Pueblo chieftain., 1921-03-27

for you guys" he finished with heavy
sarcasm, why, il you know what
you're waiting for. so to it! I amt
worrying"
There was an impatient swish and
rustic of feminine frills down the
steps, and Madden's daughter, silky
Moll.' stood at his elbow.
whats the matter, daddy?" she
asked sweetly in her carefully stud
led English.
Molly Madden would have been
surprise indeed to the ignorant who
make the mistake of supposing that
the daughters of the underworld do
not receive good education. If a girl
shows promise she is well worth
spending money on, and in the old
days before Madden had reformed,
when he had been crook of interna-
tional reputation, he had sent his
girl to the best schools he could af-
ford, in order-as he himself put it
that she might attract big game"
If, on account of her fathers many
necessary fittings. Moll's education
had been interrupted often, she made
up for it by her cleverness as an imi-
tator. She was voted a swell chick
en- by San F'rancisco's underworld
and as far as that goes she was type
to true mems heads in far higher
| circles She was n young siren-a
| born leader-with her little heart as
F., cool and well paised as her proud lit
tie head.
Madden's daughter openly regret
ted his reform. Their friend the
philosopher. Chang Lo, had been to
blame for this Moll also had heard
the maNims of Confucius expounded
/ by him, but while the peace and
serenity of them had reached her
! fathers tired heart, because she was
young and full of life she felt diff
ir In IN
richly furnished rooms above the ba-
zaar of Chang Lo, where he ceased
to be the merchant and became again
the mandarin that he really was.
Moll slipped his tea and ate his rare
dishes and listened as her father uid
but only half convinced.
Tho like everyone else in China
town. she trusted him and looked up
to his wisdom, yet her eyes smolder-
ed restlessly. II her father whom
she adored said 1t must be. why. well
and good-but what a nuisance that
he should lost his nerve just as she
| was growing old enough to take a
thrilling part in bringing in the
plunder and outwitting the arm of
the law,
as operating on Wall Street is to a
frenzied financier. and the reputa-
ton she was already gaining in the
underworld of being the queen of
them all for rcsourcefulness and
cl.vcrness-a fact not unnoted by the
police-was as hard for her to give
up as any society woman's ambition
to lead in her millionaire set.
Tho straight gambling house
which her father started running
| about the time he gave up being a
crook seemed to her a slow and poor
substitute for the scenes of his other
activities In cities both of the old
world and this, where there were
thrills. luxury and sweet, redbloodcd
throbbing life, with never 4 dull. mo-
ment.
She looked half laziiy. half con-
temptuously at the group OF men,
then qucstioningly at her father.
Madden patted her arm. Go up
stairs TO the fiat. Molly" he said.
There's things l have to talk over
trance as he spoke. and was spared
the necessity OF uttering the name.
Black Mike Silva stood in the door
way. his olive face flushed with a
heavy meal and drinks In a nearby
suey parlor, his toothpick busy as
and his crooked mouth.
Since yuh want It that way, I'm
here, Maddcrl" ne grunted-then, as
his eyes swept the little group OF
listeners. he gave n sour grin. Lets
you an me go inside an disappoint
0
cantly.
Madden nodded and led the way
up the backstairs to an inner room
which he used as n sort Of office
where he kept his books. There was
glowing coal fire in the stove. n
pine table and n couple OF chairs
After closing the door, he brought
out a bottle from its hiding place,
set II on the table and waved his
hand to tho chair nearest the stove.
while he made himself comfortable
in the other. Then having per-
formed the rites OF hospitality as
understood in his world. he half clos
ed his eyes, and waited with n skcp
teal expression for Black Mike to
speak.
Silva twisted his black and brok-
cn-nailed fingers more tightly around
his glass and looked intcntly at the
older man. finally he spoke In tho
sly. insinuatinE drawl which was
perhaps u heritage from his Portu-
guesc ancestors
Madden" he began. " aln't beat
in around no bush. Spill this to mo
straight. Lay off the high brow
stuff. Me and you used to work to-
gether fine. You couldn't find no
better handy man than me what's
catin' yuh2 You pulled this Eoin'
straight stuff stronE-fooled tho cops
almost-madc all your friends sore,
thinkin' YOU was dead one. Now
tip inc wise to yer camel Yuh play
cd this long enough on your own