Both Savoli and Cronin submitted to a search. No weapons were found upon them. But just as they were entering the dining room, Machine-gun McGinnis arrived with three other Savoli gorillas.
Two of these gangsters were found to be armed. They grinned as they left the hotel to park their weapons.
Barney Higgins looked significantly at Jerry Kirklyn. The reporter understood.
Nick Savoli had left nothing to chance. He knew that the search at the door, conducted by two of his men, and one of Larrigan’s, would be thorough. But he had assumed no risks while en route to the Goliath Hotel.
The reporter was seized with a sudden inspiration. Now that Savoli had arrived, there was no use waiting in the outer room. He made his way to the kitchen, and looked for an opportunity to take the place of a waiter.
But here he was foiled. Two gangsters were there, one representing Savoli, and one representing Larrigan. The moment that he came under their observation, Kirklyn decided it would be best to leave.
THUS it happened that the elite of Chicago’s underworld assembled undisturbed for the dinner that was to end in the burial of the hatchet.
All the would-be big shots were present, gathered in their little individual groups. Nick Savoli sat at a table at the end of the room, with Steve Cronin, Mike Borrango, and Al Vacchi beside him. His other henchmen were at nearby tables.
Larrigan, surrounded by the lesser lights of his mob, had a table at the side. There was gloom in his camp.
He and his fraternal gangsters missed the delightful presence of Hymie Schultz and Four-gun Spirak. But no mention was made of the two departed lieutenants.