“I only want six. Why, that ain’t many for a runner like you.”
“Not many? I should say it was, the way things are ashore—Seamen’s Union, Coaster Unions, Shipping Board paying eighty dollars a month for ordinary sailors. No, it isn’t many, but they are going to be hard to get. Make it one hundred and twenty-five dollars a man.”
“How are you going about getting them aboard, Abie?”
“A new idea with me. I’m a government detective, see. I know the hangouts and scatters of all the crooks in San Francisco. I know where they’re coinin’ the queer. I know of a few stills. I heard yesterday of two new hop joints right on Dupont Street.”
“You’ll represent yourself as an officer of the law?”
“I’ve got a gold badge. I’ll make the pinch, turn them over to an assistant detective who will bring them out to this ship, and you can do the rest. They’ll be glad enough for getaway when I get done with them.”
“I’ll make it one hundred and twenty-five, Abie, if you hurry.”
The crimp paused with one foot on the ladder which led to the quarter-deck of the Bowhead.
“There’s a detective in town, cap, nobody ever saw as far as I can find out. His name is James Keenon. They’re afraid as hell of him. I’ll be Keenon to-night. I’ll make six quiet pinches and send the men out to you.”
“But they might start trouble before they sign on for the voyage.”