The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1934-11-10

get a reaction out of this pro.
Spective Slaughtering."
Reaction, my eye," I said.
you're scared stiff. But no
nonsense, mind! If you try to
make a vaudeville act out Of 1t
I'll ruin whatever these guerrillas
leave of you. You do what you're
told, and nothing else. If you
get any bright ideas, save 'em
to tell me about afterward."
"Oh, my conduct will be most
exemplary" he assured me.
It was nearly midnight when
what the wolves waited for came.
The last pretense Of indifference
went out of faces that had been
gradually taking on tensenesS.
Chairs and feet Scraped as men
pushed themselves back a little
from their tables. Muscles fleXed
bodies into readiness OF action.
Tongues licked lips and eyes
looked eagerly at the front door.
CHAPTER VIII
Bluepoint Vance was coming
into the room. He came alone,
nodding to acquaintance on this
side and that, carrying his tall
body gracefully, easily, in its we'll
cut clothing. His sharpfeatured
face was smilingly self-confident.
He came without haste and with.
out delay to Red O'Leary table. I
couldn't see Reds face, but mus
cles thickened the back OF his
neck. The girl smiled cordially at
Vance and gave him her hand. It
was naturally done. She didn't
know anything.
Vance turned his smile from
Nancy Regain to the red-haired
giant-a smile that was a trifle
cat-to-mousey.
Flows everything, Red?" he
asked.
Everything suits me-" bluntly.
The orchestra had stopped play
ing, Larrouy, standing by the
street door, was hopping his fore
head with a handkerchief. At the
table to my right, a barrel-cheSted,
broken-nosed bruiser in a widely
striped suit was breathing heavily
between his gold teeth, his watery
gray eyes bullying at O'Leary,
Vance and Nancy. He was in no
way conspicuous-there were too
many others holding the same
pose.
Bluepoint Vance turned his
head, called to a waiter: Bring
me chair"
The ch'ir was brought and put
at the unoccupied side of the
table, facing the wall. Vance sat
down, slumping back in the chair,
leaning indolently toward Red, his
left arm hooked over the chair
back, his right hand holding a
well, Red" he said when he
was thus installed, have you got
any news for me?"
His voice was suave, but loud
enough for those at nearby tables
to hear.
mot a word" O'Leary voice
made no pretense Of friendliness,
nor Of caution.
what, no spinach?" Vance's
thin-lipped smile spread, and his
dark eyes had a mirthful but not
pleasant glitter. Nobody gave you
anything to give me?"
mo" said O'Leary, emphatical.
IT,.
my goodness!" said Vance, the
smile in his eyes and mouth deep
ening. and getting still less pleas.
ant. That's ingratitude! Will you
help me collect, Red?"
mo"
I was disguised with this red.
head-half.minded to let him go
under when the storm broke
Why couldn't he have stalled his
way out-fixed up a fancy tale
that Bluepoint would have had to
halfway accept. But moths
O'Leary boy was SO damned child.
ishly proud of his toughness that
he had to make a show Of it when
he should have been using his
bean. If it had been only his own
carcass that was due for a beat
ing, it would have been all right
1--WE got a lot of money coming
to me. Red" Vance spoke lazily
tauntingly. "And need that
money" He drew on his cigarette,
casually blew the smoke into the
red.head'S face, and drawned:
"Why, DO you know the laundry