The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-10-31
Chapter "a
TURNING TABLES

Chapter "a
TURNING TABLES
TIE big Irishman took a pace for
ward. His battered features were
contracted in an ugly scowl.
80 it was you. Mister. that sent
this fellow down to that house to-
night" he said to Lake. "An' It was
your pal Scrubby Redman that gave
ME the tip that If whit to that house
Id find Mr.. Brown there. and ad-
vised me might have difficulty in
gettin' me money and maybe I'd have
to Batter it out av i'm with me two
fists. An it was somebody known to
you, maybe. who tipped the police OF
that they'd find me in that house to-
night"
There was another short silence
after this accusation: Then Nilsson
spoke AGAIN. 5s2 sid5aa-7
Well. what if it WASP" he de-
handed defiantly.
He turned to the fat mana
You'd better get rid of these two
out of this place as quickly as you
tan." he went on. "If the Big Boss
wants them out of the way it's not
your business to shelter them"
Barney made slight movement.
as if to hurl himself at the speaker,
but Mahony suddenly gripped his
arm. restraining him. For a couple of
seconds no one spoke; no one
seemed to know what to say. The fat
nan f1dgeted uncomfortabIy.
Il don't like it," he said. II dunno
IS I'm very particular. an IL the
fg Boss wants a couple of blokes
nocked off it's not my place to In.
rfere. but when 1t comes to squeal-
on 'em to The cops -"
He looked round at the faces Of the
cher men in the room. The little
bw.legged man ndded.
"squealin's dirty game" he
SEATED.
"A~aquarrelling with the Big Boz.
pa mugs. gains" sputf in LAKE.
sharply. You know what happens to
people who quarrel with him."
HE gets someone to squeal on
them and the police arrest them"
said Mahony sarcastically.
Lake made an angry gesture. In
his anger he said quite the wrong
thing.
Are you going on sheltering these
two? Do you want the police to
come and find them here in your
Placer" he said roughly.
Because II you do. the Big Boss
will willingly arrange to have them
tipped of that we are here" put in
Mahony.
The fat man drew himself up.
Frowzy. greasy. horrible to look at
as he was. there was yet a curious
air OF dignity about him.
81 don't want no trouble with the
Big Boss. but | amt goin' to put no
one out to be run in by the cops, not
if q was me own worst enemy" he
stated.
THE other men. as Mahony could
see by their expressions. were
not all of the same opinion:,two OF
them were evidently frightened Of
what the Big Boss might do. Be-
fore they could speak Mahony in.
terposed. sir
Thanks very much: that's decent
of you." he said to the fat man. and
then to the others: IF any OF you
don't agree. you'd better keep quiet
about it. because I'm lot going till
il suits me-"
He drew his pistol from his pocket.
and made motion to the lrishman.
Now then. Barney. let's hear
some more about Mr.. Brown" he
said. HE owes you some money.
doesn't he?"
"Sure he does" replied Barney. u
was to steal a big book from a safe
in the house of a rich Teller named
Ambrose Lawson. got me directions
from Redman. who got them from
Mr.. Brown. was to get fifty for
trying the Job. and a hundred and
fifty il brought 1t off,"
"And did you bring it OFF," asked
Mahony.
Bring 1t of! Sure. If I'd known