“Leave it to me, chief,” responded Parker. “I’m watching this place like a hawk.”
YATES felt satisfied when he left. He had been doubtful about Parker, but now he had full confidence in the man.
This surprise visit had been well timed. There had been nothing to excite suspicion. Even the doors upstairs had been unlocked. Chief Yates went on his way, convinced that the Club Catalina harbored no illegitimate enterprises.
Parker went back up the stairs. He was met by an attendant the moment that he arrived in the anteroom.
“O.K.,” said Parker.
The lock of the outer door clicked. The detective went into the bridge room and whispered the same message to another attendant. The second door clicked.
Big Tom Bagshawe, standing at one of the farther doors, made a short announcement. The bridge players, men and women, rose laughing from the tables and flocked into the other rooms.
Attendants were at work. The massive tables were opened to display roulette wheels. Others revealed faro layouts. The pianos against one wall proved to be mere dummy shells as they were rolled away. Behind them were gambling machines, built for a half-dollar slot play.
Word traveled rapidly downstairs. Privileged persons, seated in the Club Catalina, were secretly informed that the Goddess of Chance was again the ruling power in the establishment upstairs. A horde of eager visitors strode up the carpeted steps. Within fifteen minutes, money was clicking on the tables as more than fifty players staked their sums.
Moving here and there, Big Tom Bagshawe studied the faces of the visitors. He paused in a corner, to speak in an undertone to Parker, the detective. All was going well. Satisfied that there was not a suspicious person present, Big Tom went into his office.