Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

10 crowd back in the old barber shop could SCO us now," he coiitimiej. " Louisvillc-boiaid with a b«rik toll big enough to choke a cow." Ho huighed coniphicoritly. " I guess after to-night I'll l)c able to send the boys back home ;i few tliou." "You've already paid 'cm double," .Jack protested. Nick shrugged. "What of it?" lie argued. "I got plenty. Besides, ain't they still my [Kils? Listen, Jack, I'm goin' in there to trim the great Hickory and make him look like a, hick. If I lose I'll be back in the old barber shop matching l>ennics with Snake Eyes. But how can I lose?" And again he laughed. It was not till some time later that the whole story leaked out concerning Nick the Barber's clcan-up on the Louisville Express, and the in- stantaneous dcjiarture of the famous Hickory Short from the realms of big- time gambling. By the time that story was on every- body's lips Nick was adding countless others to it—stories that intrigued and mystified—stories that placed him in the limelight even more effectively than his connection with a certain magnificent gaming saloon which was secretly opened off Fifth Avenue. One night about a month after Hickory Stiort's fade-out Nick stepped out of a fifteen-thousand dollar limou- sine and crossed the sidewalk to the portals of his now venture, which to all appearances was merely a private house of palatial design. A couple of uniformed doormen saluted him, and Nick handed each of them a cigar. "Try these," he said. "A fellow in Havana makes 'em up for mo." Nick passed on, handed his hat, coat and scarf to a cloak-room attendant, and, looking more dapper than ever in an innnaculatc evening suit, walked into a big room crowded with fashion- able women and well-dressed men. Nick had to be careful, and an intro- duction to* the salon could only be effected by recommendation. It was astonishing liow quickly smart society flocked to the tables of Nick Vcni- zclos, however, bringing rolls of green- hacks that found their way via the roidetto croupiers to the little Irontown barber's coffers. The room into which Nick now strolled was (lacked, but amid the throng he suddenly perceived Marie, whom he found uscfid as a "hostess." Her job was to see that any new '■ guests " were made to feel at home, and in the course of her duties she was permitted to take a little flutteron the wheel herself if she chose to risk the scanty salary that Nick piiid her. Nick caught sight of her as she was drawing back from one of the tables, and next moment she was hurrying towards him excitedly, a bundle of notes clutched in her Jiand. "Oh, Nick, Nick," she gasped Joyously, "look at what I've won! My luck's changed, and I just can't seem to lose ! I've made a hundred and ten dollars." "Here, let mo see." Nick took the money out of her hand and began to count it. "Twenty, forty, sixty, eighty, ninety—a hundred. Great! .Just what you owe me." And he handed her back the odd ten dollar;?. Marie stared at him blankly. "What I owo you?" "You never did have a ^ood memory, sister,". Nick told her with a twisted smile, and then he moved away from her .September 26tli,. 1931. BOY'S CINEMA and approached another fair-haired girl on whom he had lately been showering attentions. "How you doin' now, Lola?" he asked. "Great," the girl ajiswercd, leaning forward over one of the gaming tables. ■■ I'm playing the red." "Well, here's a hinidrcd," said Nick, giving her Marie's winnings. "Put that on the red, too." He glanced at Marie over his shoulder as he spoke, and saw that she was watching the money change hands. Her face was scarlet. The Stool Pigeon. NICK the Barber had become a figure as prominent in the public eye as the president, though a figure far less meritorious. His gaming-palaces, now legion, were the objects of .scathing attacks by reformers who demanded that the city be purged of such dens of ill fame. The district attorney stirred himself. He issued orders that were carried out to the letter by the police. The house off Fiftli Avenue was raided. Others were discovered, and shared a similar fate. But Nick the Barber maintained his liberty, his joviality and the even tenor of ids way to fabulous wealth. The district attorney consulted his chief deputy. "Well, what arc we going to do about it?" he demanded. "Every time we raid Nick," the deputy explained, "ho proves he doesn't own the place. None of 'em are leased in his name. He's got a phoney front for every one of his joints, and you can't pin anything on him." The district attorney pursed his lips. "That isn't a suggestion," he said. " That's an alibi." "We close him one night," the deputy went on gloomily, " and he opens up the next—in another spot." "Another alibi," observed the D. A. in a curt tone. "Now. look liere, I demand a show-down. With the election coming up and the reformers howling for blood, I'm not going to let this tin- horn gambler's activities throw me out of office." There was a knock on tlie door, and a detective put in an appearance. "Wo found Sleepy Sam, chief," he told the district attorney. "He got in from 'Fri.sco last week." "Good," said the D. A. "I'd like to SCO him alone." Sleepy Sam was brought in from the outer office. He looked sullen, and gave the impression that he intended to be reticent whatever the purpose for which rK> had been brought to headquarters. "What's up. Black?" ho demanded. District Attorney Black smiled affably. ".Just want to get some gambling in- formation from you, Sam.," he ex- plained. "Yeah? Well, three of a kind still beat two pairs," was the sneering re- joinder. "Ah. lay off nic, D. A. I've got no dope for you. I've been outa the gambling racket for months. I got tired of it." "Yes, after Nick the Barber pu.shed you over and rubbed it in," the district attorney retorted. "I understand he took your girl, too." Sam scowled. "If you know so much, why did you send for mc?" he asked. "Now, listen, Sam." the district attorney appealed. "We're both hold- ing the same bag. This little grease- ball, Nick Venizelos. is giving us both the i;un-arouiul. Why doi)'t, you come Every Tuesday clean and tell me how to bring him down? Ho must have some weakness." "If I knew how to bring him down," Sam rapped out viciously, " I'd do it myself. Nick the Barber, eh? A small- time hick at heart, but just dumb enough to bo smart." He slid his eyes to the D. A.'s face all at once, and: "You know his weakness, don't you?" he finished. ''What?" Sam laughed and turned towards the door. "He's nuts for blondes," he drawled. "Yeah. Send your wife around. He'll fall for any old hag " The district attorney leapt to his feet. "Why, you rotten " But Sam had slipped hastily from the office. Meanwhile, not exactly oblivious of the stir he was causing at police head- quarters, Nick Venizelos was holding audience with a group of reporters. He did not receive them in his latest gaming-palace, the ownership of which he so flatly and humorously denied. He received them in a hairdressing saloon that he had opened as a mild blind to his other activities, and here, while Mitros Bikelas shaved him, he an- swered the questions of the Press. "We'd like to know what you've got to say to this latest blast from the dis- trict attorney," one of the reporters announced. Looking round at the newspaper men from his barber's chair, Nick affected an expression of innocence. "Oh," ho murmured. "Has he been talking about mc?" Another reporter showed him an eaaly edition which quoted a blistering spdec^ that had been directed against Nick by the irate and harassed D. A. Nick read it and then spread out his hands in a gesture of injured protest. "Why, he's got mc all wrong, boys," he declared. "I'm not a gambler, I'm a barber. This is my shop. This is the only busine.ss I got. Nick the Bar- ber—ain't that what everybody calls me?" The reporters smirked facetiously, and Nick grinned, too, but continued in the same style, saying nothing that would incriminate him. " Now what's he want to go ahead and make a lotta trouble for?" ho asked. "I'm just a nice little fella tryin' to get along. Now what's he want to go ahead and blow a lot of steam off for?" "Then you're going to keep open, as usual?" one of the newspapermen in- quired, slyly referring to the latest hou.se where Nick had instituted his casino. " There's no law against running a barber shop, is there?" Nick retorted craftily. " Say, have some cigars, you boys. A fella in Havana makes 'em up for me." The reporters helped themselves, and then left in high spirits. " So long, Nick," one of them called over his shoulder. " See you in the gaol- house." "Sure," Nick answered, waving. "I'll come and visit you in the can any time, brother." Bikelas leaned over the chair. "Boss," he said, when the Presuncn had gone, "you sure one smart fella. You sure tell 'cm big mouthfid. But eef that deestrict attorney get too fresh, Nick the Barber geev him closo shave, huh?" .\nd he made a pass with the razor in his hand. Five minutes later Nick left tlie shop and made his way to his new gaming- palace. Passing through the salon, he went up to a second-floor room which he had converted into an office, and he