“Listen, Cliff,” he said in an appeasing tone, “I’ve told you before that I ain’t the boss. I’m gettin’ paid, like you. The fellow that slipped me the dough figured that only one guy needed to know the lay. I’ve done jobs for him before. This is your first crack. You can’t blame him for bein’ careful.”
“He told you to get a man to work with you,” was the retort. “That much was left up to you. I can’t see why you’re holding out.”
“I ain’t doubtin’ you, Cliff,” appealed Clipper. “I picked you as soon as I heard you was on the loose. I heard about you from guys that knew you up in the big house when you was doin’ a stretch a few years back. You did some good bumpin’ off after that, too, they told me.”
Cliff smiled to himself. He knew that his reputation in gangdom was intact. What Clipper Tobin had said was true. Cliff had served a term in Sing Sing for a crime which he did not commit. After that he had fought among racketeers, but he had been on the side of gangland’s most feared avenger — The Shadow.
This was unknown to Clipper.
Cliff remained silent while his mind flashed back through the past. Out of the corner of his eye he was noting the man at the other table. Clipper observed his companion’s silence, but misconstrued it. He decided that Cliff was becoming lukewarm.
“Listen, Cliff,” he said, “the guy that hired us doesn’t know you. You’re right when you said he left it up to me. I didn’t tell him your name any more than I told you his. I just said that I had found a killer — to leave the rest to me. He took my word for it; but he said for me to use my noodle, and to do the job without much chatter.
“At the same time, you’re goin’ to wise up pretty quick to what we’re doin’. We ain’t goin’ to lose no time after we get outa this joint. So I’ll play the game an’ tip you off right now. That is, if you’re satisfied with what you’re gettin’. I am. Is that enough for you?”
Cliff laughed.
“Say, Clipper,” was his response, “I’d have gone along with you for half of what I’m getting. I’ve got dough. One grand isn’t a lot of cash. But what’s a killing? I’ve seen plenty of times when I’d handle one for the fun of it.”