Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1922-10-20
CHAPTER vI-continued.

Hammond stood staring after the
staggering figure; for once he was
speechIess. The jaunty words had
sent terror thrilling into him. He
started impuIsively to pursue that i'm
pudent accoster-then he checked
himself. Had the man guessed some
thing? Had the man known some
thing? Or had those words been only
a bit of meaningless impertinence-a
chance shaft which had accidentally
flown home?
The last conjecture impressed itself
on Hammond as being. the truth. and
his monetary fright died out. He
concluded that the incident was not
worth mentioning to Gramont, who
surely had troubles enough Of his own
at this juncture.
AS for Ben Chacherre, he sauntered
from the alley. a careless whistle upon
his lips Once out of Hammond's
sight. however, he quickened his pace.
Turning into a side street he directed
his step toward that part of the old
quarter which. in the days before pro-
hibition, had been given over to low
cabarets and dives of various. sorts
Coming to one of them, which ap-
peared more dirty and desolate than
the rest. Chacherre opened a side door
and vanished.
He entered what had once been the
Red Cat cabaret At a table in the
half-darkened main room sat two men.
One of them, who was the proprietor,
terked his chin in an invitation to
Join him.
A man famous in the underworld
circles, a man whose renown rested
OH curious feats and facts, this pro-
prietor; few crooks in the country had
not heard the name of Memphis Ivy
Gumberts. He was a grizzled old bear
now, but in times past he had been
the head of a faT-flung organization
which, on each pay day, covered every
army post in the country and diverted
into its own pockets about two-thirds
of Uncle Sans payroll-a feat still
related in criminal circles as the ne
plus ultra of success. Those palmy
days were gone, but Memphis Ivy,
who had never been "mugged" in any
gallery. sat in his deserted cabaret
and still did not lack for power and
influence.
The man at his side was apparently
not anxious to linger, for he rose and
made his farewells as Chacherre APP
preached
"We have about eighteen cars left"
he said to Gumberts. Charley the
Goog can attend to them, and the
place is safe enough. They're up to
you. I'm drifting back to Chi"
Drift along" and Gumberts nod
ded, a leer in his eyes. His face was
broad. heavy-jOwled, filled with a keen
and forceful craft. "It's a cinch that
nobody in this state is. goin' to inter-
fere with us. About them cars from
Texas-any news"
Eve sent orders to bring 'em in
next week"
Gumberts nodded again, and the
man departed Into the chair which
he had vacated dropped Ben Cha
cherre, and took from his pocket the
money he had obtained at the bank.
He laid it on the table before Gum
berts.
There you are" he said. Amounts
you want and all. The boss says to
gimme receipt"
wouldn't trust you, eh?" jeered
Gumberts. "Why wouldn't the boss
leave the money come out of the TAX
ms, hey?"
Wanted to keep separate accounts"
said Chacherre.
Gumberts nodded and produced two
large sealed envelopes, which he
pushed across the table.
There's rakeOff for week before
last" he announced. Last week will
be the big business, judgin' from early
reports"
Chacherre pocketed the envelopes.
lighted a cigarette, and leaned for
ward.
"Say, Izzyi You got to send a new
man down to the Bayou LatOuche
right away Lafarge was there, you
know a niger shot him yesterday.
The nigger threatened to squeal unless
be oot his money hack-Lafarge was