A door opened, and Big Ben Hargins entered. Ernie waved his hand in greeting. Hargins noted the scowl on Ernie’s face.
“What’s goin’ wrong, Ernie?” he questioned.
Ernie pointed to the newspaper on the floor.
“Some smart guy is trying to queer the rackets,” he said. “I’ll bet it’s the same bozo who messed things up for us last night. Well” — Ernie laughed sullenly — “we’ll see how far he gets with us! We’re organized for guys like him!”
“You’ve got six less men than you had last night,” was Big Ben’s candid reply. “Three dead — three laid up! That’s somethin’ to laugh off, ain’t it?”
“Well, ain’t you bringing in six dock wallopers to fill in?”
“Sure thing. They’ll be here tonight!”
“All right! That fixes us!”
“Yeah. But how about the three guys that was to drive them old trucks to—”
“That’s been fixed. I got hold of three others to-day. They’ll be in soon. That’s why I’m here now.”