Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-27

won't believe me! You thfnk I'm try
ing to work you for half of that money.
wen, so | am, In way--or wouldn' {
have come here. But I'm earning It..
Look at the risk I'm taking-fivc years,
the same as you got. You crazy fool /!
again, ] know what I'm talking about.
The police'll never give you look in. .
You got to have help. Who else is there
but me? It's better to split with me
than lose the whole of II, amt it?"
You haven't changed n bit in FIVE
years, Bookie." There was studied in =
science in Dave Hendcrson's voice now.
Not damned bit! Run along now
!. "iou mean that?" Bookie Skarvan' s
eyes were puckercd into Sits now. you
mean you re going TO turn me DOWN."
Yes said Dave Henderson.
III give you one more chance, "
wh!i4sper,ea !4yps ,.; skarvan.
Bookie Skarvan's fat fingers squirmed
around inside his collar as though it
"All right, His lips were twitching
angrily. "All right" he repeated
ominously. Then, by God. you'll
never get the money---even IL you beat
the police! Understand? I'll sec to
that ] made you fair, straight offer.
You'll find now that there'll be some
one else besides you and Bnrjan out
for that coin--and when the showdown
comes 1t won't be either you or Barjan
that gets It! And maybe you think
that's bluff, too!'
II never said knew where the
money was" said Dave Henderson
and smiled-and shrugged his shoulders.
therefore you ought to stand just as
good chance rs Barian--or I. After
!, got wounded I kind of lost track of
things, you know
You lie!" said Skarvan fercely.
I'LL" lie checked himself. bit
ing at his lips. 'I'll give you one more
chance again. What's your last word?'
You've got It, Bookie," said Dave
Henderson evenly.
'"Then take mine" Skarvan raspcd.
"Ill go now and tell the warden you
wouldn't say anything. II you try to
put crimp in me by reporting my
offer, I'll say you lied. l don { mind
taking chances on my word being be-
and thief who is known to be playing
tricky! You get that? And after that
God help you -
The man was gone.
Presently, Dave Henderson found
himself back in the carpenter shop. The
band-saw was shrieking, Screeching
insanely again. lie had smiled in there
in the visitors room at Rookie Sknr-
van: he had even been debonair and
facetious-hc wasn't that way now.
lie could mask his face from others; he
couldn't mask his soul from himself. 1t
seemed as though his courage were be-
ing drained away from him, and in its
place were coming sense Of final,
crushing defeat. Barjan's blow Of last
night had sent him grogsy TO the ropes;
dealt had smashed in under his guard
and had landed on an even more vital
spot.
Skarvan's veilcd threat hadn't veilcd
anything. The veil was only too trans
parent God help you! meant a
lot. II meant that, far more dan
gcrous to face. even more difficult to
outwit than the police, there was now
TO be aligned against him the criminal
element of San Francisco. It meant
Badly Vickcrs and Ruuty Mott, and
Badly Nickcrs' gang. 1t meant the
men who had already attempted 10 MUIR
der him, and who would be eager enough
to repeat that attempt for the same
stakc-S100. 900. With tho police 1t
would have been. more than anything
else. the simple thrust and parry Of
wits: now. added to that, was physt-
cal. british force whose danger only
fool would strive to minimize. There
were dives and dcns in the underworld
there, as he knew we'll enough. where n
man would disappear from the light Of
day forever. and where tortures that
would put the DEVILS ingenuity to shame
could be applied to make man open
his lips. He was not exaggerating 1t
wns literally true. And II he were once
trapped he could expect no less than
that. They had already tried to murder