The Barrel MysteryFlynn, William J. (William James)
General
The Barrel Mystery
Flynn, William J. (William James)
Detective and mystery stories; Fiction
"Calichio was up at an early hour and set to work retouching the
two-dollar American note plates. He fixed the plates on wood blocks,
made the press ready and got the right impression, prepared the ink
and struck off proofs on several kinds of paper to see the effect of
the ink and get the correct shade. He also prepared some chemicals
with which to dampen the paper and give a darker shade. Having
succeeded in getting the right shade of green Calichio explained that
the color was the same as on the genuine notes and that all they
needed now was the paper.
"Cecala then said he would leave immediately and have the paper
shipped forthwith. Turning to me Cecala gave instructions for me to be
busy only at feeding the press. Don Peppe was to direct the job. I to
obey the latter in every detail. Cecala then took the proofs and put
them in his pocket, saying that he would show them to Ignazio and Don
Piddu (Lupo and Morello) and mark the difference between this and the
first job, which was mine.
"Two days later Nick Sylvester came and brought with him a suit-case
full of paper which he gave to Calichio saying:
"'To-morrow Ignazio will come to see how the work is going along. In
the meantime you can proceed with the work and print. I will remain to
help you.'
"When Lupo arrived the next morning in company with Cecala and Cina
they all came up to the work room. After examining the work they
praised Calichio, telling him that they ought to give him a gold
medal. As for me, I was deserved of a dirty, leather medal, the
bandits hinted.
"Turning to me Lupo said, 'This homely Calabrian doesn't even deserve
to be looked at. The work he did should have been _burned on his
head_.'
"I did not reply, but played the simpleton.
"After examining the work Lupo turned to Uncle Vincent and said:
"'Uncle Vic--guess what's happened?'
"'What?'
"'Petrosino was killed in Italy.'
"'Honestly?'
"'Honestly. The papers are talking about it.'
"'I said it,' continued Uncle Vincent, 'that if Petrosino went to
Italy they would kill him.'
"'Who was the hero? He deserves a medal,' said Cecala.
"'And where have they killed him?' continued Uncle Vincent.
"'In Palermo.'
"'Then it means that it was _well done_,' said Uncle Vincent,
significantly.
"'Certainly. The way it was done it could never fail,' said Lupo.
"'And----,' Cecala said. 'This was death becoming him. How many sons
of mothers he has condemned for nothing.'
"Hearing all this I asked:
"'Who is this Petrosino?'
"'He was the head of the secret police in New York,' replied Cecala.
'A homely man! Worse than the Bubonic Plague.'
"'I never heard of him.'
"'You will never meet him,' said Cecala dryly, the others grinning.
"'Then it was successful?' continued Uncle Vincent.
"'Certainly,' replied Lupo. 'It could not be successful in New York
because he guarded his hide. Here he toted a revolver in his coat
pocket and was guarded by two policemen a short distance behind him.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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