The two men did not notice Cliff. He heard Ernie speak as they left.
“We’ll go down to Pezzeroni’s joint,” Ernie had said. “We can stand a couple of shots. I’ll fix you up there.”
Cliff had heard of Pezzeroni’s that night. Madge had been telling him much about the underworld.
Cliff had remarked that his term in Sing Sing had ended most of his old acquaintanceship with the bad lands, and Madge had set out to “put him wise.”
Pezzeroni’s was a combined restaurant and speakeasy. Cliff knew where it was.
So he had waited until Madge had appeared. She had glanced at him as she walked through the lobby. That was all.
Then Cliff had left, and was now on his way. He had hopes that he might be able to listen in on the conversation between Ernie Shires and his companion.
As he rode along, Cliff looked back, just as the cab turned a corner. He saw another taxi following. The fact worried him.
He kept glancing back until his own cab stopped in front of Pezzeroni’s. He saw another cab pass down the avenue, without turning the corner. He was not sure whether or not it was the vehicle which had apparently been on his trail.
He dismissed his own cab and waited outside the restaurant. Seeing no one approach, he went inside.