Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-17
| MANHATTAN NIGHT ~
N :, "'1-- "''.' w." NYIaEN
NsTALNrENT xxi.

INSTALMENT XXI.
vt don't flt In, Pete-and IL don't
add up right" said Charley.
Peter, leaving Emma's, had walked
i east, and, between Sixth avenue
and Fifth Charley had doomed up
beside him in the darkness.
"You think Benny was blufing?"
Asked Peter. He had, after moments
hesitation, told Charley Of his talk
with Benny. 1t was, he was afraid,
risky; Charley was, after all, police
convinced Of Martha's guilt, he would
turn against her. But that was a
chance, it seemed to Peter, that, at
this stage of the game, he had to take.
mot blufing, no--lying" said Charley.
He Scowled. az don't get 1t yet, Pete.
But I will. What was you and the
doc Cabling about?"
"Zahn?" said Peter. ''How did you
know I'd been talking to him at all?"
Charley chuckled.
Told you I'd be at Enma's, didn't
~" he said. "You don't want to think
I'm not around Just because you can't
see me, Pete. could tell you things
about that dive that'd surprise you"
He chuckled again. And the queer
thing about that is that some of them
surprise Benny, too, bless his fat dago
heart"
But why's he threatening Mrs.
Thayer?"
"For five grand" said Charley. He
told you. It's easy enough-so far.
He's got some dope, like as not. Pete.
bloods seem to be. But this night
club racket's organized like some big
corporation. They all work together.
What one knows they all know. It
stands to reason. They got to be lined
up together against the Federal crowd
you'd be surprised. but some of them
Federal dicks is on the level about
gettin' evidence and goin' after con-
victions for sellin hootch.
81 guess you was out Of town when
it was goin' strong, but there was a
racket while back that was coed while
it lasted. High-class James would show
UP with a lot of ice and go round
among the night clubs-and be stuck
up later. Sometimes it'd be in the lobby
once or twice 1t was after they got
into their flats. An blackmail-babyl
I'VE don't know how much Of that
there Is, but there's plenty, I'll tell the
world. The ones that's being stood up
won't squeal, but there's enough jack in
that racket to make the cover charges
lock like chicken feed. And you folks
Walks 1IlUO ULleSS owes ike IIl6y WAS
Sherry's or the Ritz. You're as safe. as
lamb would be if it went for walk by
itself in a jungle in Africa, with lions
and tigers all around.
me, don't get 1t. Here's you folks,
that's got money. and that's well
brought up-an' you head night after
night for q lot Of Joints that make the
honky-tonkS they used to have on the
Barbary Coast in Frisco look like LOT
of Punch an Judy showsl You take a
lot Of nice young girls into places I'd
crown my own sister with a nightstick
for bein' seen in!
why wouldn't there be trouble. every
| so often? 'Tain't as bad as it is this
time, mostly, I'll admit, but that's luck
Chances are it wasn't meant to be sc
| bad this time, either. If I had to
make a guess I'd say no one meant to
croak this Thayer. But he's dead. any
way, and some ones headed for the
chair for croakin' hin-that's a cinch
What'd the doc have to say, eh?"
Peter tried to remember, and, as well
! as he could, to translate Meyer Zahn's
/ remarks.
That's a lot Of hooey." said Charley
"High-class way of sayin' a'guy ought
to be out for himself first, last and all
| the time, amt It? don't need no pro-
| feSsor to teach me that"
Peter laughed. But Charley took the