“All right. I’ll follow your advice. I’ll go back that way, to-night.”
“Good. I know it’s difficult for you, Crull. Our situation is just this:
“Blair Windsor is a successful business man. He is an outstanding figure in this district, as well as in Boston. His friends and acquaintances are the best. He pays no attention to what is going on — neither do his friends. Jarnow was the first who wised up to anything.
“We must keep everything within the proper bounds. I thought it was wise to work you in up here. You are a valuable man. Of course we had trouble with Jarnow. Now, with two kills to your credit, you are something of a liability.”
“But suppose that Jarnow had seen something if I hadn’t been here—”
“I was coming to that. When I came up here to stay, I saw that danger immediately. We needed a man of action. Pedro wouldn’t do. I didn’t bring him.
“You were the man, and I found you, through Bronson. Old Tiger did me a good turn when he sent you my way. After all, every one of us is playing with dynamite; so you might as well be with us. You know how to handle dynamite.”
* * *
Birdie Crull grinned at the compliments. There was a knock on the door. The old man thrust the paper into the drawer of the bureau.
“What is it, Jerry?” he asked.