“Come with me and I’ll show you,” says he.
I asked him if he was sure there wasn’t no one watching us, which gave me an excuse to look ’round for Sam, who had stopped over by the post office. I couldn’t see nothing of him, though, and I wondered where he’d gone.
“Come on; it’s all safe,” says Clancy. “I’ve got the biggest pull with the police of any man in New York. Why, I pay the commissioners their little divvy. I don’t bother with no captains even. There isn’t an officer of the force what would dare to touch me.”
I could hardly keep from laughing as I followed him around into Ann street, where gamblers and green goods men used to be a big sight plentier in them days than they are now.
We got to a door on the left hand side just beyond the alley.
I thought he was going up-stairs to Jack Bridge’s place, but no, he made a dive down into a lager beer saloon in the basement, took me into a back room and then, unlocking a door, we landed in a little box of a place about four by five, where there was nothing but a stove, a desk and a couple of chairs.
He locked the door first of all--then he turned on me.
I tell you now if I wasn’t measuring that man it’s a caution!
“I wonder which of us two’s got the most muscle,” thinks I.
“Let’s see your money, Mr. Spalding!” says he, handing me a cigar and lighting one himself.
“Let’s see yours!” says I. “Gimme a light!”
“You’re a cool one,” says he. “D’yer ’spose I’m going to give up my green goods and take my chances of getting my pay?”
“Oh, all right. You’re suspicious. You think I ain’t straight. That’s what’s the matter with you, my boy.”
“Not at all. I only want to be on the safe side. I haven’t come all the way from Wisconsin to be sucked in--let me tell you that.”
“You needn’t holler so,” he says. “I hain’t deef. Do you want every one in the saloon to hear you?”
“You don’t think there’s no danger, do you?” I says.
“No, I guess nothing serious is done yet,” says he, “but to make all sure I’ll just step out and look how the land lays.”
I knew his game. He’d gone to make ready to shift the bags--it was the old dodge. I made up my mind to use the minute I had for all it was worth. There was two doors to the place, the one leading into the saloon we’d came in by. I wanted to see where the other led to and I found out, for I opened it with one of my skeleton keys. Theater Alley was outside.