The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-10
1.-The Cocaine Smug9lers = - ::

pany Of Solvinsky was one never to
be forgotten. Surrounded as we were
by some of the worst cut-throats
of Paris, and Adventures from every
cline, the stunts which they per
formed for our entertainment that
night was almost beyt und belief
The air was growing heavy with
tobacco smoke, the oil-lamp fumes
mingled with the odor of cheap wine
sc emed to strangle us; it was con-
tinous effort, and even struggle
to supply the oxygen which our lungs
were crying for and at the same time
retain control of all cur facilities
so vitality necessary. A slip on our
part would mean sudden death.
At last Solvinsky, tired with the
/ performance, condescended to talk
business and after while admitted
that his stock of drugs was too small
to supply my needs.
you see, my dear friend. we do not
keep a large stock Ct the drug here
1 in Paris; SO if the police should
/ stumble on it, we do not lose very
much. Our supply comes from Spain
/ I will arrange with our agent there
and you can meet us in Henday IN
man there. You return to Bordeaux
and as soon as l am ready Will
notify Ferez and he will arrange
for the meeting at Henday."
What great relief it was when
we &C uld once more breathe the fresh
air! We stood still on the sidewalk
and filled our lungs again and again
to clear away the poison gathered
from that foul air.
We were, indeed, glad to return to
Bordeaux. There. at least, we would
not be required to spend another
evening in such company and under
such conditions as we had the last
enc.
The Trap Is Arranged.
Arriving at Bordeaux and going to
my office. l cleared up those things
that had accumulated while l mad
been away. ! was ready for FereZ
when he notified Rich that Solvinsky
had made the necessary arrange
ments and was ready for us at Hen
day. Accompanied by Rich and
Reilly and still trailed by those two
faithful men, Greene and Graham
we arrived at Henday. Greene's first
work was to get in touch with the
French and arrange for the neces-
sary help to make the arrests when
the time came.
Nearly the first word Solvinsky
said when l met him was to suggest
that l turn the money over to him
and then he would cross over into
Spain and get cocaine. l had rather
expected some such move from this
man and was ready with a reply:
Nothing doing l must have the
drugs before I turn over the money.
1t is not that | don't trust you, Sol
whisky, but between good business
men it is not done"
All right laughed Solvinsky. 81
merely wanted to save you trip
up into the mountains. I don't hold
il against you that you are so eau
tious. l will arrange for the transfer
t. morrow night at hut in the noun
taiGs."
Rushing over into Spain and as
quickly returning, Solvinsky an
nounced that his final plans had been
made and we all would soon be back
in Paris. With everything ready to
close in on the gang, and anxious TO
return to other cases in Bordeaux,
we impatiently waited for night to
come.
Then, while with us, So1vinsky
received a telegram, read it, and
without telling us the reason why he
calmly announced that for the pres
ant the trip was off; and he at once
hurried Ferez across the border to
tell the man in Spain to hold up fur
Their orders.
What was the matter? What was
in that telegram that had, in the
twinklinE of an eye, changed all the
plans? Was all our work for naught?
These and other questions immedi-
ately flashed through our minds as
we considered this sudden and omin-
Gus poStponement of our plans. 1t
was vitality necessary to our future
success that We see that telegram,
and see it right away, But how?
1t seemed the quickest way to get
Solvinsky drunk and then, at our
leisure. go through his pockets. We
didn't know his capacity for wine
and it might be we'll that he could
stand quantities; so it was arranged
that / should start it: and if he
could put me under the table, then
Rich was to take up the task; and
in any event, Reilly was to stay
sober so that, If he won out he could
read the telegram. With this in mind
| suggested to Solvinsky that. mas
much as we had to wait and Henday
was dull town, we would have Il
good dinner with plenty of wine,
SO that the time would pass more
agreeably. Since | proposed it, it
would be up to me to pay the bills
Solvinsky was always ready to enjoy
the other fellows hospitality; and
as long as this party did not cost
him anything he was quite ready to
accept.
At the dinner Solvinsky was soon
started on the road to stupefaction.
Before it was over he was drunk; a
few mere bottles finished what had
been SO we'll begun, and soon we had