Evening star., 1921-10-25
BY FRANK L. PACKARD.
Copyright. 1871, by Public Ledger Cs.
Copyright, 1871, BY r. Il. Davis Corp.

| coin. 1t looks pretty good now. and
l guess 1 can see it coming--and l
guess !. won't have to wait as long as
Baldy Will" He wagged his head
pleasantly. II never was fond of San
Francisco-and l always wanted to
travel! Perhaps Badly and Mr.. Cunny
Smeeks won't be such good friends
by-and-by. 1 dunno! I only know that
Bookie Skarvan won't be sticking
around to see them go into mourning
for their share of that hundred thou
sand that they think they're going to
get-not SOS you'd observe it!'
| Bookie Skarvan's eyes swept the den
iindifferently and without interest.
They fastened finally on the toe OF his
own boot. The minutes passed, and as
they passed a scowl came gradually
to Bookie Skarvan's face, and fat
went to his forehead and brushed
across his eyes. His thoughts seemed
to have veered into a less pleasant
channel
yes" he muttered, "you can take
| it from me that i amt sorry Dave
Henderson's dead-not very! He never
saw all my cards. and that's the one
hold Baldy had on me-" The room
| was apparently overheated-for tat
man. a bead of sweat came out on
Rookie Ckarvan's forehead. He swore
savagely. "You damn fool. can't you
| lou not dITdlO VI
dead man now, are you.'
! The Scorpion came back.
| "Come on" he said. from the door
lway. IT'S fixed! He put up howl and
wouldn't stand for it at first, and he
kicked SO hard 1 guess he's in with
the girl all right. He said he had no
place to put anybody; but he came
across all right-with a twist of the
screws. You're a friend OF mine. and
your Baltimore spiel goes-see?" The
pale blue eyes darkened suddenly.
I"You get what I've done. don't you?
| Dago George don't forgive easily, and
if this thing busts open and Dago
him. I'm mabbe going to have little
gang war on my hands"
| Il get you!" said Bookie Skarvan
earnestly, as he Joined the other in
| the doorway. and that goes into
the bill at a hundred cents on the
enough to know what that means"
| The Scorpion laughed.
"Oh. well. it's nothing to worry
| about! AS 1 told you, I've never been
very fond of Dago anyhow, and l
guess l can take care of anything
| he wants to start.
There'd be only one Of us in at the
finish--and it wouldn't be Dago
| George! You can go the limit. and
you'll find you've got the biggest
backing-on any count-in little old
New York! Well. come on over, and
I'll introduce you"
Sure! That's the stuff" said Bookie
Skarvan. as he accompanied the other
to the street. "Baldy said you were
| the real goods-and I guess l got to
hand hand it to Baldy% He chuekled h c, sud,
down the block. THE Baltimore
| crook---eh? Me and Dago George!
Leave it to me. l guess 1 can handle
Dago George
And twenty minutes later. in a room
on the third floor of the Iron Tavern,
Bookie Skarvan. handling" Dago
George. laid a OBTAINING hand on the
proprietor's arm. as the latter was
bidding him good-night.
Look here" whispered Bookie
Skarvan. II know you're on the level
because Cunny Smeeks says so: but
| l got to lay low. damned low-savvy?
! amt for meeting people-not even
for passing 'em out in the hall there.
So how about it? Have 1 got neigh
Dago George laid his forefinger
ingly.
fear. I do not take guests. except
he shrugged his shoulders
you understand. eh?-to oblige a
friend like Cunny Smeeks. Otherwise"
again Tie SuoulOeTS liICcQ-1 "CuIQ
not have the so-great honor Of Offer
ing you ROOM. Is it not so? Well.
! then. there is no one here. except
| he jerked his thumb toward the oppo-
site door across the hall-"my niece.
, who will not trouble you: and in the
next room to hers a friend Of mine.
! who will not trouble you either. There
| is no one else. You need have no
fear. I assure you, yon need have no
fear"
| Bookie Skarvan nodded.
That's all right, them" he said in a
! cordial and relieved tone. Its only
| that got to be careful"
| He shook hands with Dago George
as the latter again bade him good.
| night. He closed his door and sat
! down. The bulge of the protruding
/ cigar butt metamorphosed what was
! intended for an amiable smile into an
/ unlovely grimace.
! "Niece-eh?" murmured Bookie
| Skarvan to himself well, well-and
| in the room across the hall! I guess
I won't go to bed just yet, not just
yet-but I guess I'll put out the
| light"
CONTINUED in Tomorrow's star)