The Shadow - 24 - Six Men of Evil by Maxwell Grant

Author:Maxwell Grant
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Street & Smith
Published: 1933-02-02T00:00:00+00:00

“Thanks, Pasty,” he said. “These don’t mean nothin’. Just the same, I thought you might as well get ‘em for me an’ bring ‘em here to the hideout. Nobody saw you sneakin’ in here, did they?”

Pasty shook his head.

“Nobody seen me,” he responded, “but I ain’t sure nobody wasn’t watchin’ me somewhere along the line.

You know how I am, Boots. I can spot anythin’ that’s wrong before it begins. Seems to me like there was someone hangin’ around that office where you sent me. D’ya think there could’ve been any one layin’

there?”

“Up there?” quizzed Boots. “Nah! Forget it. You’re the only guy I ever sent up there. That place ain’t got nothin’ to do with the racket. I just wanted you to go up so I wouldn’t have to slide out of here. That’s all.

Just so long as nobody seen you doin’ a sneak in here, it’s O.K.”

“Well,” responded Pasty, “there’s a lot of gorillas who’ve got it in for Boots Marcus. It ain’t a bad idea to be careful.”

“Well,” growled Boots, “I’m hidin’ out, ain’t I? You don’t think I’m scared, do you? The only thing is, I’m wise. Keepin’ in here saves me a lot of trouble. That’s why I use you as a go-between.

“You make a good messenger boy, Pasty. When there’s anythin’ doin’, then’s when I step out with the mob. Believe me, Pasty, there’s a lot of bozos who wouldn’t be pushin’ up posies if they’d been as wise as I am.”

“Sure enough,” agreed Pasty.

“O.K.,” responded Boots. “Scram. Stick around with the mob an’ come let me know when they’re ready to go out. Remind me then that I’ll have a letter to mail.”

“You’re a great guy, Boots,” commented Pasty. “Here the mob has a hangout half a block from your hideout, and they don’t have no idea where you’re layin’. It makes me laugh sometimes -“

“Can that hokum!” rejoined Boots, with a growl. “Your business is to do what I tell you, an’ quit thinkin’

too much. Go on, now. Scram!”

Pasty grinned and opened the door of the room. He waved a scrawny hand in parting; then closed the door.

Boots Marcus picked up the post card and the envelope.

IN the underworld, Boots Marcus was known as the tough leader of a flock of trained gorillas. He and his gang had a racket of their own - blocking the plans of would-be big shots. As a result, Boots, though fearless when at the head of his pack, considered it the part of discretion to keep away from the live spots of the bad lands.

Pasty, who cut but little figure in the underworld, was, as Boots had remarked, the gang leader’s messenger. He was the go-between who kept up contact with the mob. But of late, Boots, guarding himself more closely than usual, had given Pasty a new duty. This was the job of visiting a small, deserted office on an uptown street, to bring back any mail that might be there.

Communications to the Eastern Specialty Company were comparatively few.

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