Argosy, Vol. 118, No. 2 — page 95: what you’re looking at

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

THE HOUSE OF THE ECHO, “Tell me what you know; maybe I can hand you the rest.” ‘“We know precious little about her,’’~ the chief confessed. ‘“ Of course, although we never could prove it in court, she was the pet pupil or Echo of old Mother Man- delbaum, who once pretty nearly ownéd the city, and finally had to skip town. But, unless I miss my guess, the Echo is as big, or bigger than old Mother Mandelbaum ever was!” ‘You said it. And only the cream of the professions can. get into the Echo’s gang. No amachoors there! All stars! And every mother’s son and daughter scared stiff of the old hell-cat—yet they stick to her, and glad to.” “ Exactly why, Zelda?” “ First; because she’s got the brains of the devil; passes on every trick pulled off— it’s her scheme goes through, every time! Second; when the swag is handed in to her, it just disappears—no trace—no danger to any professional—and he gets paid prompt, and the highest price. Tsird,; she’s got the slickest lawyers in the State! If any mem- ber of the gang gets in wrong, he’s sure of absolute and entire protection. Mighty slim risk of being sent up. You know that, chief. .And—well—The Echo is the master mind of the slickest gang of crooks New York has ever seen.” “TJ believe you,” murmured the gray- haired man, solemnly. He made no fur- ther effort to detain’ the girl, who evidently was anxious to get away. Nodding good- by to her, he sat pondering on what she had said. Then he leaped exultantly to his feet, and summoned a clerk. Shortly he had about him a group of his “ confidential ” men. ‘“ Boys,” he said with elation, “ this nightmare is due to end to-night.” An effective pause—then— “ Zelda Carter has handed over the tip that gives us the goods on the Echo!” The silence that bound the incredulous men was finally broken. ‘“‘ God help Zelda —we can’t,” a voice murmured piously. ‘““Oh, we may be able to save her skin,” confidently smiled the gray-haired man; adding with some philosophy: ‘“ Anyway, - 245 the shops are saved the quarter-million dollars’ worth of stuff Zelda and her little band have managed to lift every year. ‘“ But I trust to have the Echo to-night where her entire staff of lawyers can’t raise a finger to help her. At eight-thirty this evening, Garford and Hummell will deliver to the Echo in her ‘ office’ the swag from the Maiden Lane haul. We’ve got to catch her red-handed—nab her in the very act— and the Carter girl is going to try to smooth the way for us.” The almost overpowering significance of | this revelation began to sink into dazed minds. ‘With the Echo gone,” some one cried, “the force’s troubles ‘ll be about over! She’s been the brains of her whole crook outfit. Now, we'll get every dern one of gang. Not soft picking, exactly—but we’ll get ’em, sooner or later.” ‘““ Go slow on counting chickens,” another grunted, pessimistically. It sounded too good to be genuine, according to his way of thinking. Indeed, news of such stag- gering import left all the company in too serious-minded a condition for any light- hearted halleluiah chorus, thanksgiving, gravely. “Now,” said the gray-haired man, bel- licosely eying the others, “I’m off to get some grub, a bath, a shave, and fresh duds.. You boys have got to keep down this racket in town until to-night—when the City of New York is going to be made « whole lot safer for Democracy and even for Republicans. ‘Larry, the raid’s up to you, I suppose, However, I shouldn’t wonder if I butted in, myself. -I’d rather take the Echo than nab a Napoleon.” While the gray-haired man—with great Increase of energy, despite adverse reports flooding in by wire and messenger—was leaving this pleasing conference, a certain troubled young man was on his way to a conference of two—a conference which he feared might have its disagreeable features, Notwithstanding his vaunted indifference to neighborhood opinion, Alan was acutely sensible of the significant looks which fol- They uttered. lowed him. The men lounging by the cider - saloon, the girls gazing from the windows (EO MIE OOOKS (E@)