Screenland (Jul-Dec 1948)

knocked me on the head. And wnen I woke up here Rocco was standing over me." "Rocco," Temple repeated wonderingly. "I know that name." "Rocco, the gangster, Mr. Temple," M'Cloud said grimly. "The one and only Rocco. They threw him out of the country." "Yeah, that's right," the short dark man's mouth twisted around his cigar. "I was a citizen for ten years. They pin a rap on me and anybody isn't born here loses his citizenship if he serves more time 'n a year. Undesirable alien they called me. Me! Johnny Rocco!" Temple gave him a long look. "Then how is it you're here?" he asked. "Maybe I'm not, Pop," Rocco said. "This ain't real what's happening. You're having a dream." "Wake up, Pop," the gangster they called Toots grinned. "You're snoring." Temple ignored him. » "You're right, Rocco," he said. "They shouldn't have deported you. You should've been exterminated, like a filthy disease." The squat figure darted forward, but before he reached them M'Cloud interposed. "I apologize for Mr. Temple," he said. "He doesn't know what he's talking about or who to. Sir," his watchful eyes turned to the old man, "Johnny Rocco was more than a king. He was an emperor. His rule extended over all the forbidden enterprises. He was master of all. Whom he couldn't corrupt he terrified. Whom he couldn't terrify he murdered. You're hopelessly old-fashioned, Mr. Temple. You're still living in a day when America believed it could get along without Johnny Rocco." He made a mocking bow. "Welcome back, Rocco. It was all a mistake. America is sorry for what it did to you." "Yeah, that's me," Rocco smiled complaisantly. "I was all those things and more. And it'll be like that again. Only more so. I'll be back up there one of these days. Then you'll really see something. I'll be pulling strings to get guys elected mayor and governor. I can make 'em like a tailor makes a suit of clothes and ..." Temple straightened indignantly. "If that time ever comes," he began, but M'Cloud's bitter laugh stopped him. "The time has come, Mr. Temple," he said. "It's here." "Okay," Rocco shot him a furious glance. "You know all about me. What's with you, wise guy? Give." "I'm a nobody," M'Cloud said. "Thought I might come down here and get a boat maybe. Life's become a little too complicated for my tastes." "In the War, weren't you?" Rocco demanded. And then as M'Cloud nodded. "Any medals?" "A couple," M'Cloud's mouth tightened. "Brave, huh?" Rocco grinned. "Why'd you stick your neck out?" "No good reason," M'Cloud said grimly. "It had something to do with freedom. I was a fool. I believed something I was told. 'We are fighting today,' " he quoted, remembering how much the words had once meant to him, " 'for security and progress and for peace, not only for ourselves but for all men, not RUINING /OUR MARRIEP HAPPINESS? Then learn here Scientific Truth you can trust about these INTIMATE PHYSICAL FACTS! The very women who brag they know about this intimate subject are often the ones who are the most ignorant. So, for the sake of your marriage happiness — stop listening to unsound information and ' 'old wives' tales. " You owe it to your husband and self to learn here scientific truth you can trust. Girls — won't you please realize how important douching often is to intimate feminine cleanliness, health, charm and marriage happiness — to combat one of woman's most serious deodorant problems? And what's so very important — always put ZONITE in the douche! No other type liquid Antiseptic-Germicide tested is So POWERFUL Yet So HARMLESS ZONITE is truly a modern miracle! Scientists tested every known antiseptic and germicide they could find on sale for the douche. And no other type proved so powerful yet so safe to tissues as zonite — the first antiseptic-germicide principle in the world with such a great germicidal and deodorizing action yet absolutely harmless, zonite is positively nonirritating, non-poisonous. You can use it as directed as often as needed without the slightest risk of injury. Zonite principle developed by famous Surgeon and Scientist zonite destroys and removes odorcausing waste substances. Helps guard against infection. It's so powerfully effective — it immediately kills every germ it touches. You know it's not always possible to contact all the germs in the tract. But you can feel confident zonite does kill every reachable germ and keeps them from multiplying. Scientific douching instruction comes with every bottle. Zom'te / FOR NEWER ( £ Jvminine /lypiene £ Nom FREE! NEW! For amazing enlightening new Booklet containing frank discussion of intimate physical facts, recently published — mail this coupon to Zonite Products, Dept. SS-98, 370 Lexington Ave., New York 17, N. Y. )> AddressV City State SCREENLAND 61