The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1946-04-02
4@ Stanley 0aGag
CHAPTER xxxIV


~ to eat, I lit the fire and we
stretched out side by side on the
familiar rug.
It's funny about the idea that
came to me then. How 1t had ger
minated in her mind to take shape
in mine. I wasn't consciously CIV
ing the mtater any thought then,
but suddenly 1t hit me.
Mickey You were right Why
shouldn't I go step farther2 Why
wait for my freedom"
She turned to me, quesioningly.
II was going to let Boggio be-
1ieve he'd won. I was going to
pretend was ready to pick up
where I'd left oh-and wait for
q more favorable time before
striking at him. But / don't have
to waitl"
''Wlaat makes you think that
now2 After what you said before?"
You see, Mickey, all these
years there's one thing that kept
me under Boggio's thumb. Fear
First the fear Of never getting the
break that would enable me to
study; then the fear that he might
use the confession I'd signed, and
finally the fear Of what he might
do II / refused to stay in line right
now.
But things have changed since
this evening. I'm no longer afraid
Of what the law may do 10 me,
and 90 the only advantage Boggio
holds Is the continued threat Of
torture.
e''NOw supposins I turn the Ia
bles7 Surprising say to him:
.Boggio, you've brought matters so
far that I'm ready to take my
share Of the rap in court II have
to- And now I'm not afraid Of you
any longer. Neither Of you nor Of
your stOoges, gunner and tortur-
ers. You want things to keep on
as they always were. You want to
continue piling up more dough
with your racketS. It's okay with
me. But ! warn you, Boggio, that
II any Of your men so much as
lay Q finger on me, III turn you in
right away
''That'll give him the choice be-
tween the vague possibility Of de-
nunciation and the certainty Of 1t.
tell you, Mickey, he'll back down
in the end and then III dictate my
terms. Not only viii he have to let
me 80 but he'll also 1ire Don"
leaned over and kissed her
again.
do 1t tomorrow"
VTNaE moment came in saw
1 the triumphant, unholy leer. He
motioned me to sit down, then
eased himself into the chair at the
desk and leaned back, pressing
the tips Of his pudgy fingers to-
"Weil, well. Kabateckl MY
cramps have been bothering me
again, but your visit already
makes me feel better"
His voice, which had been low
and controlled at 1lrst, began to
rise on exultation.
$50 you were going to quit,
Kabateck? So you were going to
walk out on me, eh?"
I didn't answer. wanted him
to get through before I started. 1t
would be interesting to hear all
he had on his mind.
'You want to know something,
Kabateck? I misjudged you. I
thought you were q smart boy.
And tough. That's what I thought
the first time we met, and that's
what ] continued to think during
all the years I was building you
up. But I've learned something.
You're 9 weak sisterl A very weak
eisterl"
IL took q certain effort on my
part to remain silent, but man
aged.
ssEVROM now on, Kabateck, things
L are going to be lot differ
ent. The day you walked out, you
annrIied the agreement between u.s.
I'm not bound to it any more. I've
decided upon new terms that are
in eject as of today. No more per-
centage Of the take. And q very
nominal salary. About enough to
keep you going. What d'you say TO
that?"
He had begun TO shout, and the
veins on his temples were standing
out against the sallow skin.
"And you know what else? You're
through as . lawyer. I'm going to