Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

Every Tuesday " Well. Mike liad to work for his,'' Wolly said non-committaHy. "So did I—only wo work differently." "If you can call it work !" "It's work all right—and some day I'm going to make a big name for mj-self." " And a number !" "Tlioy'll never stick a number on me. They leave us big shots alone." "You're not the only big shot in the racket 1 Marino doesn't seem to like you much !" • "I'm not afraid of him. I was a pretty good student in that .school in France—even if I did get a glass eye for a diploma." "Wiiat did you learn?" inquired Molly curiously. "I learned that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Triggernometry—with the accent on the trigger. Ill make a million dollars in a year at the rate I'm going." "At the r^te you're going a million dollars won't do you any good in a year," she told him. "Oh. you can't gcr away with it, Cookie—pull out before it's too late." 'Wait a year, then ask me." he said, and held her n little clo.«er. "Aw, let's cut out this stuff. This is a birthday party. I haven't been able to say it before, but there's .something I've been wanting to nsk you." He looked fondly down into her grey e.\es. But Molly, avoiding his gaze, avoided the question, too. "You said .something a moment ago about the shortest distance between two points being a straight line." "I get you." said he, reversing skil- fully, as a couple nearly collided with tlicni. "Str-iit and narrow—is that it? But. Molly. I want to ask you " "Wait a >ear," she interrupted, " then ask me." The nuiiic stopped, and he took her back to the table, disappointed, but out- wardly as gay as ever. Mike rose as they approached, and she asked him to get her cloak, declaring that she must go liome. The cloik was fetched. "So lon,-j. Cookie," .said Mike. " Sorr;, we have to go so soon." Cookie sat watching them till they had van- ished through the dis- tant doorway, then he looked down at the table. Beside his plate lay a long, narrow case covered with white lambskin. Molly had scorned the present he had given her! Not. however, because she scorned the giver. Mike escorted her home in a taxi, and she in- vited liim into the little drawing-room, while she went off to change into a negligee. On a table stood a flamed photograph ot himself, side bj- side with a framed photo- graph of Cookie He turned the one of Cookie face downwards, and felt in his waistcoat pocket for the engage- ment-ring he planned to slip on Molly's finger liefore he left. But when Molly came back there were tears in her eyes. "Oh. Mike." .she said miserably, " what are BOY»S CINEMA we going to do about Cookie ? We've got to get him out of the racket."- "Why don't you ask him to cut it out?" suggested !Mikc. "I did, but he stalled mc off. He wants another year." "Isn't that funny?" he growled. "I thought he'd do anything in the world for you. You know' he's awfully fond of you, Molly." "I know. He tried to propose to mc tonight." "What did you tell him?" demanded JMike anxiously. "I told him I'd listen when he de- cided to play the straight game." "Do you love him?" he asked, taking her hands in his. "I don't know," she confessed. "But if it would get him out of the racket. I'd marry him to-morrow." "I guess that's loTe all right." he growled. "Pretty hard to take, though. You know I " "I know, Mike." she nodded. "35ut he needs mc more." Miko drew a long breath, and con- trived to grin. "I'll have a talk with him to-morrow. Molly,'' he promised. "You won't ha\e to wait a year." "Oh. Mike, you're a darling 1" she whispered. "I don't know what I'd do without you." Ho urged her not to worry, and he bade hor good-night without saying a «ord about the ring in his pocket. On his way to the door he restored Cookie's photograph to its rightful position ' Missing ! TWO morning- afterwards. Marino sat at his desk in his big. panelled, private room at the warehouse, glaring down at a scream- ing headline on the front page of the "Morning Herald " : "Police Start War on New York Underworld." Joe Pagano and two other men were present, one of them an ugly little rat of a man known as Shorty, and evi- drntly Marino had been .saying some- thing vitriolic about the newspaper 11 story he had just read, for Jo« responded savagely : "Yeah, with all this stuff breaking in the papers, we can't walk the streets in safely. Every twent\- feet the cops stop us and frisk us. We're getting more attc:i*^ion than Lindbcrgli !" "Tliiy got Tony and Spike iasi, night," announced Shorty. "Dat^a is all right." said Marino. "I bniled 'cm out dis morning." "Who's breaking these stories?" demanded Joe. "Dat kid who hangs out wit' Cookie Leonard. He talk-a too much." "Tliere's only one way to shut his m.outh," evjiloded Joe. "Want the finger on him ?" Marino scratched his chin thought- fidly, recalling Cookie's wanting. "You bring heem here," he directed. What hai)pened to Larry that day had its sequel on the morning of the next, when Cookie, alarmed because ISloliy's brother had not been home all night, sent out men in all directions, find at last rang up Miko at police headquarters. Lefty, a hireling, had served with Cookie in France, and wore his bowler hat at an angle and looked a typical |)ri2e-fightor. was ushered into the pri- vate oHice. above the restaurant, by the dusky Alabam. "What did you find out at tho ■ Herald ' office?" demanded Cookie. " Not a thing." "Wliat did .\ou hear from the rest of the boys?" "Nothing—and they're still out trying to get some dope." "Boss," said Alabam excitedly. "Ah'm 'most sure I saw him yestidy nft'noon. Ah'll say Marino's outfit picked him up, put Irim in a car and took him clown to the jiacking plant. Ah worked for Marino once, boss !" The black had but confirmed Cookie's own fears. He opened a drawer in his desk and took out two formidable gun.-, which lie slijiped into his overcoat, pockets. "Didn't know you were a two-gun man, chief," remarked Lofty admir- ingly. Juli 18th, X931..