Bookie Joe storyline (May – September 1935) Bookie Joe ran the gambling syndicate of the city with his partner Blake. When one of Joe’s customers, Mark Masters, got hard up for money, he shot Joe and took his cash. Toby Townly, Mark’s girl, stayed behind and took Joe to the hospital where he recuperated. He managed to escape the hospital before Tracy got there and he had his man Blake kill Mark. Tracy cracked down on Joe’s gambling outfits and in return, Joe had Blake kidnap Tess. Joe, Blake and Tess ended up in the Fairground stables surrounded by the police. Toby was sent in as a negotiator, but before anything could be accomplished, Blake broke an oil lamp, setting the stables on fire. In the confusion, Toby and Blake were arrested, but Joe fell through the stable floor and was hung by a horse harness. Later at headquarters, Blake took a pen gun from his shoe, shot the officer on duty and pinned it on Toby. Toby was in jail briefly, but Tracy was able to prove Blake was the guilty party and she was set free.

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