The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-03-06

THE STORY: Leo Kabateck,
lately broke, Is In the money now
that he Is prime legal adviser to
racketeer Virgil BoggiO. Boggio's
girl friend, Ginger, makes play
for him when Boggio goes out OF
town. KabateCk Is game.
ONE OF the men who had glanced
~ at Ginger as he walked in was
still trying to catch her eye. I
shifted my chair little so as to
make it impossible. But 1t wasn't
really necessary. She was all wrap
ped up in what I had to say, Once
woman's curiosity is aroused she
likes to have 1t satisfied.
She was amazed I'd come this far
with so many strikes against me. A
good looking dame in my position
wouldn't have found 1t so tough.
But what did a fellow do?
while you were strutting your
stuff at Minskys," I said, Il was
eating my heart out in place
called Harris, Ferguson and Com
pany, the lousiest joint that ever
unloaded cheap crap on Five-and-
Tens"
had only to mention the place
in order to feel some Of the old
resentment
II don't know If you can under
stand it, Ginger" I continued, but
for fellow like me it was like put
ting a race horse to work in a coal
mine. It's not that was afraid Of
work. On the contrary. / had ter
rife, burning ambition. I was going
to make name for myself. But
showing goods around for twelve
bucks week! Being bawled out by
a no good-son -of-a-gun with big
cigar in his face.
Yes. Inside of me, Ginger, there
were all sorts of things burning to
come out. don't know how to ex-
plain it to you, but I wasn't an or
binary guy. I'd wanted to compose
music but had to forget about 1t be-
cause it takes lots of study and
you're not at all sure you'll be able
to make a living that way. Maybe
they don't recognize you until after
you're dead. But believe me, Ginger,
at that time I wouldn't have minded
that. If I'd only known I'd have
enough dough to live on, just
enough to eat and keep a roof over
my head. There was this terrific
desire for expression that had to
come out.
And so it came out in another
way. I realized was good at sling
ing words around. I had a fast
comeback. And SO / decided to be-
come lawyer. It's good profess
sion, Ginger. Even If it's nothing
like composing music. You can go
far, you can do good, and you can
make money"
IT MUST really have been in fine
fettle, speaking In a low. tense
voice with Ginger gazing at me, her
chin resting on her cupped hands,
All need is an appreciatiVe au-
dience to get worked up.
] paused for breath, and then,
leaning on the table, edged a little
closer.
you can see the set-up, Ginger.
A young punk with brains stumbling
up a blind alley. A kid full Of Bit
terness and hatred for the world
that doesn't understand him. And
that lasted for months. The same
old routine; breathing my back and
having the whip cracked over me.
Doing work. that required no in
telligsnee whatsoever. But ! didn't
LET 1t get me. You see Ginger,
knew that some day I'd be doing
what ! wanted. Otherwise think
I'd have bumped myself on. There
were times when I'd look out those
dirty windows on the fifth floor OF
Harris, Ferguson and Company, and
only see the SCOT and the crime. But
beyond Il was q city. And II was Just
as much my city as anyone
! stopped again 10 gulp some wa
ter down. For some reason this
break IN my speech brought q sud-
den change Of mood. What was
dolng7 Giving Ginger q private au-
dillon Of my memolrs7 What f0r2
She didn't Give a denim about me.
What tho deuce" 1 said. IAN
that'a ancient history"
She looked al me with those ble