The Washington times., 1931-03-19

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way at the side Of q cheap res
taurant on v St., and made
his way down the long, narrow
hall that led to the concealed
hangout Of Ed Souter's gang.
He came into the big room with
its battered pool table In the
center, chairs and divans along
side the walls under the cue
racks. Dave laid his heavy pack
age on the table and looked
around.
On one Of the divans sat q
girl, huddled in a fur coat,
flashily dressed in a short silk
gown and flaming bonnet. She
was smoking a cigarette and
blowing the smoke toward the
clustered bulbs over the pool
table. The thick carpet had
made Dawes entry noiSeless,
but she suddenly caught sight
Of him as she apparently came
out Of a very unpleasant reverie.
AS he looked at her, the mis-
givingS that had been growing
for weeks again swept over Lit
tie Dave, gave him a sick feeling
in the pit Of his stomach. The
look in the girls eyes reused
his boyiSh sympathy.
Hello, miss" he said "wanta
see Someone" Dave couldn't
imagine what q girl was doing
here.
Waiting for the Boss
yeah" she replied. I'm
waiting for Big Ed-Ed the Big
Boss. A shifty-eyed young gent
told me he might be locked up
in that safe at the end Of the
room there"
Dawes eyes swept swiftly to
the closed steel door that
guarded the entrance to Big
Eds private quarters. The girl
went on: Il believe the young
man I mentioned told Ed I
was here, but he hasn't come
out yet. Busy, I suppose-prob-
ably in conference.-the him
self"
What you wanta see him
for?" asked Dave, naively. The
girl laughed. Dave didn't like
that laugh. She reached into
her handbag, got another ciga-
rette, lighted it.
Children are always asking
questions, aren't they?" she re-
torted, flippantly. well, I
don't mind telling you, sonny,
that Ed made a lot of prom
iseS-once-and I'm here to
collect on some of them. The
time has come an gone, and
I'm tired waiting. So if you
are delivering something to
him I'm here to stay until I
see him. Get me?"
Sorry For the Girl
Somehow Dave felt sorry for
her. Even he could see that
her bravado was forced; that
the hand in which she held
the cigarette trembled; that
her flippante voice broke. now
and then, above its stridency.
"All right" said Dave. He
recovered the package, marched
to the steel door and banged
on it. Then he pushed it open
with an effort and went in.
A minute later a massive
man, thick Of neck. heavy of
jowl, fiSted like a pugilist,
staggered out into the room.
The girl rose. Thought I
warned you not to come here"
he said belligerently. Listen"
beat it-quick. Didn't I tell
you I was through. Know
what's li'ble to happen to you?
Now. beat til"
But" she began, twisting
her hands together. The next
minute she was seized by the
shoulder in a grip Of iron. Big
Ed hustled her into the long
hall and as they went through
the door Little Dave saw the
blow the boss gave her and
heard the Sobbing cry that fol
lowed. But the youth was back
in the Steel-clad office when
Ed returned.
well" said the big fellow,
IT see you got the stuff from
Smitty. Pretty heavy, wasn't
it? Well need that this week.
Davy. Couple OF sawed-off
barkers and what goes with
'em in there"
ILL AT EASE
Dave swallowed a lump in
his throat. Say, boss" he be-
gan with mustered courage, Il
hope you amt gonna take me
along on any of those trips
again. was scared stiff when
all that shootin' went on up
there in Yorkville. Honest,
I'm gonna look for another
job. When 1 come here, I
didn't think-That is, you see,
my sister Dora thought I was
gettin' q job in a restaurant.
So did I, though I'd be glad to
work for you boss, if"
A big paw on Dawes Shoul-
der interrupted him. Now
don't go and get cold feet"
Big Ed began. Its just like
goin' over the top, kid; you'll
git used to it. You got to stick