United States or North Macedonia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
She listened now: "No, no; it does not matter what it is! "What?...No! I tell you, no! Nothing! Not to-night! Those are the orders....No, I don't know! Nan is here now....Eh?....You'll pay for it if you do!" Shluker was snarling threateningly now. "What?....Well, then, wait! I'll come over....No, you can bet I won't be long! You wait! Understand?"
He was an uninviting and exceedingly disreputable old creature. "You, eh, Nan!" he grunted. "So you've come to see old Jake Shluker, have you? 'Tain't often you come! And what's brought you, eh?" "I can read, can't I?" Rhoda Gray glanced furtively around her, then leaned toward the other. "Say, wot's de lay? I been scared stiff all day.
There was last night and, a natural corollary, her equally natural anxiety on her supposed husband's account, providing, of course, that Shluker was aware that Gypsy Nan was Danglar's wife. But even if Shluker did not know that, he knew at least that Gypsy Nan was one of the gang, and, as such, he must equally accept it as natural that she should be anxious and disturbed over what had happened.
What's happened?" she asked tensely. "The gang's thrown us down!" he said between his teeth. "They're scared; they've got cold feet they're going to quit. Shluker and Pinkie were with me at the iron plant. We went back to Matty's from there. Matty's with them, too.
Apart from Danglar, there was Shluker, who must of necessity be one of them; and Skeeny, the man who had been with Danglar in Shluker's room; and the Cricket, whom she had never seen; and besides these, there were those who were mentioned in the cipher message to-night, and detailed to the performance of the various acts and scenes that were to lead up to the final climax which, she supposed, was the object and reason for the cipher message, in order that even those not actually employed might be thoroughly conversant with the entire plan, and ready to act intelligently if called upon.
They both grinned at Rhoda Gray through the murky light supplied by a wheezy and wholly inadequate gas-jet. "Hello, Nan!" gibed the smaller of the two. "Who let you out?" "Aw, forget it!" croaked Rhoda Gray. Shluker took up the cudgels. "You close your face, Pinkie!" he snapped. "Get down to cases!
She was afraid she would faint herself it was not only the pain, but it was terribly close in the confined space, and her head was swimming. Occasionally the oars splashed; and then, after an interminable time, the men, as though hopeless of success, and as though caution were no longer of any service, began to talk louder. The third man was Shluker. She recognized his voice, too.
Shluker, without hesitation, opened the back door, shut it behind them, led the way along a black, unlighted hall, and halting before a door well toward the front of the building, knocked softly upon it giving two raps, a single rap, and then two more in quick succession. There was no answer.
We ain't askin' your advice; all we're askin' you to do is frame up the alibi, same as usual, for me an' the Pug here in case we wants it." Shluker shook his fist. "Frame nothing!" he spluttered angrily. "Ain't I tellin' you that the orders are not to make a move, that everything is off for a few days? That's the word I got a little while ago, and the Seven-Three-Nine is goin' out now.
Is dat straight wot de papers said about youse-know-who gettin' pinched?" A scowl settled over Shluker's features as he nodded. "Yes; it's straight enough," he answered. "Damn 'em, one and all! But they let him out again." "Dat's de stuff!" applauded Rhoda Gray earnestly. "Where is he, den?" Shluker shook his head. "He didn't say," said Shluker.
Word Of The Day