and shouting children. It was a typical New York Ghetto thoroughfare. Speedy redoubled his vigil and his pace, afraid of losing his quarry in the midst of this teeming activity. Soon he was only a pace or two behind Callahan, and Speedy drew his cap—Pop Dillon's uniform cap, which the youth had borrowed when he took up his duties as motorman on the car—down further over his face. He was afraid of being recognized should Callahan suddenly turn and scrutinize him.
If Callahan should follow this course a half hour or more it would bring him back to De Lacey Street, and Speedy wondered if that was the thug leader's destination. Perhaps Puggy himself had not been present at the theft of the car and now wanted to make certain that his lieutenants had succeeded in their purpose. Speedy hoped this was the case, for, once the gangster neared the car barn, young Swift could dash ahead by a circuitous route, notify Johnny Burke and nab Callahan in the act of spying around the barn. Then he could be arrested and held for at least twenty-four hours on suspicion—time enough to pump him for information about the whereabouts of the car.
But Speedy hardly believed the shrewd gang leader would be foolish enough to adopt these tactics.
As if to confirm this belief, Callahan suddenly stopped in front of a tenement,—so suddenly that the following Speedy nearly crashed into him,—ascended three worn and refuse-littered stone steps and pulled a bell. Speedy loitered at the bottom of
