“Sure she was.... A negro had done somethin terrible to her and then he’d strangled her.... I felt terrible. I used to go to school with her. An there aint a girl on Cameron Avenue been out after dark they’re so scared.”
“Sure I saw all about it in the paper last night. Imagine livin right on the next block.”
“Did you see me touch that hump back?” cried Rosie as
he settled down beside her in the taxi. “In the lobby of the theater?” He pulled at the trousers that were tight over his knees. “That’s goin to give us luck Jake. I never seen a hump back to fail.... if you touch him on the hump ... Ou it makes me sick how fast these taxis go.” They were thrown forward by the taxi’s sudden stop. “My God we almost ran over a boy.” Jake Silverman patted her knee. “Poor ikle kid, was it all worked up?” As they drove up to the hotel she shivered and buried her face in her coatcollar. When they went to the desk to get the key, the clerk said to Silverman, “There’s a gentleman waiting to see you sir.” A thickset man came up to him taking a cigar out of his mouth. “Will you step this way a minute please Mr. Silverman.” Rosie thought she was going to faint. She stood perfectly still, frozen, with her cheeks deep in the fur collar of her coat.
They sat in two deep armchairs and whispered with their heads together. Step by step, she got nearer, listening. “Warrant ... Department of Justice ... using the mails to defraud ...” She couldnt hear what Jake said in between. He kept nodding his head as if agreeing. Then suddenly he spoke out smoothly, smiling.
“Well I’ve heard your side Mr. Rogers.... Here’s mine. If you arrest me now I shall be ruined and a great many people who have put their money in this enterprise will be ruined.... In a week I can liquidate the whole concern with a profit.... Mr. Rogers I am a man who has been deeply wronged through foolishness in misplacing confidence in others.”
“I cant help that.... My duty is to execute the warrant.... I’m afraid I’ll have to search your room.... You see we have several little items ...” The man flicked the ash off his cigar and began to read in a monotonous voice. “Jacob Silverman, alias Edward Faversham, Simeon J. Arbuthnot, Jack Hinkley, J. J. Gold.... Oh we’ve got a pretty little list.... We’ve done some very pretty work on your case, if I do say it what shouldnt.”
They got to their feet. The man with the cigar jerked his head at a lean man in a cap who sat reading a paper on the opposite side of the lobby.
Silverman walked over to the desk. “I’m called away on business,” he said to the clerk. “Will you please have my bill prepared? Mrs. Silverman will keep the room for a few days.”