Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 15: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

"You will have to excuse me. Emile, ‘f I don't stamp my feet and whistle. like aL if | was up in the gallery at Harry Miner s —but, honest, Emilie, these sailors dont make no hit with me.” “Why not?” “ Because 1 know Jake. He ain’t leaving no valuable prop’ty behind him.” Emile was far too clever to belittle the wisdom of Connors’s reply. He knew there was some truth in it. Captain Jake was as avaricious as he was cunning; a bold and crafty manipulator who seldom left anything to chance. Connors might be right. Jake would hardly absent himself from the place of concealment if his mys- terious cargo was worth all he claimed. Then again—had he really gone to Boston? Emile was not sure. The information came straight enough, but even So, it might be part of Jake’s plan to confuse the situa- tion, for the purpose of furthering his dark schemes. © Well—I'll admit that he wouldn’t be apt to,’ said Emile, rather reluctantly, “ but you never can tell. Anyway, I know how you can bring the entire thing to a head.” “ How?” “ By taking a little trip to Boston. That’s the only way you will find him.” The thought of surrendering such valued revenues as the Cracker Pot receipts to the option of his bartender cast no roseate hues in Connors’s mind, although he saw that the suggestion had a grain of wisdom in it. “What would I do after I’got there?’’ he asked. ‘¢ Comb the wharves until you got a line on his schooner.” “I might take Eddie Carbon with me.” mused Connors. ‘“ That covn would smell out Jake's creaking old hulk, if he got within a mile of it. Eddie’s the only good luck Jake ever brought me. Honest, Emile, did you ever hear anybody love a pianner the way he does?” “You can’t take Eddie.” ‘Why not?” ‘* Because Jake left him here to look after the stuff. He's the only man that dares to go in that cellar. I wouldn't put my head in that pit for a block of houses. Eddie stays here.”’ and seated himself a the ta “ How’s things breakin’: “Can’t say yet. You round first on one leg, then on t Gettin’ my information from too ma ones, but I'll have my bearings im tn twenty-four hours—then I'll know 2 act. Get out of here. I don't wa nt nors to see me talking to you. Beat it!” Connors was uneasy. Ina few minutes he returned and once more seated himselk at the table opposite Emile. Za “ Of course you can suit yourself about this Boston trip,” said Emile. | “But Tcan tell you this: if you don't find Jake and bring him back to New York there isn't going to be any Cracker Pot. Those sailors say that you are standing in with Jake on come deal that cuts them out, and they are going to give you just three days to pro- duce him. ‘Three days, then they shoots up the Cracker Pot. Have you got it?” “ That’s just my luck,” Connors moaned. “ Here I’ve been slavin*'to make this a nice, respectable, little business, and along comes this swivel-eyed Jake and busts up my life's savings. How’s a man goin’ to make an honest livin’ any more? You know all the trouble I’ve had—what with this new re- form—and Sunday closin’, and all that. 1 tell you, Emile, it’s up wit’ the shutters for me just as soon as the first gun pops. Why, only last week the captain of this district says to me: ‘ You’re doin’ all right, Connors, but the broad highway for yours as soon as any rough stuff commences.’ It’s a shame— me standin’ all O. K. wit’ th’ police— and—” “Shut up!” whispered Emile. comes a plainclothesman now.” “ Here CHAPTER II. THE BIBLE-BANGER. [- street door had opened an heavy-set. square-jawed man way across the sawdust-covered [x ail - Instantly the soggy, smoke-banked a d a ?