第64章

And don't you go to see any other girls before then, mister! I bet you will, though.""On the dead level," said Cork, "you make 'em all look like rag-dolls to me.Honest, you do.I know when I'm suited.On the dead level, I do."Against the front door down-stairs repeated heavy blows were delivered.The loud crashes resounded in the room above.Only a trip-hammer or a policeman's foot could have been the author of those sounds.Rooney jumped like a bullfrog to a corner of the room, turned off the electric lights and hurried swiftly below.

The room was left utterly dark except for the winking red glow of cigars and cigarettes.A second volley of crashes came up from the assaulted door.A little, rustling, murmuring panic moved among the besieged guests.Frank, cool, smooth, reassuring, could be seen in the rosy glow of the burning tobacco, going from table to table.

"All keep still!" was his caution."Don't talk or make any noise!

Everything will be all right.Now, don't feel the slightest alarm.

We'll take care of you all."

Ruby felt across the table until Cork's firm hand closed upon hers.

"Are you afraid, Eddie?" she whispered."Are you afraid you'll get a free ride?""Nothin' doin' in the teeth-chatterin' line," said Cork."I guess Rooney's been slow with his envelope.Don't you worry, girly; I'll look out for you all right."Yet Mr.McManus's ease was only skin- and muscle-deep.With the police looking everywhere for Buck Malone's assailant, and with Corrigan still on the ocean wave, he felt that to be caught in a police raid would mean an ended career for him.He wished he had remained in the high rear room of the true Capulet reading the pink extras.

Rooney seemed to have opened the front door below and engaged the police in conference in the dark hall.The wordless low growl of their voices came up the stairway.Frank made a wireless news station of himself at the upper door.Suddenly he closed the door, hurried to the extreme rear of the room and lighted a dim gas jet.

"This way, everybody!" he called sharply."In a hurry; but no noise, please!"The guests crowded in confusion to the rear.Rooney's lieutenant swung open a panel in the wall, overlooking the back yard, revealing a ladder already placed for the escape.

"Down and out, everybody!" he commanded."Ladies first! Less talking, please! Don't crowd! There's no danger."Among the last, Cork and Ruby waited their turn at the open panel.

Suddenly she swept him aside and clung to his arm fiercely.

"Before we go out," she whispered in his ear--"before anything happens, tell me again, Eddie, do you l--do you really like me?""On the dead level," said Cork, holding her close with one arm, "when it comes to you, I'm all in."When they turned they found they were lost and in darkness.The last of the fleeing customers had descended.Half way across the yard they bore the ladder, stumbling, giggling, hurrying to place it against adjoining low building over the roof of which their only route to safety.

"We may as well sit down," said Cork grimly."Maybe Rooney will stand the cops off, anyhow."They sat at a table; and their hands came together again.

A number of men then entered the dark room, feeling their way about.

One of them, Rooney himself, found the switch and turned on the electric light.The other man was a cop of the old regime--a big cop, a thick cop, a fuming, abrupt cop--not a pretty cop.He went up to the pair at the table and sneered familiarly at the girl.

"What are youse doin' in here?" he asked.

"Dropped in for a smoke," said Cork mildly.

"Had any drinks?"

"Not later than one o'clock."

"Get out--quick!" ordered the cop.Then, "Sit down!" he countermanded.

He took off Cork's hat roughly and scrutinized him shrewdly.

"Your name's McManus."

"Bad guess," said Cork."It's Peterson."

"Cork McManus, or something like that," said the cop."You put a knife into a man in Dutch Mike's saloon a week ago.""Aw, forget it!" said Cork, who perceived a shade of doubt in the officer's tones."You've got my mug mixed with somebody else's.""Have I? Well, you'll come to the station with me, anyhow, and be looked over.The description fits you all right." The cop twisted his fingers under Cork's collar."Come on!" he ordered roughly.