“YOU know who I am” — the voice came in a harsh emphatic tone, as the obscured man made his first remark. “My name is Bryant. That’s enough. Never mind my first moniker; there’s lots of other guys have the same. They call me Wheels Bryant. That’s the name they give to big shots.”
Despite the fact the other four men constituted a group of self-confident individuals, there was no challenging response to the boastful claim which had been advanced. The other four unquestionably acknowledged “Wheels” Bryant as their leader.
“This is my lay,” resumed Wheels. “I’m working it my own way. I got everything fixed, and I’m giving all of you a cut-in. Whatever I say goes.
“Each of you is a specialist, and I am the one to pick the spots. I don’t want any complaining if one guy gets a lot to do and another has it soft. That’s all part of my game.
“I’m working from under cover. I can find out what’s going on in this burg. That makes it easy for the rest of you. I’ll handle it so that the bulls won’t bother you, and if you get in any jams, I’ll get you out.
“There’s the terms; I’ve put them up to you separate, now you’re hearing them together. If you’re set, we’re ready. If any one of you has a squawk, make it now.”
The silence that prevailed showed they were all satisfied. These men had evidently received individual communications from Wheels Bryant, and all knew what they were to expect.
“We’re going to ride this town,” declared Wheels Bryant gruffly, “and we’re going to begin by working the gambling end first. Big Tom likes to make soft money. We’re going to let him do it, and the profits come into headquarters.
“For a while it’s going to look like Big Tom is furnishing the gravy, but that won’t last long. His pickings will be small change when we get riding high.”
Grunts of approval sounded among the listeners. Wheels Bryant ignored the sounds. His cigar light cut a fiery arc as it shot through the air and disappeared out the open window.
“You’ve got your lay, Reeves,” declared Wheels. “That old display building, out on the end of Seaview Pier, is your place. You go in there to-morrow, and hire it for storage of boat equipment. The building has been condemned until next year, and they will be glad to rent it to you. Understand?”
An affirmative response came from Shifter Reeves.
“Shifter is handling dope,” announced Wheels. “That’s for all of you to know. He’s going to make a big clean-up. That house on the end of the pier is fixed up just the way he wants it. They used it for submarine observations last summer, and it’s fixed right for bringing in the hop. Shifter has got his men, and outside of them, we’re the only ones who are going to know about it.
“As for you, Borglund — I’m holding you for a while. When your chance comes along, it will be the grand clean-up. We’re not going to run any chances by running any kidnappings until we’re ready. Every good racket lasts just so long, and we’re going to spill yours in a big way, when the time comes. Get me?”
“All right with me,” affirmed Hooks Borglund.
“But in the meantime,” added Wheels Bryant, “you’re going to be busy, Carpenter. I hear you’re a pretty foxy bird. Like to work alone, and all that. Give you the right pickings, and you’ll knock them off.
“Well, Seaview City is just the spot to find a lot of rich playboys, all set for a blackmail job. It’s up to you to get them. When Big Tom opens that swell joint of his, you’ll find it a handy hang-out. Right?”
“Excellent,” remarked Herbert Carpenter.
“Sounds good, Wheels,” observed Big Tom Bagshawe. “The only thing is, how wide-open can I run? There’s a reform administration working in this town. Do you think they’ll be likely to close me up?”
“That’s my lookout,” responded Wheels, in a testy tone. “Seaview City is a resort. They aren’t going to bother any place that looks good from the front. Keep the rowdies out of your swell night club, and be careful who you let into the gambling joint, upstairs. Lay low when you get the word from me, and open up wide otherwise.”
There were no further comments. Every man seemed to understand his part. Wheels waited until he was convinced that all understood and were satisfied. Then he laughed gruffly, as he stepped across the room.
A tiny shaded light appeared above a telephone table as Wheels Bryant pressed the button. The leader of the five was barely visible behind the light. His face could not be seen. He reached forward and laid five playing cards upon the table. The cards were face downward.
“I want you boys to know how you stand,” he declared tersely. “I’m going to show you how I figure it. Just a little souvenir for you to keep until we hold the next meeting, up in Big Tom’s joint.”
WHEELS BRYANT turned the first card upward. It was the king of diamonds. He held the card in the light and extended his hand.
“That’s for you, Big Tom,” declared Wheels with a gruff laugh. “You’re a king — the come-on king — take it.”
Big Tom appeared in the light and took the card with his flabby hand. As the gambler walked away, Wheels Bryant turned up a second card. It was the king of hearts.
“That yours, Carpenter,” he said. “You’re the king that handles the take-off. Pocket it.”
The third card flipped up on the table as Carpenter walked away with his trophy. This was the king of clubs.
Bryant indicated this to Shifter Reeves.
“You’re the king that has the dope,” laughed Wheels in his ugly tone. “Take it; it’s yours — and hang on to it.”
The fourth card was the king of spades. Hooks Borglund accepted it.
“The fourth king,” was Bryant’s comment, “the king of spades, Borglund. When you dig, you’ll dig deep.”
Wheels Bryant fingered the last card, then he flipped it, face upward upon the table. It was the ace of spades.
“That’s the hole card,” declared the leader. “My card — the ace in the hole. That’s where it stays — out of sight — like me.”
“But remember” — his tone was calloused, mercenary — “the ace is higher than any king!”
Wheels Bryant snapped off the light. He strode through the darkness, opened the door, and left the place. As the door closed behind Wheels, Big Tom Bagshawe turned on the light. The four men looked at each other.
None commented on their interview with Wheels Bryant. They knew him for what he was, the biggest of big shots, a man who went after money relentlessly, and who had never failed to escape the toils of the law. He had declared them kings — each in his own right. Crime would soon be rampant in Seaview City.
One by one the men left the room. Without definite prearrangement, they departed in the same way they had come. The last of the four was Herbert Carpenter.
Standing alone, the well-groomed man glanced at the king of hearts, which he still held in his hand.
“Four kings and an ace,” he said. “Nevertheless” — his air was thoughtful — “there may be other cards in this deck.”
Then Carpenter, too, was gone. This room, like the Green Room below, was empty. Forces of the law and masters of crime had met in the same hotel.
There was prophecy in the words Herbert Carpenter had idly uttered. The game was on; the deck was stacked in favor of crime. Yet there were other cards which could be held, and some unknown man might hold them.
The solons of Seaview City might ignore the fact that crime was in their midst, and that this meeting had been held, but there was one who would be alert.
That one was The Shadow!
CHAPTER IV
CRIME BREAKS LOOSE
ONE month had passed since the first meeting of the Public Safety Committee of Seaview City. The season was in full blast. The resort was enjoying the greatest year of its history.