Evening star., 1922-04-01
my.eis recently. Well. here's my car.


avenue car, leaving me to kill eight
nervous hours of my weekly day sof
rest from the Star.
They passed at length. and at pre-
cissiy the appointed time Kennedy
ment, at least on my part, We walked
over to sVincenEo's, AT night this
section of the city was indeed black
enigma. The lights in the shops
where olive oil. fruit and other things
one; here and there strains of music
tioated out Of wine shops. and little
groups fingered on corners convers-
ing in animated sentences. We
passed Albano's on the other side Of
the street. being careful not to look
were hanging idly about-pickets.
apparently. with some secret code
that would instantly have spread far
and wide the news of any alarming
action.
At the corner we crossed and
looked In Vincenzo's window a mo-
ment, casting q furtive glance across
the street at the dark, empty store
where the police must be hiding.
Then we went in and casually saun.
was vas there ere already. re W o% There We're sew.
eral customers still In the store. how
ever. and therefore We had to sit In
silence while Vincenzo quickly fin-
ished a prescription and waited on
the last one.
At last the doors were locked and
the lights lowered, except those In
the windows which were to serve as
signals.
Ten minutes to, L." said Kennedy.
nlacing the oblong box on the table.
"Gennaro will be going in soon. Let
US try this machine now and see If
1t works. II the wires have been cut
since we put them up this morning
Gennaro will have to take his chances
alone"
light movement of his forefinger
touched a switch.
Instantly a babel of voices filed
the store. all talking at once. RAPIDLY
and loudly. Here and there we could
distinguish snatch Of conversation,
a whole sentence above the rest.
There was the clink of glasses. l
could hear the rattle of dice on a
bare table, and an oath. A cork pop
ped. Somebody scratched match.
We sat bewildered, looking at Ken
nedy for an explanation.
Imagine that you are sitting at a
table in Albano's back room," was
all he said. This Is what you would
be. hearing. This is my electric ear
in other words. the dictograph.
Wait. in moment you will hear Cen
translate what you hear. My knowl-
edge of Italian is pretty rusty"
Can they hear us?" whispered
Luigi in an awestruck whisper.
Craig laughed. No. not yet. But
and could produce an effect in that
room that would rival the famous
| writing on Belshazzar's wall-only it
would be voice from the wall in
| stead of writing"
'They seem to be waiting for some
one" said Vincenzo. II heard some
body say, He will be here in few
minutes. Now get out"
The babel of voices seemed to calm
down as men withdrew from the
| room. Only. one or two were left.
"One of them says the child is all
| right. She has been left in the back
yard" translated Luigi.
What yard? Did he say?" asked
Kennedy,
mo. they just speak of it as the
yard" replied Luigi;
to the telephone booth and call up
headquarters. Ask them II the auto
mobile is ready with the men in it,
I rang up. and after a moment the
police central answered that everything
was right.
Then tell central to hold the line
clear-we mustn't lose moment
Jameson, you stay in the booth
Vincenzo. you pretend to be working
around your window, but not in such
a way as to attract attention, for
they have men watching the street
very carefully. What is it, Luigi"
"Gennaro is coming. / just heard
one OF them say. Here he comes?'"
Even from the booth I could hear
the photograph repeating the con-
versasion in the dingy little back
room of Albano's down the street
nr1n 81
wine" murmured Luigi. dancing up
and down with excitement.
VincenZo was so nervous that he
knocked bottle down in the win
dow. and I believe that my heart
beats were almost audible over the
the police operator called me down
for asking so many times if all was
ready.
There it is-the signal" cried
liacei."' Now listen for the answer"
a moment elapsed. then. Not
without Gennaro." came a gruff voice
in Italian from the dictograph.
a silence ensued 1t was tense.
read this. What is this. 23s Prince
street?"
mo; ssls She has been left in the
back yard" answered the voice.
Jameson" called Craig. tell them
to drive straight to s3Is Prince street
yard-quick. before the Black Hand
ers have chance to go back on their
word"
I fairly shouted my orders to the
police headquarters. They're off,"
came back the answer and 1 hung up
the receiver.
What was that?' Craig was ask
ing of Luigi. 'I didn't catch it.
What did they say?"
THAT other voice said to Gennaro.
sit down while I count this.''
"Sh! He's talking again"
IF 1t Is a penny less than ten
thousand or find a mark on the bills
Til call to Enrico and your daughter
will be spirited away again." trans
Now Gennaro is talking" said
Craig. "Good-he is gaining time.
He is a trump; can distinguish
faced fellow If he will have another
bottle Of wine. He says he will;
Good. They mus, be at Prince fr, ,,n1es street t
more, not too much, for word will be
back to Albano's like wildflre, and
they will get Gennaro after all. All.
they are drinking again. What was
that, Luigi? The money is all righ'.
he says? Now. Vincenzo, out with the
A door banged open across the
street.. and four huge dark figures
darted out in the direction OF AL
With his finger Kennedy pulled
down the other switch and shouted,
"Gennaro, this is Kenneday! To the
street. Polisia! Polizial
A scuffie and a cry Of surprise fol-
lowed A second voice, apparently
from the bar. shouted, .out with the
IiohfS ont yvifh the NVhtS"