Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-07-01
THE
WIRE
DEVILS
FRANK l.. PACKARD
Author of 1.-THE Adventures OF
Jimmy Dale" 1.-The Miracle
Man." Greater Love
Hath No Man.
Etc, Etc.

| light With startled, furious oath.
the mans hand was sweeping sig
nificnntly toward his pocket.
mo, you DON'T" snarled the Hawk,
covering the other. mo. you don't!
Cut that OUT" His eyes, behind the
mask. narrowed suddenly. "Hello!"
he sneercd. Its Butcher Rose--I
might have known from the way you
opened that drawer"
| It was a moment before the man
answered.
| blast you.' he whispered finally.
| You gave me Il bit Of start, you
| did. | thought at first you were a
/ bulr." His eyes fastened on the pay
bag at the Hawks feet. The top
CAPPED open, disclosing the banknotes
inside. The man raised his eyes to
! the Hawks. and Il cunning look came
iover his thin, Ratchet like face.
Caught with the goods this time.
| eh?" he jerked out.
The Hawk smiled unpleasantly.
! Yes he said. 1.-The nests empty.
/ What is 1t they used to tell us in the
/ nun sery ITS the early bird that
| grabs the worm. How long you been
out in these parts. Butcher"
Look here" said the Butcher in
gratiatingly, ignoring the question.
Il guess it's case of split--eh?"
you've got a nerve!" calculated
the Hawk coolly.
We'll, put that light out then. and
! we'll talk 1t over" suggested the
/ Butcher. IF It's seen from outside,
/ We'll both get caught"
I'D rather take a chance on that.
than II chance on YOU" replied the
Hawk curly. There's nothing to
talk over. I've got the coin, and
you've got frost-all you've got to
dc now is beat it,
Sharp, little, black, ferret eyes the
Butcher had, and they roamed around
the room now in an apparently aim
less fasion--only to come back and
fix hungrily on the bag of bank
notes again. A sullen look came into
his face, and the jaw muscles
twitched ominously.
$50 you're the Hawk they're talk :
ing about, eh?" he said, trying to
speak smoothly. well, there's no
use of us quarreling. II you know
me, we must be old pals. Take off
that mask, and let's have a look at
YOU. There amt any reason why we
can't be pals again"
Nix" said the Hawk softly. Moth
ing doing. Butcher! 1t suits me pref
ty we'll the way 1t is. I've made it a
rule all my life to play lone hand.
and the more l see of the raw work
that guys like you try to get away
with, the more l pat myself on the
hack. Savvy? Why, say, even u
drag worker on Canal Street wouldn't
show his face to a self-respecting
crook for a month. he'd be so
ashamed. II he took a crowbar to a
desk drawer the way you did. you
poor boob"
1 The Butchers face flushed, and he
scowled.
You're looking for trouble, amt
you!" he said hoarsely. We'll. NAB
be you'll get it--and mabbe you'll get
more than you're looking for. How'd
you get wise to this game tonight"
ITS the way | make my living
getting wise. How'd you suppose?''
queried the Hawk insolently.
/ The Butcher was chewing at his
lips angrily: his eyes, closed to Sits,
1 searched the Hawks masked face.
q This is the second time!" he said,
between his teeth. You pinched that
necklace, and
i "O-ho!" exclaimed the Hawk, with
a grin. so you were after that, too,
We're you?"
/ The Butchers flush deepened.
j That's none OF your damned bust
j ness" he gritted. And if l thought
-" He bit his lips quickly.
"Go'on!" invited the Hawk sweetly.
what?"
you've had luck with YOU
mumbled the Butcher half to himself
TT can't be anything else, there's no
chance of a leak. But I'm going to
tell you something-your luck's going
to get a hole kicked in it. I'll tell
YOU something more. There's few
of us that have picked out this little
stamping ground for ourselves, and
we amt fond of treSpaSSerS. Get
that? 1t amt going to be healthy for
/ you to linger around here over more
than one train!"
Are the rest of 'em all like you?"
Inquired the Hawk maliciously
You'll find out quicker than you'll
want to, perhaps" the Butcher re-
torted furiously.
All right" said the Hawk. And
now I'll tell you little something.
don't know who are in this gang of
yours, but you might take them a
little message from me. II they're
finding 1t crowded out here. they'd
better move on to somewhere where
competition isn't so likely to put
| them out Of business thru lack OF
brains, because I'm kind of figuring
on hanging around here until it gets
time to open my chateau down at
Palm Beach and stick my feet up
on the sofa for well-earned rest.
Do you stumble to that? And"-the
Hawk was drawing now-I might
say, Butcher, that l don't like you.
My fingers are crossed on that tres
passing gag. It don't go!> l don't
scare for any half baked outfit of
near-crooks! I stick here as long as
there's anything worth sticking for"
The Butchers eyes seemed to be
fascinated by the pay bag-they were
on it again. He choked a little, swal-
lowing hard: and, attempting a
change of front, forced smile.
well, don't get sore!" he said, in
la whining tone. "Mabbe was only
trying to chuck a bluff, and got
called. But, say, how'd you like to
break in here tonight like did, and
find another fellow'd got all the
swag? Say. it's damned rough, amt