There were five employees inside, regarding him calmly. They seemed not in the least disturbed.
“All right, boys,” Bender said; “this is the finish. Get out.”
One of them asked if this was a pinch. Bender told him it wasn't if he got the lead out and beat it. Three of them marched out without a word, but the other two changed their eyeshades for hats and told Bender so long.
Bender followed them out, went down the hall and looked inside three other rooms. They were all dark, but from the light outside he could see they were comfortably furnished and all the beds wore silk spreads.
When he came back downstairs the lower floor was emptied. Employees had deserted Patton in his hour of need and he stood alone and captured by a taxi driver.
Bender went in the kitchen. The Negro chef was hurriedly putting on his pants and when he saw the Ranger he began to jabber and protest his innocence.
“Never mind,” Bender said. “You go on home and don't take any more jobs like this. How do I get downstairs?”
The Negro pointed to a door in the wall beside a big gas stove and Bender went over and opened it. A flight of narrow steps was revealed. Gun in hand, Bender rolled down them. The cellar smelled strongly of raw mash and before him he saw two great copper stills. The lights were on but nobody was there.
“Hey!” he yelled.
He came back upstairs. The Negro was on his way out.