Say It With Lead!

Carroll John Daly

Description

Race Williams was a man not above using a gun, nor of making a quick buck. But there was one other—Sticker Haddock—who enjoyed murder like one does a game of checkers. So when Haddock’s employer, a well-off politician and bootlegging kingpin, approaches Williams out of fear for his own life, a chance to match wits with Haddock and make $200,000 lands on his table. Although Williams is quick to accept the offer, it may be in vain, for Williams’ own life becomes put in the crosshairs of the man they call “The Shooting Fool.” Story #8 in the Race Williams series.



Carroll John Daly (1889–1958) was the creator of the first hard-boiled private eye story, predating Dashiell Hammett's first Continental Op story by several months. Daly's classic character, Race Williams, was one of the most popular fiction characters of the pulps, and the direct inspiration for Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer.

Sujets

• Hard boiled
• Popular culture
• Detective
• Private investigator
• Mystery
• Black Mask
• Mickey Spillane
• Raymond Chandler
• Dashiell Hammett
• Mike Hammer
• Pulp Fiction

Informations

• Publié par: Black Mask
• Date de parution: 12 novembre 2017
• Nombre de lectures: 4
• EAN13: 9788827516188
• Langue: English

Extrait

Say It With Lead!

Race Williams book #8

A Black Mask Classic

by
Carroll John Daly

Black Mask
Copyright Information

© 2017 Steeger Properties, LLC. Published by arrangement with Steeger Properties, LLC, agent for the Estate of Carroll John Daly.

Publication History:
“Say It With Lead!” originally appeared in the June 1925 issue of Black Mask magazine.

No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from the publisher.

“Race Williams” is a trademark of the Estate of Carroll John Daly. “Black Mask” is a trademark of Steeger Properties, LLC, and registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Say It With Lead!

Chapter 1
The man is forty-five; that’s figuring low—fifty-five; that’s figuring high; but he don’t tell me his age. He’s tall, long, and gaunt, with great sunken eyes that are steady and piercing; scrutinizing if you get what I mean. Gray or brown and then gray and brown together. The iron gray hair runs up his age, but the jet black mustache brings it down again. Thin as a rail, perhaps, but as hard as one, too. His hand is steady and grips mine tightly, which means little—great honesty, much politics, or high class confidence stuff. Sharp nose, dominant chin, hard set mouth, and you have him. Howel L. Foster is his ticket. One last bet—he has character; good or bad it doesn’t matter. Here was a face you don’t see every day.
“Mr. Williams,” he sort of sank into a chair, “I have come from Middlend, up near the Canadian border. In a few days my life will be in real danger. I will pay you well to see that it goes no further than a danger.”
As he regarded me now, his eyes seemed to drop further and further into those great sunken hollows. I nodded but said nothing. Here was a man who seemingly controlled the time of his death—or at least the threat of his death. Undoubtedly, in a few days, he would make a decision that would call for blood.
“Your integrity is beyond doubt,” he went on, his voice free from flattery; just one who states a great universal truth. “I shall speak freely—hide nothing—and for once I think, put to the acid test that well known courage of yours. One lone question—” a long, bony finger came up and hovered above my chest. “After hearing what I have to say, are you in a position to act at once—within twenty-four hours?”
Fairly put—and I gave him a fair answer.
“I make no promise of taking your case,” I told him. “If my job is within the law, or at least,” I smiled, “within the law as I interpret it, and—” it was my turn to point a finger, “is sufficiently honest, and has a fair figure—why—I’m your man within twenty-four minutes.”
That was talking, you’ll admit—besides, I hadn’t exactly said anything.
His eyes never left mine.
“Good!” he snapped. “To begin with, my position up my way is one of considerable authority. We have politics there as well as in New York. Middlend and the county act when I speak. In case of trouble I can stand behind you.”
Good enough—but how far behind me, he didn’t say. He paused a minute—stroked his chin—then in sudden determination:
“In plain words, Mr. Williams, I am a politician; also the head of a large organization of bootleggers. I have many political friends, and in a few years have rolled up a considerable fortune shipping wet goods over the Border.”
I’m no nurse for a carload of gin, but I didn’t tell him so yet. He had the cards; let him play them. If he read anything in my face, he was welcome to it. He waited for my question that didn’t come—then he spilled the works.
“As I said—the law is my friend, but a new factor has stepped in. Hijackers.”
“And you want me to protect you from them,” I cut in.
What was the use of his wasting my time? That wasn’t my line. What he needed was a cheap gunman.
“No!” He went on hurriedly, reading the decision in my words. “Listen—I have defied these crooks—refused to be blackmailed—hired strong, quick men, one in particular—” he leaned forward now, tapping me on the knee, “a man to be feared—one to test the courage of even Race Williams—Sticker Haddock.”
Soft and low he let the name out.
If he expected me to roll over and play dead, he was disappointed. Oh, I had heard of Haddock. “The Shooting Fool” they called him on the Avenue. He lived up to his name—went West and shot himself into stir for the whole works. The last I heard of him, he was doing life for a playful bit of murder. I told Foster so.
“Just so.” He nodded. “I had him pardoned—the judge who convicted him made the appeal. I wanted Haddock with me. I got him.” Those long, bony fingers clasped together. “He’s my chauffeur, my confidential man. I’ve paid him big—trusted him—and now he has betrayed me. Within the last few days I have discovered beyond a doubt that he is working with a band of hijackers, if he is not the actual leader. He gives them information as to the time and routes of my trucks. I have been losing a fortune and dare not act. Now—”
I thought I saw the whole game as I butted in.
“Why don’t you give him the gate? Blackmail?”
“Fear.” He raised his head as he uttered the word. “The day I fire him, I can no longer call my life my own. This is the first man that I have ever feared. Haddock is a killer.”
“Frame him—ship him back to jail.”
Again came the shake of his head.
“He knows too much for that. Free, he don’t dare talk, and—”
“And dead, he can’t.” I came to my feet. “I do a bit of shooting, all right, Mr. Foster—but I’m no hired murderer. Besides, you can get a dozen lads to plug this Haddock in the back for half my figure.”
“That is not the question.” He too came to his feet and deep in those sockets his eyes blazed. “I have defied the law—yes. But I play a safe game. Howel L. Foster does not have men shot in the back. I know little of a gun. To have you with me—to let him see you—to guess your purpose in being in town might be enough. But I would expect you to shoot to protect me—and later, perhaps, to avenge me.”
I whistled softly. This man felt the approach of death. And he was right—Haddock was a bad actor—none worse. But it was not my game. It was an old story to me. Many an easy-going bootlegger had hired gunmen to protect him—gunmen who sold out to the hijackers. No law there—just the law of the gun. Not in my line. I started to open up when he broke in again.
“You too fear Haddock—and I don’t blame you.”
Though his voice was soft, his lips curled into a sneer. But I’m too old for that stuff—“Sticks and stones will break my bones” was written for children; but, it still goes for me. However, I half turned and ripped his arguing up the back.
“Your game’s a dead one.” I give him the glassy eye. “If you get bumped off, where do I fit? Oh, I might take it out on Haddock for punching holes in my meal ticket—but that comes under the head of pleasure, not business. I’m all business.”
His eyes were narrow and shrewd now—two distant slits. You had to admire the man. Haddock was a killer. This Foster was marked for death, yet he was cold enough to lean up against a gas heater and freeze the boiler.
“Race Williams,” he was playing his last card and I knew it; “come what may, I’ll fire Haddock. But—by God—Haddock won’t dare kill me. Death—or justice—or just fear, horror of the price of his crime will be over his head. He won’t dare to kill me.”
Pretty and dramatic; yes, but it didn’t give me the expected thrill. I almost looked up at Foster and winked, but I didn’t; there was something in his face that held me—something behind those crafty eyes. And this time when he spoke he said something—a real mouthful of wisdom.
“If I die.” His finger came slowly out and sought the third button of my vest. “If I am murdered, I leave a will.” He paused and smacked his lips. “The man who captures my slayer—dead or alive—will receive two hundred thousand dollars.”
His hand just circled through the air and came down on the desk before me.
Oh, I was on my feet looking at him now. The thing was new, the thing was clever; but most of all it was reasonable. It was my turn to smack my lips. And Foster saw the change come over me. I didn’t try to hide my expression. It’s always better to be dragged in than to jump in. More money, if you get what I mean.
“See the point?” His hand was on my shoulder now and he was talking rapidly. “You will come with me. Haddock will see you—understand your purpose there as soon as I fire him—and let him know just what’s in my will. He wouldn’t dare kill me, knowing there would be two hundred thousand dollars waiting for the man who got him—and