Miss Callaghan Comes To Grief

Raven knew he'd got to be patient with these guys. “We're goin' to clean up the whole town. It's goin' to be a hell of a job, but it's got to be done. You three have got to get so many hoods in each district of the town who are tough enough to run the whores off the streets and to deal with their bookers. That's your first job. I'll make myself plain. What happens to a guy who smokes a lot and suddenly finds out he can't get tobacco?”

Lefty knew that one. “He goes nuts,” he said simply.

Raven nodded. “That's it, he goes nuts. Then supposing some guy comes along and offers him tobacco after a while at a greatly increased price? What happens?”

The three looked at each other. This was getting beyond them.

“He pays more because he can't get it elsewhere,” Raven said patiently.

“So what?” Little Joe said.

“That's what we're goin' to do. Once we get organized, no whore on the streets will be safe. She's got to be treated rough, so she's too scared to work. We want them to leave town. It'll take a little while, but if you treat

'em rough enough they'll go. If they don't, then we've got to start shootin', but that'll be the last straw. We don't want trouble with the cops. If we knock 'em about, cut 'em a little, the cops won't do anythin', but if we kill 'em, then they'll have to get busy.”

“It's goin' to be tough on the guys who like whores,” Maltz said, thinking of himself.

“Now you're gettin' somewhere,” Raven said. “We're goin' to set up houses. Not these fancy brothels that Mendetta ran. There's no big dough in those. He took a ten per cent cut on the house. The girls got fifty and the rest of the dough was put into expenses. That's a crazy way of workin' it. I'm doin' it differently.” He edged forward. “Each girl will be paid a fixed salary. She'll never see the dough. It'll be put to her credit in a ledger. Out of this she'll have to pay rent for her room, her clothes, smokes, drinks and whatever else she wants. The balance, if there is a balance, will be used to buy shares in the house to give her a business interest.” Raven smiled crookedly. “When she wants to go she can sell out at the market pricewhich will be fixed by meand she can beat it.”

Lefty understood a little of this. “She doesn't see any dough at all, then?”

“That's right. I'm using that dough as capital.”

“These dames like to see money. They won't like this, boss.”

Raven smiled. His thin lips just showed his teeth. It was more of a grimace than a smile. “They're not supposed to like it,” he said. “They're goin' to do as they're told.”

The three exchanged glances. “Rough stuff again, boss?” Little Joe asked.

“Ever been to Reno?” Raven said. “I have. Know what they do to a dame who won't play ball? They pour turpentine on her belly. They play ball all right after that.”

There was a long silence. The three digested that piece of information. “I guess that hurts all right,” Lefty said. “Gee! I'd hate that to happen to me.”

“It wouldn't hurt you as it hurts them,” Raven said.

“You think about it.” He got to his feet. “I'm goin' to the bank to get some dough. I'll stake you guys to a roll. You've got to get yourselves some new clothes. Don't forget you're livin' at the St. Louis from now on.

When you're fixed you've got to start work.” He broke off abruptly and stood listening.

The others sat very still.

Through the closed window they could hear a lot of shouting in the street. Raven took two quick steps to the window and threw it up. He looked down and then turned away.

“It's out,” he said briefly. His eyes were very bright. “They're tellin' the world that Mendetta's dead.”

The others made a move to the window, but he stopped them. “You've got to work fast now,” he said. “The sooner we're organized the quicker we make dough.”

He went out of the room hurriedly.

The three made a dash to the window. Across the road they could see a newsvendor standing busily handing out papers. When the crowd thinned a little they could read his placard: MENDETTA AND MOLL SHOT TO DEATH

Lefty heaved a big sigh. “Didn't I tell you that guy was somethin'?” he said proudly.

19

June 6th, 12.5 p.m.

GRANTHAM'S OFFICE door burst open and Lu came in. He shut the door hurriedly and waved a newspaper. “It's out already,” he said excitedly. “Look, boss, they're playin' it on the front page.”

Grantham reached out and took the paper. He glanced at it and then tossed it on one side. “Quicker than I thought,” he said, lighting a cigarette. “There's goin' to be a lot of guys yellin' at me very soon.”

Lu sat on the edge of the desk. “That dame Perminger,” he said. “Was it the right thing to turn her over to Carrie?”

Grantham looked at him coldly. “Why not?”

“Suppose she gets away an' talks?”

“What do you want me to do? Finish her?”

Lu nodded. “That would have been a lot safer.”