The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-08-21

You didn't grow up with us. And
you know how loyal Nicky is"
Sure" Tony agreed, II know.
But I just want to know whether
it will be all right if I talk to
Nicky. I don't want my brother
in.law to be a cheap crook or a
gunman."
You're taking lot for
granted, aren't you, Tony?"
I'm taking you whenever you
say the word, Rose, I've been
savin' up. We could furnish a
nice little flat right now. And I
get two weeks off in four
months. It'd be kind of smart
to get married because I wouldn't
have anything else to do"
Maybe" Rose said. What
could be nicer than keeping time
from resting heavy on your
hands?"
mo k:ddin', Rose. Will you
marry me and come away on my
vacation?"
"I'LL THINK 1T OVER"
"I'll give the matter my most
earnest consideration" promised
Rose, who was a private Secre-
tary and used to business Ian
guage.
So Tony told Nicky about that
fork in the road and he told him
about Johnny Nardieno and his
kind.
Those tough guys are the
real suckers, Nicky," Tony said.
ITO hear them tell it, all the
cops are. dumb. I know he has
told you I'm dumb because
he's that kind of fellow. But
did it ever strike you funny,
Nicky, that the guys that put
those smart crooks and gun
men behind the bars and send
them to Sing Sing and other
colleges are nobody else but
dumb cops?"
Not Johnny" Nicky de-
Tended his idol. "Johnny's too
smart. He's too brave. He could
whip a hundred cops. I bet
he could whip you"
Maybe" Tony granted. CIV
cry night I kneel down and
pray that he gets the chance.
I want to find out for sure"
Nicky was not very much i'm
pressed until the night his old
man sent him down to Pat Gains
saloon-Pardon us! Restaurant
for can of beer. Pats place was
a big one. 1t was about half
past ten at night.
A STICKUP
Nicky went in and stuck the
can on the bar. He saw Tony
standing there in his civilian
clothes and Tony spied him and
called him. Come on. I'll buy
you a drink. What'll it be?" So |
Nicky ordered sarsaparilla. And
they were drinking when four
tough guys came in.
One of them was Johnny Mar
dieno. Nick was just going to
speak to him when he grated,
This is a stickup. Don't nobody
move or We'll plug you. Get
away from that bar. Into the
back room. All of you. Step on
it,"
And Nicky got scared because
the four of them had guns in
their hands. He moved with the
others toward the back room. But
Tony just stood there. slipping his
beer and Johnny noticed him.
"Oh," he sneered, 80 here's the
brave copper! Well, this is a
stick-up and what are you goin'
to do about it?" He moved over
to Tony and stuck his gun in his
ribs. II wish to God you'd try
somethin'. I want an excuse to
plug you"
Tony was scared all right. His
hand was shalgng as he started
to set his beer down. But just be-
fore the glass hit the bar, his |
shakes must have got terrible be-
cause they suddenly twitched his |
arm so the glass with all the beer
in it sailed through the air and
landed in Johnny's face.
And Tony had lost his shakes.
His hand followed the glass and
grabbed Johnny's gun. He whirled
it and shot three times and two
of the other gunner dropped.
The third dropped his gun and
started to scream, Don't shoot!
I surrender"
Tony whipped out his bracelets
and yelled, Hey, Nick! Come
ERE. Take these bracelets and
slap them on that yellow punk.
Put his hands together. Then I'm
gonna show you how a dumb cop
takes a smart tough guy apart.
Put up your hands, you louise"
he said to Johnny.
Johnny was willing, all right.
But he wasn't so scientific. Tony
battered him all over the place. He
hit him with everything he had
and he kept on hitting him after
Johnny started to beg for mercy.
Johnny was crying when the other
cops arrived and picked up one
dead gangster, one wounded one
and Johnny Nardieno, Nicky Fer
rento'S hero.
See what I mean?" Tony said
to Nicky. "These gunner are vel
low rats. Don't pick them for
heroes or you'll get into trouble"
Nicky was looking at him, bug
eyed. Tony was dumb all right, or
he'd know that Nicky had a new
hero and his name was Tony Bel
lotti. But he was just a dumb
copper. Know what he said next?