Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-17
AND HERE IT CONTINUES


0CAY," he said cordially, I'm glad
SI met you That listens good Sure
guess can fix that: Dago George
and me amt exactly pals, and we don't
love each other any more than you'd
notice--but he knows where he gets on
With Cunny Smeeks You wait a MIN
ute, and I'll get him on the phone.
Cunny Smeeks, alias the Scorpion,
~ the elite of the New York UNDER
srrawlcd neeligently back on the couch.
He smiled softly-and chewed content
edy ON his cigar. Things were work
ing well.
.oThere's nothing like credit In this
wicked world" Bookie Skarvan con-
Sded sapiently to himself. II may
have TO run up quite bill with Mr..
Cnnnv Smeeks before I'm through,
mnbbs quite a fat little bill-.but he
csn always send 1t to Ba!dy-if I'm not
bcrei What? It's beginning to look
good again. Five years I've been try.
Ing to get the graphing hook on that
coin. It looks pretty good now. and
I guess I can see it coming-,and l
To,dv will!'' He wagged his head
pcosantly. "I never was fond OF San
T'rancisco-and / always wanted TO
travel! Perhaps Badly and Mr.. Cunny
Sn,eeks won't be such good friends by.
and-bv dunno! only know that
Rookie Skarvan won't be sticking
around TO see them 20 into mourning
FOR their share Of that hundred thou
snnd that they think they're going to
Ect-not SOS you'd observe it!'
Rookie Skarvan's eyes swept the den
,ndifrerently and without interest. They
fastened finally on the toe OF his own
boot. The minutes passed, and az they
passed a scowl came gradually to Bookle
Skarvan's face, and tat hana IN
sudden nervous gesture went to his fore-
lead and brushed across his eyes. HIS
thoughts seemed to have veered into
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 mo-" The room
vas apparently overheated-for fat
man. A bead of sweat came out on
Bookie Skaryan's forehead. He swore
savagely. "You damn fool, can't you
forget It? You're not afraid OF dead
mon now, are your
The Scorpion came back.
Come on - he said, from the door.
way. "It's fixed! He put up howl
and wouldn't stand for 1t at first, and
he Kicked 80 hard that I guess he's In
with the girl all right. he said he had
TO pace to put anybody; but he came
across all right-with twist OF the
rcrews. You're a friend Of mine and
yorr Baltimore spiel goes--seeF The
pale blue eyes darkened suddenly. "You
rct what I've done, don't you? Dago
George don't forgive easily. and II this |
thing busts open and Dago George
tumbles to what I've handed him, I'm
mabbe going to have a little gang war
on my hands,
II get you!" said Bookie Skarvan
earnestly. as he Joined the other In the
doorway. "And that goes into the bill
ut q hundred cents on the dollar-and
YOU know Baldy well enough to know
what that means"
The Scorpion laughed.
"Oh, we'll, it's nothing to worry
about! As told you. I've never been
guess I can take care Of anything he
wants to start.
"There'd be only one Of us In at the
lnish-and it wouldn't be Dago
George! You can 20 the limit, and
you'll find you've got the biggest back
ng--on any count--in little old New
York! Well. come on over, and I'll
introduce YOU" -,
Sure. That's the stuff said
Rookie Swarvan, as he accompanied
the other TO the street. "Baldy said
7 got to hand it to Baldy!" He
chuckled suddenly and wheezingly, as
they went down the block. 1.-THE
baltimore crook--ehl Me and Dago
George! Leave 1t TO me! I guess I
can handle Dago George!"
And twenty minutes later. in room
on the third floor Of the Iron Tavern,
Rookie Skarvan, Handling" Dago
George, laid a OBTAINING hand on the
nroprietor's arm, as the latter was
bidding him good night.
Look here" whispered Bookie
Skarvan. 81 know you're on the level
because Cunny Smeeks says so; but
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 got neighbors:
amt taking any chances"
Dago George laid his forefnEer
along his nose-and smiled reassur-
ingly.
"Ah, yesi" he said. "Yes, yes, I
understand-eh3 But you need have
no FEAR. i do not take guests. except
-ho shrugged his shoulders-"eIcept-.
you understand, eh?-to oblige a friend
like Cunny Smeeks. Otherwise
again the shoulders lifted--"I would
not have the 30 great honor Of offering
you room. Is it not SO? Well, then,
there 10 no one here, except"-he
jerked his thumb toward the opposite
door across the hall-''my niece, who
VIII not trouble you; and in the next
room to hers friend of mine, who will
not trouble you either. There is no one
else. You need have no fear, ! assure
You, you need have no fear"
Bookie Skarvan nodded.
That's all right, them" he said IN
a cordial and relieved tone. "It's only
that got to be careful"
dc shook hands with Dago Goorre, as
the latter again bade him good night.
ne closed his door and sat down. The
bulge OF the protruding cigar butt
inetamorphosed what was intended for
an amiable smile into an unlovely
-. Niece eh?" murmured Bookte
ssArvan to himself. "Well, well--and
IN u che room across the hall / guess
won't 80 to bed just yet, not Just
'et-but guess Ill put out the light"
CHAPTER XVIII