Gangsters War In Ney York Apartment
The account referred to the affray of the previous night. Eagerly, Ferret scanned the details. A puzzled frown appeared upon his forehead.
According to the report, a mob of gunmen had invaded the apartment of a lawyer named Daniel Antrim. There, guns had broken loose. The lawyer had been slain by the mobsters. It had developed into a shooting party of magnitude — a battle which indicated the warring of rival factions. When the smoke had cleared away, the police had entered to find four men dead and two wounded. One of the dead was Daniel Antrim, the attorney. Another was Solly Bricker, notorious gang leader. In the latter's pocket, the police had discovered papers that showed Antrim's handwriting. These documents contained evidence incriminating Solly Bricker of many misdeeds. It was evident that Daniel Antrim had conducted negotiations with various criminals.
Otherwise, he would not have established facts that were entirely unknown to the police — facts which manifested themselves in the papers found on Solly Bricker.
It was supposed that Solly had come to Antrim's to discuss affairs of mutual interest.
Evidently, Solly's gang had been lying low in the hallway outside the apartment. The lawyer and the gang leader had come to guns instead of terms.
Solly's henchmen had rallied to his rescue. But Antrim, wise to the ways of gangdom, had relied upon a crew of his own. The result had been the end of Solly and his crowd. There was sufficient proof that men had escaped from the place. Daniel Antrim could not have accounted for five enemies, single-handed. All indications showed that he had been put out of action early in the melee. Moreover, the dead and wounded were all of Solly's outfit.
A policeman, entering the rear of the apartment, while his fellows were coming in through the front, had encountered an escaping man. The officer had failed to stop the fugitive.
Thus it was positive that at least one man had made a get-away from the premises. Others might have gone before. Ferret wondered. The amazing result of the fracas seemed incredible. The one escaping man — that must have been the fellow whom Solly cracked at the door. Ferret had seen the man go down, completely out.
Had he come to life and accounted for the gangsters single-handed? That seemed to be the only answer. Ferret read the account again and again. He threw the paper aside and stared unseeing from the window. After all, what did it matter? The affair was for the best. Daniel Antrim was dead — and the blame lay on Solly. Had the gang leader gotten away, the police would now be looking for the lawyer's slayer. As it was, they were seeking among gangsters who were known to be inimical to Solly Bricker. A satisfied smile curled over Ferret's lips. He had gone against Major's instructions. He had walked into a tough spot, looking for personal revenge, when he should have been serving the Five Chameleons. He had stepped away in safety, and the others had shot it out. Ferret had started something with which he would never be connected. It was work that he liked. He had done well in New York!