the up towr
= Office. There's no use waiting for any
Pareto down there at Tiernan's
Pareto's been in touch with Chici
Ebsrts and found out that nice littls
!, decoy duck Of yours is solid wood
: What's more. Pareto's laid his rope.
= for safe-job in the hotel district, JUS
! to give US the laugh. And it's up tc
: this office to see who's going to enjoy
!; the final grim"
. stood for a moment or two think.
ing this over
'Then what do you want me tc
= %" I asked, more from force Of habi
than from anything else.
Anything, except waste my time, =
= was Sloan's answer as the wire wa.
2 shut off.
had intended asking Sloan If Their,
e wasn't a chance of having the Law
!. take Cas- House Aggie under its wins
u could be injected into Duke Callahan,
e Sloan's interests, however, were IL
I other. quarters. And II anything wa,
} to be done it would have to be dort
n quickly.
Then thought of Wrinkle. From
tonight, knew. could face him with
v out fear. Wrinkle, I said, as sent il
e call for his number, would never fai
n me. Winlxie had imagination, AM
II would understand. And it might LEAF
= to a chance for certain explanation
d which were due him.
: But Wrinkle. I found. was not a
s home.
IT IF it is urgent" explained his mai
e over the wire, Mr.. Ealand might b.
e called at Mrs. De Ravens. He Is din
s ing there tonight"
I Never mind" I said with a sigh.
3 Whom shall = say called him ?" in
I quired the pompous-noted voice owe
q the wire.
. You can say it was Miss Ryma'
: speaking from Tiernan's." was my re
tort.
I hung up the receiver with a stil
Q hayward sense of desolation mill
l. stoning about my heart. I could pic
e ture Mr.. Winkfred Ealand in tina
Fifth Avenue home drinking Turks
coffee out of a Sevres demistasse an
y leisurely helping himself to anothe
gold-tipped cigaret as the white calfe
l. footman made his rounds And coul
see him leaning idly over the gran
e plano, in a MUSHROOM Of rose an
II Roman gold, while Gwendolyn D
70 Haven played Grieg and gazed ardentl
into my Wrinkles eyes. And 1 ha
q spent the evening in a beer dump wi:
1t sawdust on the floor and obscenity
IA the airl