Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-16
From NOwOn
BY FRANK L. PACKARD

~ w. NNs'N'"f ~N~N'
! reputable saloon. designated a
"o'Shea's," which faced him acros
the sidewalk. the neighborhood ap
reared to consist. Of nothing but Chimes
! tea shops, laundries, restaurants. AM
| the like while the whole street, gloom,
and ILL., lighted, was strewn with unpre,
I.ossessing basement entrances wher,
one descended directly from the side.
walk 70 the cellar level below.
Bookie Skarvan picked up bis hand.
bag. descended to the sidewalk. pait
and dismissed the chauffeur, and pushed
his wny in through the swinging door,
of the saloon.
"I guess amt drinking---not here -
confdcd Bookie Skarvan to himself
as he surveyed the unktmpt, snwdust
a group Of equally unkempt and hard
looking loungers that lined the near end
of the bar. NO, ] guess not suid
Bookio 7, himself but I guess It's the
place, all right"
He made his way 10 the unoccuIietl
end of the bar. The single barkeeper
that the place evidently boosted dis
engaged himself from the group OF
loungors and approached Bookie Skar-
van. ~ '. 49,,
"wot's yours?" he inquired indiffer-
entity.
Bookio skarvan leaned confidently
over tie rail.
rame Of smeeks." he said, nnd his left
eyslid drooped. "Cunny smeeks,'
cut of an unamiable and unshaven face,
appraised Rookie Skarvan, and Bookie
Skaryan's well to- do appearance fur
lively.
cts a new one on mel he observed
blandly. Never heard of him!"
Bookic Skorvan shifted his cigar butt
with his tongue.
That's too bad !" he said--nnd
leaned a little further over the bar.
1--WE come long way to see him. I'm
q stranger here. and mabhe I've got the
wrong place. Mebbe I've got the wrong
name. too"-Rooki, Skarvan's left
tyelid twitched again--"p1abhe you d
know him better as the Scorpion"
"Mabbe I would-if I knew him nt
ALL" said the barkeep noncommittally.
"Wot's your lay? Flycop!" =,
YOU'RE talking now" said Bookie
Skarvnn, with 4 grin. He pulled q
letter from his pocket, and pushed 1t
rion figure out for himself how much
Of fy-cop I am when he gets his
lamps on that. And It's kind OF i'm
porfant! Get me--fricndy'
The barkeeper picked up the plain,
sealed envelope and twirled II medita'
lively in his hands for q moment, while
his eyes again searched Bookie Skar-
vans face.
"Youse seem to know yer way
about" he admitted finally, as though
not unfavorably impressed by this later
BookIe Skarvan showed a cigar across
the bar.
'It's straight goods, colonel be
said. "I'm all the way from Frisco,
and everything's on the level. didn't
blow in here on n guess: Start the let;
ter on its way and let the Scorpion call
the turn. If he don't want to see me
he don't have to. See?"
abruptly. "But I'm tellin' youse
straight ain't seen him tonight, an
] amt sayin' he's to be found, or that
he's stickin' around here anywhere.
"I'l walt" said Bookie Skaryan
The barkeeper walked down the
length of the bar, disappeared through
q door at the rear for moment, and, 4,
returning. rejoined the group at the
upper end Of the room.
Bookie Skarvan waited.
Perhaps five minutes passed. Tho
door at the rear Of the bar opened
the barkeeper sauntered down
in that direction and an instant later
nodded his head over his shoulder to
Bookie Skarvan, motioning him to come
around the end Of the bar.
"Cunny'll SEQ youse," he announced,
stepping aside from the doorway to al
low Rookie Skarvan to pass. DE
Chink'll show youse de way" He
grinned suddenly. II guess yousc are
on de level all right, or youse wouldn't
be goin' where youse are ~
The door closed behind him and
Bookie Skarvan found himself in n
narrow, dimIy lighted passage. A
small, wizrncd Chinaman, in q white
blouse, standing in front Of him, smiled
blandly.
You liend Of Scorpy SHAT alice
same belly glood. You come" invited
the man, and scuf1ed off along the hall.
Bookic Skarvan followed--and smiled
10 himself in complacent satisfaction.
DuNuy DHlcehS, ulldS tHe scorpion, was,
II surroundings were any criterion, liv-
Ing up to his eputation-which was
a not insignificant item on Bookie Skar-
vans dope sheet"--as one OF the
Safest" as we'll as one Of the most
powerful criminal leaders In the UNDER
world of New York.
SURE said Bookie Skarvan 70
himself. 'T hats the way got the
iope-and it's right
The passage swerved suddenly, and
became almost black. Bookic Skarvan
could just barely make out the fiutter OF
The white blouse in front Of him. And
hen the guido's voice foated back
alice same stlairs here-you look
,ut,'
Cautioned. Bookic Skarvan descended
. steep fight Of stairs warily into what
Mas obviously, though It was too dark
o see, cellar, Ahead Of him. how
,vcr. there appeared, as through an
opening Of some sort, a faint glow Of
light again, and toward this the white
blouse fluttercd its way. And then
Bookie Skarvan found himself in an.
Ither passage; and a strange, sweetisb