Argosy All-Story Weekly — 'The Metal Monster' — page 108: what you’re looking at

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

102 Their next stop was at the bank where ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. and in larger quantities, if possible. With Fin kept a’ personal checking account. The --their own organization they wouldn’t even smuggler made a deposit of thirty thousand dollars in the name of Michael Rafferty. Gone were the titles. Gone was the “ Inc.” Nothing remained but “ Michael- Rafferty ” —and the cash. Lawyer McMann received twenty-five hundred dollars. That had been the agree- ment. He didn’t expect to receive any more retainers from the corporation. Fin didn’t expect he would. The smuggler also made him a present of the check-book that had served “ J. Barleycorn, Inc.” The last stub showed that a check for $39,741.66 had been drawn. “We might ’a’ left ’em th’ sixty-six cents,” said Fin seriously. McMann laughed. When Fin left the lawyer he went down to the Italian quarter. Smokey Joe was out. His bartender gave a graphic descrip- tion of his departure. ‘Th’ tel’phone, she ring. Joe, he’s a mak’ answer. Talk lika hell for one minoot.- Then he taka his hata one han’, his cota’ on udder han’ and he’s a go out lak hell. He’s a no say what time he’s a come back.” The late president and treasurer waited. The afternoon had waned before Smokey came in. He spotted the smuggler at once —aad said nothing. Just smiled. Fin spoke first. "Lo, Joe.” uw “Flo, Fin. Well, you sure tied ’em up. Us up, I guess ’d soun’ better. Peters’s plumb off ’is bean. Saw his lawyer, an’ he says yuh got ’im dead tuh rights. Say yuh had all th’ ’thority in th’ worl’ t’? make a dicker wit’ Mitchell f’r any part o’ th’ roll. “ Butcha know, they was framin’ t’ dink yuh outa th’ works,” continued Joe, sitting down across the table from Fin. “ I wasn’t favorin’ th’ idea, butcha know they’d freeze me outa th’ gang, an’ ’en where’d my booze come from? So I had ta come in. Here’s the way they was plannin’ on pullin’ on yuh. >? Joe outlined the deal. It was simple. simply as majority stockholders, they were to vote Fin out of the presidency and treas- urership, and take charge. Get some less professional smuggler to hustle the liquor, have to pay Fin a profit. Let him sell what he could to some one else. They were through. Less expense, more profit was the way they figured it. - The smuggler listened in silence. He didn’t speak as he drew a packet of bilb from his coat and counted off several which he handed to Joe. : “ Joe, I’m bankin’ yuh did wanta play square wit’ me. I never double-crossed no guy what even made a try at doin’ me a ‘good turn. Here’s th’ five thou’ yuh put in in th’ firs’ place, an’ one thou’ more re- bate on th’ booze yuh bought this mont’.” The Italian’s eyes seemed frozen on the money. He couldn’t grasp the fact that he, the least considered member of the Big Five, should be the one, the only one, who didn’t lose. He gripped Fin’s hand. If his life* had depended on a word at the moment, it wouldn’t have been more thar a gurgle. Fin was embarrassed. Thanks always made him feel as though business was call- ing somewhere else. He got to his feet and walked to the swinging-doors. “ W’en yuh want any more booze, lemme know,” -was his parting shot as he hurried up the street. Gee, Joe had looked as if he was going to cry. Hell, but some guys took a piece of good luek harder than they did bad. Mitchell and his wife sat up late that night. They were talking of many things. A coat of paint for the house. A new silk dress for Mrs. Mitchell, a new suit for Dan. There were tears in the “old wo- man’s ”’ eyes when she took hold of her ’spouse’s hand in both of hers. '“ Jus’ think, Danny! Two thousand dollars for doin’ nuthin’ but signin’ your name an’ me signin’ my name on a piece o’ paper. An’ promisin’ Fin to keep our mouths shut. Ain’t he th’ grandes’ man?” “ Well, if Fin says keep your trap closed, w’y in ’ell dontcha close it an’ go t’ bed?”’ ‘queried her better half, as he rose, yawned, stretched, blew out the light, and started for their little bedroom in the rear of the house. EGORNIG OOO SS co wo