The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1937-09-25


slippery Dams lean fingers slid
under the mans coat with the
ease of snake shedding its skin
The man turned his head around
slowly. Dams hand darted back
And he stiffened and gazed out
nnocently over the crowd gather
ed in front Of the Olympia. De-
troits biggest sport arena. The
man eyed him suspiciously then
pushed mp farther into the crowd,
A sneering grin wormed its
way across Dams lean. brown
face. Huh" he grunted. "Th'
Sap"
As the man nudged his way on
up into the crowd Dan eyed him
with The cold expression Of cobra
snake. Would the sap finger him
to he cops? When he got out
he'd but no. The chump had
stopped Just like the rest OF
the zanies around. only one thing
was probably on his mind the
tight: Well he had to clip a few
before the ticket booth opened.
Turning. he shouldered his way
carefully through the restless peo-
pie lie stopped behind group of
giggling and chattering girls.
Years OF experience as pickpock-
ct had taught him many points
about fight crowds. Chief among
them was the fact that. where
there are care-frce. pretty girls,
there is usually found near them
a type Of man known as masher.
In nearly every case, this type,
he had found, kept money in his
pocket.
His searching eyes finally paus-
ed on the hack OF a thick-set man
lettering just ahead OF the girls.
Tie eyed him speculatively. Edg-
ing by the pra'tling girls he sidl-
ed up behind the man he had chos-
en- for his second victim. silly.
his nimble fingers crept under the
mans coat
The man screwed around slow
~ Again. Dan dummicd up. try
ing 10 look as innocent as a student
Priest out looking at the sights.
He was more puzzled than afraid
He knew how wised sucker u.s.
ually acted in crowd. This
mans actions were strange to
him To think he had been clum-
sy in sounding him. like he must
have been with the first one. was
out of the question No. Not
that lie was sure. Something
else, undoubtedly. caused the man
to get wise.
TO his establishment the man
slid look up at him and asked.
''Mobbcd?"
lie lowered his gaze, met that OF
The mans cody. AS he noted q
peculiar twinkle In the mans eyes.
thoughts fitted through his mind
swiftly Who was the guy? Was
ne previous victim? He didn't
ict like sucker.
As IL In answer to his flashing
lueries. a slowly widening grin
Iugged at the corners OF the mans
He slithered his eyes A.
round warily, leaned back and said
Git off tn ice. Kid. No harm
On TIL 'whiz' myself"
The puzzlcment In Dams face
melted into grin. "Okey. boz, he
softly. "Tookya fer ono
q those sugar pops on the make
FOR tn skins He tipped his head
back towards the girls. "Howsa
they goin'?"
The short man stepped back ev-
en- with him. He said, Just made
he scene"
Dams cold eyes measured him
ldiy. There was something about
MN that didn't click. He set A.
bout to put his finger on Il. He
knew every picpocket of note from
Frisco TO Maine; had them tabulat-
I'd In his mind according 10
their ability. Those he had not
met personally. he knew of from
various descriptions given by other
glob-trotting pickpockets, and for
the moment he could not recall
ever having been told there was
a stubby guy who played the large
around the country.
What's tn monikcr? he in
inquired casually. Suspicion
danced In his eyes.
Snake Snake Watson.
Dan pulled at his nose, looked
sideways over his fist down into
Snakes craftily-grinning face.
Snake. hey?"
yeah" Snakes eyes twinkled
Know any OF tn Tools"
round here?"
Nav" Snake drawled. Just
breezed In to play this tip. Never
met any OF EN-" Snakes grin
Met me ain'tcha?" Dan count
cred whimsically.
Huh" grunted Snake. yeah.
He shifted his weight from one
foot TO the other. But I've been
out lon er huff to see tn East
slapped all over yuh."
Both grinned craftily.
'MObbin' with anybody?" Snake