The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1940-06-22
Taxi! Taxi!!
BY FLOYD MccRACKEN
g Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Service.

narrow service table winch SIoOu
between him and his companion.
Listen, Lizzie, you always were
a soft spot with me. When l fell
for you l fell plenty. But get
this straight, no skirts going to deal
me the double cross and get away
with it, see? His voice was low
but its tone was convincing.
"Why-why Gyp, you know I
wouldn't give you the double cross"
the woman flared holly.
yeah? Well I'm not so sure.
Been going out with Ham Drake a
lot lately, amt your" It was more
a statement of fact than question.
"The very ideal" Lizzie shot
back. "Of course I been around
with him. Didn't you introduce us?
And amt he your partner in the
business? Does it mean I'm giving
you the run-around when l happen
to speak to one of your friends?"
"Another thing" Gyp persisted.
do you know who Mugs Musatti
ISL"
II know him when l see him."
Lizzie admitted reluctantly.
He's bad medicine. Know how
he makes living? He's a dropper-
professional bomb-planter. Sells
you any kind you want. have seen
him in Hams taxi several times
lately. Once they were looking I'M
der the hood of my machine"
eff you want to know what think,
you're victim of the well known
green-eyed monster" Lizzie was
feeling easier temporarily. Hams
got to have fares. Mugs Musat-
ii pays and pays well. Ham can't
help it if Mugs is a blast maker"
"Okeh," Gyp said. eff you come
through with this I'll never doubt
you again. Follow me close now.
This is going to be good, or it is
going to be rotten. 1t depends upon
you.
"You are to go to Mugs Musatti
and make deal for him to blast
Hams taxi. It's got to be a COM
plete job, and Ham must be in the
machine when the jobs done. I'll
give you money to pay Musatti."
"But Gyp, Il"
"You amt with me, Ell? Then
you're against me-" Gyp started to
rise.
But Hams your partner in the
taxi business, your war buddy.
Oh, all right" the woman sue
cumbed. 'It don't sound like you
though, Gyp. couldn't bring my
self to believe you wanted to do
that. Not at first"
II don't want to. But it looks like
it's going to be Ham or me. I'd
rather it should be me-" Gyp said
dryly.
This is the way you fix the deal.
The two taXis are exactly alike,
except for a small number on the
back of the body. You have Mugs
plant a bomb in my machine so it
will go off exactly five minutes after
the motor is started. I'll tell Ham
IN take his machine home to re-
line the brakes. You know, I do
all the mechanical work on the cars.
Tell Mugs he'll get his pay half
when he's placed the bomb and half
when the jobs done"
Lizzie promised.
The couple separated when they
reached the street, the woman to
walk up town, Gyp to climb into
his taxi, which he drove quickly
around the block. Parking his ma
chine at the curb, he hailed a pass
ing taxi and cruised along slowly
after Lizzie. Four blocks from
where he had left her Gyp smiled
twisted smile as he saw his part
ner's car draw up at the curb and
take her in.
The following evening Gyp was
careful to park his machine well
in the rear of his partners.
Nearing closing hour the two men
sat with Lizzie in their little office.
The woman obviously was nervous.
The men smoked calmly.
"Pll take you near home tonight
and fix the brakes. They're getting
pretty weak, Typ oIIered evenly.
"You take mine. You and Lizzie
run around the corner and get cup
of coffee. Then you can take her
home and I'll lock up"
Gyp watched covertly as the
couple walked around the corner.
Then he went quickly to the curb
where his car stood, started the
motor and drove around in front
of his partners machine. Backing
until the bumpers came together,
he pushed Hams car back to where
his own previously had stood. The
cars thus exchanged, he went back
to the telephone.
Ten minutes passed. Then he
heard a machine start at the front
of the office. Waiting patiently, five
minutes later he heard what APP
peared to be a terrific explosion
some distance away. Another ten
minutes passed. The telephone rang
and a policeman reported:
lone of your taxis blowed UP.
Killed man and woman who were
inside. Looks like bomb job"
"pI be right OVER Cvn an