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Show - 55 - "Many rumors began to fly around the neighborhood about Dirk. As I said, he left his father's old house and went to live in a fine home up near the Cliff House where only the affluent lived. As you know, in those days the Cliff House was a world renowned restaurant, situated high on the -rocky cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean The wealthy wined and dined there and had grand parties. He had the old house repainted, cleaned up and it actually looked presentable, but he never lived there himself again. His fishing business was flourishing,but not to the extent that he could possibly live so luxuriously. Everyone speculated where his money was coming from. Maddie and I knew that he was racketeering; smuggling liquor into the country and selling it to the crime syndicate and even transporting if out it between states. He seemed to be cursed, as he couldn't live with- Claudine, and was a desperate man. He would do anything to win the hand of the beautiful daughter of the Gavens." Maddie quickly picked up the conversation. "Yes, and he did just about anything to accomplish that end." Everyone turned their attention to this little woman whose actions were like a little bird. Her quick movements reminded them of a little sparrow hopping about in search of food for her young ones. "Dirk became entangled with men whose reputations were not of the best. In fact, it was suspicioned that he was now a fullfledged member of the local crime syndicate. He began to frequent places of ill repute in the Chinatown section of the city. You girls are too young to remember the terrible Tong Wars that went on in San Francisco during 1920' s. But I'm sure that your mother and father recall the killings as a result of them that were constantly occuring." Jim nodded his head in agreement. "In those years this area was quite isolated." continued Maddie. "The Gaven residence was the only house within the radius of about a mile and a half and there were nights when we would hear screams coming |
