“Who else is there beside Bart and Hoke?”
“Nobody that can run the racket. That’s why Hoke is anxious to make trouble.
“If Bart gets out, we’ve got to take Hoke as the boss and like it. He’s in right with the unions — just like Bart.
“Me and Spunk Hogan — we handle the dock wallopers, and there’s other guys that does the same; but we’re under orders, same as Hoke ought to be.”
“This will put you in wrong with Bart, then.”
“Looks that way. But it will make him sore at Killer Durgan, too.”
“What’ll he do about Durgan?”
“Nothing, now — unless Durgan gets funny. Bart will stick to the docks, if he’s let alone; but if Durgan had gotten smart — like refusing to come through with the pay-off, nothing would have stopped Bart.
“If I’d go back without that money, Bart wouldn’t blame me. He’d hang it on Durgan and you along with him.”
“Yeah?” Ernie’s voice indicated that he was uneasy. “You think he would, Ben?”