the runt of the four knocked casually. "Mr Jenkins, sir. I have an urgent telegram for you. The message was repeated again before a sleep dazed Russ padded barefooted to the door and opened it. “Couldn't it have waited till morning? he asked. In stead of an answer he was shoved ruthlessly into his room and into a large chair that was near the door.

"Shut up punk!" the giant said threateningly. "We'll do the talking. You've got a lot of nerve coming back into Chicago again. What you up to huh?"

"What's the matter with you guys?" Russ asked. "I don't know what you're talking about. I've never seen any of you before."

Shorty who was standing at the left arm of Russ, pointed at the tattoo of a heart on Russ's forearm that had an “R” on one side of the arrow and an "A" on the other. "I suppose that "R.A.” don't stand for Ruth Ann, the boss's girl friend?"

"Why no!” the young man answered. “It stands for Russ and artillery- man. I had it done in Viet Nam.

The big ox whose name was Pete grasped Russ's undershirt and pulled it up to expose a scar under the left nipple. "I thought so,” he snarled. "There's that operation scar that Doc Devaney made when you got plugged in that shoot out with the Sout' Side bunch."

"You're crazy," Russ almost shouted. "That's a war wound I got in Viet Nam last year." I'm Russ Jenkins... who do you think I am?”

"You're Muggsy Baxter dats who", Joe snapped. "I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen the scar and the tattoo. I'da swore that punk Jake carried out that contract on you. He collected for it and said you was dead in the big Lake. And with a cement overcoat.'

It was all that Russ could do to keep from screaming. "But I'm not that man. I swear I'm Russ Jenkins. I can prove it."

·

"We've had proof enough Muggsy," Pete muttered. "The boss wants us to make sure the job is done and done right dis time. Im' gonna make sure myself. You're gonna get creamed right dis time buddy.”

Shorty and Joe lifted the thoroughly frightened salesman to his feet and his knees were wildly beating against one another. "Wanta dress him

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