The League of Frightened Men

The little runt! I could have reached down and jerked his gold teeth out. I slid the other chair back with my toe and sat down and put my elbows on the table and looked at him. ‹I said, the boss wants to see you."

"Oh, yeah?" He sneered at me with his mouth open, showing his gilded incisors.

"You wouldn't string a guy, would you, mister? By God, I'll tell the goddam world you wouldn't. Who was I talking to a i while ago on the goddam telephone?"

I grinned. 'That was me. Listen here a minute. I can see you're tough. Do you want a good job?"

"Yeah. That's why I've got one. If you'd just move your goddam carcass away from my table…"

"All right, I will. Go on and eat your soup, and don't try to scare me with your bad manners. I might decide to remove your right ear and put it where the left one is, and hang the left one on your belt • for a spare. Go on and eat." I He dropped his spoon in the soup-bowl and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "What the hell do you want, anyway?"

"Well," I said, "I was having tea with my friend, Inspector Cramer, this | afternoon, and he was telling me how ^^ much he enjoyed his talk with you last ^H night, and I thought I'd like to meet you.

That's one story. Then another story might be that a certain guy whose name I needn't mention has got the idea that you're selling him out, and I'm supposed to find out, and I thought the quickest way was to ask you. How many people are you working for?"

"Of all the goddam curiosity!" He sucked something from between his teeth with his tongue. "Last night the goddam Inspector, and now you. Hell, my soup's getting cold."

He got up from his chair and picked up the bowl and carried it ten feet to the table at the end. Then he came back for the bread and butter and glass of water and took them. I waited till he was through moving, then I got up and went to the end table and sat down across from him. I was sore because my nifty opening had gone wild. The counterman and the customers were watching us, but only to Pass the time. I reached in my pocket and got out my roll and peeled off a pair of twenties, xi "Look here," I said, "I could spot you in a day or two, but it would cost both money and time, and I'd just as soon you'd get it. Here's forty bucks. Half now if you tell me who's paying you, and the other half as soon as I check it. I'll find out, anyhow, this'll just save time."