mong those of Doty Street who had gazed and marveled at the glories of Carmella’s recent arrivals was. Nicolo Pieri, Carmella’s radio friend, who lived in the sixfamily house across the street. He sauntered out as the Barrington car drove away, smoking a cigarette.
“Hello, kid!” he said. “Who’s your high-hat friend?”
“She ain’t high hat,” declared Carmella, with a vehemence that would have astonished Mrs. Barrington, after the interview of a few moments earlier.
“Oh, she ain’t, ain’t she? She’s got some high-hat buggy, I’ll say.”
“Sure she has. She’s rich. Her husband is Barrington, the real estate man.
Nicolo whistled softly.
“Sure, I know who he is,” he admitted. “Mike’s his bootlegger.”
“Mike Laudini, down the street?”
“Sure! I’ve pasted the labels on his gin bottles many a time.”
[63]
