 For your listening enjoyment, John Lund has... Johnny Dolly, hold on, Mr. Stan. Got a job for you. Fine. Oh, I know that name. Used to be pretty big in the rackets, wasn't he? Yeah. Bigs is an old friend. When can you leave? Soon as I pack a bag. Mind if I break in a few seconds to discuss games with you? How many of you, when you were youngsters, ever tried to escape from the world of reality by playing cowboys and Indians or cops and robbers? Today's youngsters have added two more professions to the world of make-believe. Spacemen and G-men. And speaking of G-men, do you know where that name came from? Actually, it was used about 20 years ago by gangsters to describe members of our Federal Bureau of Investigation as part of the Department of Justice and acts as a kind of detective agency whose duty it is to track down those who break our federal laws. The FBI also does counterintelligence work in ferreting out spies and saboteurs. And here's an amazing fact about our FBI men. Despite the extreme dangers of their work, it wasn't until some 20 years ago that they were given the authority to carry guns. With no other weapons and courage, resourcefulness, and determination, they had to track down and apprehend dangerous racketeers and spies. Today, however, you will find that the typical FBI agent may be a lawyer, accountant, or specialist in some other profession, but thoroughly trained in scientific police methods and handy with any type of weapon. Expense a gun submitted by Special Investigator Johnny Dollar through Home Office Intercontinental Bonding and Indemnity Hartford, Connecticut. The following is an accounting of expenditures during my investigation of the Gino Gambona matter. Expense a gun item 1, $24.98, train fare and incidentals between Hartford and New York City. I arrived at Grand Center, went directly to the hotel where I registered and called the tenant Arthur Briggs. I caught him on his way to lunch. He agreed to meet me in a small restaurant across from the precinct. Well, good to see you again, Johnny. Well, good to see you. That's been a long time. Investigation is Rico killing, eh? Yeah. Why don't we order and then you can tell me about it? Well, I know what I want. This is corned beef day. Good corned beef relief. Oh, that sounds fine. I'll be right there, Art. How much is Rico insured for? $100,000. The brother is the beneficiary. Any ideas of killing? No, not yet. It's always tough when a guy's been in a racket even if he's gone straight for a while. He used to be with a Gambona outfit, wasn't he? Yeah. You know how that works. Hi, Art. Well, hello. Beautiful. Corned beef? Yeah, too. Coffee? Yeah, Johnny. Yeah, coffee. Two beef, two coffee, salad or soup? Just the corned beef for me. Yeah, I don't want salad or the soup. Shit. You're putting on weight. Are you kidding? No, you're getting a little... I'm on a diet. Are you kidding? Oh, just that. I don't mind. Gee, that's going to make all the difference in the world. I still love it. All of Big Fat Me. Gee. Yeah, sure is. Yeah, getting back to Rico. You know what I'm saying? I'm sure you know it. Any time a guy like Rico gets killed, it's tough to come up with the answer. It could be any one of a dozen guys he was in the racket with. You remember him at all? Yeah, he was the one who testified against Gambona. That's right. His testimony sent Gambona back to Sicily. It could have been any one of Gambona's mob, but he's been waiting for the chance. I don't know whether you remember or not, but at the trial, Gambona made it pretty clear that he'd get Rico sooner or later. What happened to Gambona? He was still in Sicily. Rico did pretty well for himself after he went straight. Yeah, he did fine. Opened a swing of barbershop, built himself a nice home. His brother's name is Dave. Yeah, he manages the shop. What did he have to say? Well, he scared stiff. He didn't have anything to do with sending Gambona to Sicily, but he was in the outfit and pulled out of his brother's head. He's in a panic. He hasn't got any idea who killed Barney? Well, if he does, he isn't saying, and I can't say I blame him. Well, after lunch, I think I'll have a talk with Dave. He's probably at the main shop or at home. There you are. Oh, thanks. Beautiful. Is that enough for you? Looks great. Well, I'm bad at something around here. You have too much fat on it. Expensive con item, too. Three dollars and fifty-five cents. Lunch for the tenant, Brig, and myself. After which, Brig gave me Dave Rico's home and business address, and I left. Expensive con item three, a dollar and forty-five cents. Cab fare to Dave Rico's home, where I talked with his wife. She informed me that her husband hadn't returned from work yet, and suggested I go to the main barbershop of the Rico chain. Expensive con item four, a dollar and sixty-five cents. More cab fare from the Rico house to the barbershop on East 118th Street. It was after six when I arrived and the shop was closed. The interior was dark except for a light coming from a back room. I knocked on the door and waited. I was about to leave when I saw the figure of a man stagger into the darkened shop from the lighted back room. He stood for a moment framed in the doorway, one hand clutching his stomach. I banged on the door again and watched as the man pushed himself away from the door jam and started across the shop. Halfway to the front door, he slumped to the floor and lay still. I stepped back, picked the glass out near the door lock, reached in and opened the door. But by the time I got to the man's side, he was dying in a hurry. Yeah, yeah, sure. Who did it? No. Gumball. He died looking up at the ceiling and holding his stomach or a knife had cut him almost in two. It was Dave Rico. And he named Gambona as his killer. He died looking up at the ceiling and holding his stomach or a knife had cut him almost in two. And he named Gambona as his killer. I called the tenant, Briggs. That's what he said. I asked him who did it and he said Gambona. Well, that's crazy. Why? You're sure? Or wouldn't he know them? Yeah, he'd know them. But he said Gambona. In the meantime, what if Gambona is in town? She'd arrive, followed by the lab boys. And I went back down to the precinct. Briggs made his report to the chief and a cable was sent to the proper authorities in Sicily. For the next few hours, we went through the mud and picked out all of Gambona's former associates that were still in town. One of them was a girl. Virginia Barrack. He used to be a steady thing with Gambona, wasn't he? Yeah. He's been a good girl, though. He got a job and stayed out of trouble. Well, we're checking. He seemed not very good with the joint. He seemed to expect anything great. Where is it? It's over on 34th Street. I've been in it a couple of times. What's the name of the place? Something in the gym. Pirate? Yeah. You're going to be busy for a while? Yeah. You want to say hello to Jimmy? Yeah, I thought I might. Well, let me know how you make out. Sure. If I run into Gambona, I'll give me a regard. Yes, sir. Do that. Expensive on item five. A dollar and 75 cents for still another cab from the precinct to East 34th Street and the pirate's den. It was a small place sat down below the level of the sidewalk and filled with enough smoke to keep the walls from falling in. I found a table near the back of the room and gave my order to a swollen eyed waiter that looked like he'd been mixing salad on his apron. When I told him I'd like to talk to Virginia Barrett, he gave me a long look and then wandered off with a smoke. About five minutes later, there Virginia Barrett appeared. You wanted to see me? Yeah. Won't you sit down? Ask me or tell me what you want to see me about. It's a personal matter. I'll preface it with a drink. You're a cop? No. I'm fancy, but I need more inquisitive. Heard from Gino Gambona, lately? Who are you? Johnny Dollar? Should I know you? No. What do you have to drink? Bride. Now what's all this about Gino Gambona? Have you seen him lately? You kidding? I'll say it another way. Have you seen him lately? Look. Gino got penicillin a long time ago. I haven't been out in New York since the day I was born. Okay. But have you seen him lately? What's missing? I just told you. I haven't seen Gino since the day he weighed goodbye from year 47. I don't think I want to talk to you anymore. You read about Barney and Rico getting killed the other day? Dave Rico was killed the other day. That's too bad. Before Dave died, he named Gambona. You knew the Rico boys, didn't you? A long time ago. Now you'll have to excuse me. I go on in a minute. I'll wait. Okay, but don't hold your breath. She walked away looking worried. And disappeared to a door on the opposite side of the room. I took a beat and got up and crossed the room to the door and entered. On the other side, I found a small, dimly lit hall. And a rather large, muscle-bound man walked towards me. You're looking for something? Yeah. I think you got the wrong view. I'm looking for Miss Barrett. Look in the other room. I have. Try again. Where'd Virginia Barrett go? Probably in her dressing room, but that doesn't make any difference to you. Oh, you're wrong. Uh-uh. Now turn around and walk back in that room when they got the strength left. Get out of my way. Looks like that, huh? Exactly. Okay. If anyone offers you a job as a bouncer, forget it. I left him lying in a corner and went down the hall, looking on the other side of doors for Virginia Barrett. But Virginia Barrett was somewhere else. I ran out into the alley behind the club just in time to see her climb into a cab on the other side of the street and pull away. Expect to count items six, a dollar twenty-five for another cab. We followed Virginia to a large apartment house on the west side of town. We parked a half block away. I watched her go in and I followed. I went up the front steps of the building and looked at the mailboxes. Virginia Barrett's apartment was 203, but the front door had a night last night. I picked a name on a box on Miss Adelaide Jones and buzzed it. Yes? Miss Jones? Yes, Alinda. A flower. Flowers. From the Ashley floor. Flowers. The gentleman wanted them delivered immediately. I found apartment 203 and started to knock. But sometimes when you get impatient, you get careless. I'd tailed Virginia Barrett, and I'd forgotten about the big boy. I'd left sleeping it off in the back hall of the pirate stand. Obviously, he knew where Virginia could be found. And obviously, when he came to, he'd hurry right over. Because when I raised my hand to knock, the big boy barged up the stairs and pointed his gun right at my dinner. Oh, why, sure. You're a busy little fellow, aren't you? I have to be, or I lose the game. Yeah. It's a treasure hunt. I have to bring back a pound of three-day old rhubarb. The lapels are three opera cakes and a dozen assorted heads. I'd like to contribute. Well, every little bit helps. I can guarantee some broken bones. Now, about Gino Gambona. You never can sell. Go ahead and knock. Who is it? Marco. Well, good evening. What's he doing here? Go on, get in there. Found him in the hall. Gave me some trouble knowing he's clever. He says he's not a cop. Who is it? That guy was telling me about. Marco's with him. Well, what? That's about all I can come up with. Your name's Dollar? Yeah. You know me? Yeah. Your name is Gino Gambona. Did you ever stop to realize that four American coins chose the importance of elections? The first one is the Washington Quarter. It was George Washington who reminded us that on the unity of our government it depends our independence, our peace at home and abroad, our safety, prosperity and our freedom. The second coin is the Jefferson Nickel. It was Thomas Jefferson who said, no government can continue good, but under the control of the people. The third coin is a penny bearing the likeness of Abraham Lincoln who said, among free men there can be no successful appeal from the ballot to the bullet. And finally, the Roosevelt Dime reminds us of something Franklin D. Roosevelt once said. Every man and every woman in this nation, regardless of party, who have the right to register and to vote and the opportunity to register and to vote have also the sacred obligation to register and to vote. These four Americans, by recognizing the importance of elections, added another page to your political history. Now with our star, John Lund, we bring you the second act of George Suley, Johnny Dollar. Geno Gambona stood in the middle of the room looking at me with a nasty smile as though he'd just come up with a particularly funny way to kill me. Geno Gambona, one-time lord of the underworld. By all rights, he should have been insistent when the United States government had sent him for the rest of his life. But there he was. And there I was, wishing he wasn't. The big man, Virginia Barrett, had called Marco, shoved his gun in my spine and prodded me over to an uncomfortable chair. Gambona held the nasty smile and walked slowly over to me. Johnny Dollar. The name is gonna be nothing. Who are you? I'm a special investigator for an insurance company. We hold a policy on the late Barney Rico. His beneficiary was his brother. I don't know who ensured him. Well, it looks like your company don't have to pay off to nobody. What's that way, doesn't it? Tell me, Johnny Dollar, how much insurance you got? That's a small policy. I'm expendable. I'm glad. Dave Rico named you before he died. Oh, really? Well, were you the guy pounding on the front door of his shop? What did you kill Dave for? I thought you just wanted Barney. Dave's last name was Rico. But not about you, Donald. What am I gonna do about you? Well, I could make a few suggestions, but I don't think you'd go for it. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. I don't think so. Whatever it is, boss, let me ask. If I push you around with it, I'm Marco. I'll make you up for it. You know, Donald, it ain't like the old days. Marco was one of my boys in the old days. On his toes, then. You couldn't have pushed him around, then. Did you come all the way back here just to kill Barney Rico? No, no, no, no, no. Of course not. I had something to forget. And I couldn't trust nobody to get it for me. Not even my... my little baby here. You met Virginia, don't you? Hmm, briefly. Now, I... I think she's a... she's a singer now. You hear her singing? Let's stop playing around, you know. Mr. Gambona. Nobody calls me Gino, unless I like him. The police know you're in the States. Mm-hmm. They sent a cable to Sicily. They ain't gonna find out nothing that way. I got it all fixed. By the time they really go looking for me, I'll be back, like I never left. And who's gonna say they saw me here? Money Rico? Dave Rico? You? Gino. Let's get this over with. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, Marco, cool this bum off. Take him for a drive down by the river. Sure. What about the stuff? Well, me and Gini will pick it up and meet you. Now, get going. Get up. That's a nice meeting, your daughter. The room and we started down the stairs. Suddenly, on the upper landing, the most beautiful distraction I'd ever seen, shouted, Hey, you! And Marco turned his head for just a second. I'm personally gonna buy you a whole acre of orchid. To Virginia Barris apartment, but Gino and Virginia had left a few steps ahead of me. I looked out of the window and saw a car pull away. And I picked up the phone and called the tenant, Briggs. Marco came too on the way to the precinct. And after we arrived, Briggs booked him and took him downstairs to the interrogation room. Where were you supposed to meet Cambona? How was it? What was the stuff he was gonna pick up? You tell me. Two men have been killed, Marco. That's what I know of. You were supposed to meet Cambona. Was I? He said so. I must not have hurt him. I'm gonna put two men on you every two hours. We won't get caught, but you're gonna be miserable. I know the truth. I can find him. You hear me, Marco? I hear him. Or I can find him. I don't know. Where are you supposed to meet him? I'm not. When did you get into town? I don't know. When did he contact you? He said you're a liar. If you say so. How did you know where he was staying? As I did. Where were you when Barney Rico was killed? When was he killed? The morning of the third. I was at home. You sure? Yeah. Where were you the morning of the fourth? I don't remember. What's that gonna do? That's when Barney was killed. That's the third. Did I was the fourth? Where were you? At home. You said you didn't know. I was at home. When was he fourth? When was he fourth? Barney. What is all this? I don't know anything about the Rico killer. Nobody does. If we don't get Jam Bono, I'm gonna have someone for these killings. No, it's just me. Then give us an alibi. I told you. Did you get any one's feet? No, no. I told you I was at my place. I said you're at the club. That was this evening. What about the morning of the third? You said the fourth. I said the third. At home. And the fourth. Yeah, yeah. At first he said you didn't know. Wait a minute. Lay off. To the 10 grand, I'm bushed. I can't think anymore. What 10 grand? 10 grand. 10 grand. Jam Bono promised me to help him get in and out of the state. Where is he gonna get 10 grand? He's at a stash somewhere. Where? I don't know. To help him. Even Virginia didn't know. Is she going with him? Yeah. You know, said he'd come back and get Virginia and the dope. He must have a bundle hidden somewhere under Jam Bono leaving. I don't know. Don't lie to me. You said you were getting paid to get him in and out of the country. That's right. But I haven't made arrangements to get him out yet. You're gonna meet him? Where? Grand Central by the Oyster Bar. How can I relax? We got to the Oyster Bar in 10 minutes. And Briggs had stakeouts placed around the entire area. At 11.30, Virginia Barrett and Geno Gambona failed the show. We waited for another hour. And we just came. The reason they'd lie is to give Jam Bono and the girl enough time to get away. Well, they'll never make it. I've got everything covered. Marko's job is to get them out. If you think they've got a chance to make it, he must have already made the arrangement. Yeah. But what kind? Well, we can forget about planes. Take a pretty big ship to go that far. About some obscure boat? Yeah. Yeah, that could be it. Big payoff to the captain. Look, they can figure Jam Bono got here within the last week. He couldn't afford to be gone too long, specifically. He told me he's got it fixed and nobody will miss him, but he couldn't be gone too long. Taking two weeks, both ways, about both? Yeah. He must have planned it to arrive here, get the money and his girls, take care of the Ricos and get out fast. Let's check the boats that arrived from Italy and Sicily in the last two or three days and see if one of them is sailing tonight. Right. We checked the arrivals for the past week and then compared them with current departures. We found one that looked like it could be it. An independent steamer, the Atlantic Star, had arrived from Sicily the morning of the 3rd. The day before Barney Rico had met his death. And was due to sail from Pier 16 at one o'clock in the morning, bound for the Mediterranean. We filed into a squad car and arrived at Pier 16 at 12.50, where we identified ourselves to the Gangway Watch and were directed to the captain on the bridge to the Atlantic Star. Hey, hey, what are you two guys doing? Captain. Yeah. What do you want? Police, you're under arrest. For what? The original Gambo in Virginia Barrack. Oh, State Moon Bee. But right now he's probably in the galley. What's he doing there? That's the way he signed on. Cook. That's pretty good at it, too. We took the captain down on deck and bring away one of his men aboard. The captain was taken off quietly. And Briggs and I moved on to State Moon Bee. Who is this? Marco. Are you sure it's a guy? I'm Jenny. One yell out of you and I'll fix it so you don't get to sing with a prison band. Virginia Barrack went off just as quietly as the captain. And the boat was cleared except for anyone who still might be in the galley. Briggs waited outside the galley door and I went in with my hand on the 38th in my pocket. I spotted Gambo on a behind a long table stacked with pots and pans. He looked up as I moved in on it. Hey, what time is this self supposed to pull out? It's after. Hello, Gino. Why you? I'm so smart to get this ferret on. There I was. Face to face with Gino Gambo and I'm ready to take him single handed. Right where I wanted him. And the next minute I was buried under a pile of pots and pans. Gino drew his gun, made a dash for the passageway. And that was as far as he got. Virginia Barrack and Marco, Fome and Marco Dandoy, got five to ten years for their parts in the crime. The captain of the Atlantic Star got two years and Lieutenant Briggs got a promotion. Yours truly returned to Adelaide Jones with the flowers he'd promised. And all in all, everyone got just what was coming to them. Expense account item seven, fifty-two dollars and eighty-eight cents hotel bill. Item eight, twenty-four dollars and fifty-six cents, frame fair and incidentals back to Hartford. Expense account total one hundred twelve dollars and seven cents. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar.