II + 

Rico went up the alley at the side of Sansotta’s place and knocked at the back door. It was a long time before somebody came and took a look at him through the shutter. A voice with a marked Italian accent said: + 

“Who are you?” + 

“Where’s Sansotta?” asked Rico. + 

“What do you care?” + 

“Listen, buddy,” said Rico, “don’t get all het up. I’m right. Go tell Sansotta that Cesare wants him.” + 

In a few minutes the door opened and a hand motioned for Rico to come in. The hall was dark and Rico stumbled going up the stairs. The lookout took hold of his arm. + 

“The boss’s up in his room. I’ll take you up. Where you from, buddy?” + 

“Youngstown,” said Rico. + 

“Where’s that?” + 

“Over east.” + 

The lookout led Rico down a long, dark hallway and to a door at the end of it. Lights showed over a transom. The lookout knocked three times and the door was opened. Rico went in. + 

“Well,” said Sansotta, locking the door, “here you are.” + 

“Yeah,” said Rico. + 

Sansotta was a small, bowlegged Italian with a dark, scarred face. He had on a striped suit, brown and red, and a stiff collar the points of which were so high that his chin rested on them. There was a big diamond stud in his shirtfront. + 

“You must’ve got a break,” said Sansotta. + 

Rico explained how he had got away. + 

“Pretty nifty,” said Sansotta; “I got to hand it to you on that, Cesare.” + 

“Yeah,” said Rico, “it was a good idea.” + 

Sansotta went over to a table, opened a drawer and took out a handbill which he gave to Rico. Rico smiled. + 

“Raised the ante, did they? Last I heard it was five grand.” + 

Rico read the handbill over and over and stared at the Bertillon pictures. + 

“Them pictures don’t look like me,” he said. + 

Sansotta pursed his lips and scrutinized them. + 

“Not since you got the tickler off. No, and you look thinner in them pictures. How long ago was they taken?” + 

“About seven years ago.” + 

The handbill read: + 

Wanted for murder: Cesare Bandello, known as Rico, Age: 29. Height: 5 ft. 5 in. Weight: 125. Complexion: pale. Hair: black and wavy. Eyes: light, grey or blue. His face is thin and he walks with one foot slightly turned in. Does not take up with strangers. Solitary type, morose and dangerous. Reward: $5,000, offered by management of Casa Alvarado. $2,000, offered by City of Chicago, for capture dead or alive. + 

“Well,” said Sansotta, “where you headed for?” + 

“I’m gonna stick around here for a while,” said Rico. + 

“Yeah?” said Sansotta; “pretty close to trouble, ain’t it?” + 

“I don’t know,” said Rico, “they ain’t got any idea which way I went. I got a big stake and I don’t have to worry none.” + 

“You sure went up fast over in the big burg,” said Sansotta, looking at Rico with a sort of awe. + 

“Yeah,” said Rico, “and the hell of it was, I was just getting started. Everything was on the up and up when one of the gang turned softie. Ain’t that hell?” + 

Rico had been very much elated over his escape from Chicago, so elated in fact that he had forgotten all about his troubles; but, now that the excitement of the escape had passed, the thought of how much he had lost struck him full force. He felt resentful. + 

“Yeah,” said Sansotta, “that’s the way it goes. It’s a tough game. They picked up two of my men last night.” + 

“That so?” said Rico, paying no attention. + 

Sansotta got up. + 

“Well, Cesare,” he said, “I got business or I’d stick around and chin with you. Want to stay here with me till things blow over?” + 

“Yeah,” said Rico. + 