The Washington times., 1931-04-21


headquarters.
Anne, made up, was behind
the counter again-but what a
different 4-nne! Her cheeks
heavily rouged, her eyes bril-
liant with a strange light, she
was laughing loudly at the cum
bersome jokes of two toughs
who had bought a package of
cigarettes.
Hello, kidd" she greeted
him, as he entered the place.
"How's every little thing?"
Carl looked at her, uncompre-
hending at first. Then he
smelled the tang Of raw whiS-
key. He wore a thoughtful
frown Is he turned toward
the back rooms, and nodded alb
sently to Scorpio, as he chose
a table. Newton, standing on
the stairway, watched with
quizzical light in his gray eye.
Over the place hung an air
of expectancy. Scorpio seemed
i'll at ease. Once he strobe over
to Anne's counter and spoke
a few words to her. Anne
laughed, almost Historically.
He whispered to her.
Anything Goes Now"
ooh, sure-big boy!" she
shrilled, her voice strangely un-
natural. "Sure-anything goes
now. I'll run your old dance
hall - anything!" Scorpio
turned back to his post by the
stairs, an odd grin on his re-
pulsive face. Newton eyed him
keenly.
STEADY" the lawyer hissed
through his teeth as Scorpio
passed him. then turned, and
started back toward the cigar
counter again. Keep your
head-and don't tip any
thing"
Scorpio nodded.
1T won't be long now" he
muttered to the lawyer.
Carl watched the by-play.
His eyes travelled over to the
telephone booths in the cor
ner of the place. Several of
Scorpio's men sat near it, and,
it seemed, we're cycling the in
struments almost with appre-
hension. Carl Luckner couldn't
understand.
He went over to the counter
and tried to draw Anne into
conversation. His bantering ap-
peared to fall on deaf ears.
Once he thought he caught a
look as of fear in her eyes.
Puzzled, he e turf n ed to his
table.
The shrill wall of police
siren cut short his bewilder-
ment. Past the restaurant door
roared the police ambulance,
two cars Of officers behind it.
He started for the door, in too
much of a hurry to see the
quick glance that passed be-
tween Scorpio and Newton, and,
hailing the taxi at the curb,
started in pursuit of the police
cars.
COlimO Killed
In the restaurant, Scorpio
and Newton stood, tense, wait
ing. Crowds on the street
were milling past, following the
ambulance. 1t turned, three
blocks down and headed to-
ward the river front. Carls
taxi roared around the corner
after it. A crowd encircled
something on the approach to
the bridge. AS his taxi pulled
up he saw a figure detach it
self from the encircling throng,
and, keeping carefully in the
shadows, proceed back toward
Centro's main street.
It was Hank.
In the Steak-house, Scorpio
and Newton, with their little
group, waited, obviously trying
to be nonchalant. Then a man,
hatleSs and out of breath, hur-
ried in.
Joe Colimo's been mur-
dered!" announced the new
conner. They found his body
near the drawbridge-it had
been dumped out of his taxi.
And over in the alley they
found the kid who did it
dead"
Before the presses had started
to whirl out extras on the new
gang murder, six silent men.
hurriedly called, had gathered
in the secret headquarters in
the high office building in the
city.
AS Carl and Hank telephoned
in the details of the latest kill
ing to their offices, bulletins
were flashed to the meeting in
the hidden headquarters, from
operators unknown to the busy
reporters, and, for that matter,
to the underworld.
well" remarked Donlin,
cts come at last"
Probably Colilo's men will