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

sure, JnaG WOulQ IIlIOW 4OllS
Bellotti out of the running. And
Tony was a nice enough guy. But
he didn't have the stuff Johnny
had.
Johnny had everything. He was
the toughest guy on Second Ave
nue., and down in that section, the
toughest guy had to be pretty
tough. He was the big shot OF
the gang.
Nicky's old man, Giuseppe Fer
ento, who was a Sandhog digging
subways, always said that Johnny
was no good. He said it behind
his back, He said it in front OF
his face. "You get the hell out Of
this flat" he'd tell Johnny. You'll
end up in Sing Sing. I don't want
any girl of mine mixed up with
you. Get out, I tell you'll" And
Johnny'd get because Nicky'S old
man was still pretty tough him.
self.
ROSY COLD TO HIM
Nicky used to watch out for
his old man and tip Johnny off
when he was coming. Not that
it seemed to do him any good with
Rosy. Rosy was always cold and
polite to Johnny. But that was as
far as Johnny got with her.
But Johnny had brains because
he always wore snappy clothes and
he always had money and he
never worked. 1t takes a bralny
guy to have all those things with
out working.
Tony Bellotti was all right, too,
but he wasn't as good as Johnny
He wasn't as smart. He didn't
have the dough Johnny had and
he worked for everything he
owned. Anybody could get money
that worked for it. The way to
get money was the smart way.
That's what Johnny always told
Nicky.
How? Oh, there was a million
ways. Outsmart him. Make a
sucker out of him. Get him into
dice game with loaded dice. Or
roll him when he was drunk.
Or-"Oh, you're too young to
know as much as I do" Johnny
would tell Nicky. wait till you
get little older.
Then I'll wise you up. Say,
what's Rosy dom these days,
Nicky? Who's she goin' out with?
Who? Tony Bellotti! Why, that
lousy punk. That lousy copper!
He's dumb. All cops Is dumb.
ALWAYS GRINNING
Yeh, Tony was on the cops.
Just like Johnny said, he was
dumb. Weren't all cops dumb?
But Nicky kind of liked Tony at
that. Tony was a pretty good
guy. He was always grinning.
He'd look at you out Of his dark
eyes and he'd grin at you and
poke you in the ribs.
who did you ever lick, NiCky?
Yeh? And he's bigger than you?
Oh, maybe he was sick. Let's see
how you shape up. That's good.
Only keep your left up higher.
Keep it too low and the other fell
low'll reach over it and flatten
your nose. That's it. Ready? I'm
goin' to hit you right on the nose.
First, in the bread basket-like
that. And-there you are, right on
the Smeller. told you to keep that
left up higher. Here's a quarter.
Go buy yourself an automobile.
Think Rose is ready yet?"
"Yeh,' Nicky would tell him.
"AIl dolled up. But I'll bet she
keeps you waitin'. Let's see your
gat, Tony. Boy, I'd like to have
one like that. I could 60 places"
"Where?" Tony VOID laugh at
him. There's no war over here.
If you had to buy bullets for it and
do target practice you wouldn't
like it,
"Yeh? I wouldn't mind buyin'
bullets for it. I'd get so I was as
good shot as Johnny Nardieno.
He can hit quarter shootin' from
his pocket"
FORGET ABOUT GUNS
Listen, Kid. don't get in the
habit Of steppin' behind gun to
do your fightin'. Anybody does it
is yellow because two to one the
other guy hasn't got one. And
that's a good way to get a free
ride to Sing Sing and a seat that'll
burn your pants off. And don't
believe everything Johnny Mar.
dieno tells you.
He's full of mularkey. Hello,
Rose. You all dressed already? 1
was only waitin' an hour and
half. What's your hurry? It's just
8:45. Well only be an hour late.
But you are Rose, amt you? 1
want to be sure. You look so diff
ferent. Prettier."
And going up in the subway
to a show one night, Tony said
to her:
Rose, now don't get me wrong,
because I'm buttin' in where it's
none of my business. It's about
Nicky. Swell kid, Nicky. But
he's gettin' some funny ideas.
Hes gettin' them from Johnny
Nardieno. It's a bad thing for
a boy of that age to get wrong
ideas"
you don't like Johnny, do you,
Tony?" Rose asked,
who does?" Tony asked. Your
father don't' You don't. Or do
you? Look, Rose, if you do, I
won't knock him. I don't like to
do it now. I'm only dom it be-
cause Nicky's your brother. And
I like him besides. A kid that
age is standin' in a fork of the
roads. He can On along the hard