"I ain't riskin' a pinch for a coupla bucks."
It wasn't a matter of ethics with him; it was a matter of economics, the balancing of probable gain against probable risk and finding out whether it was worth it. Anyway, there was no fun to "rough stuff," no adventure or sportsmanship about it. Tony liked the smoother and wittier forms of larceny, those that bordered on extortion and blackmail. For instance, he could convince a small storekeeper in a few minutes that five or ten dollars a month was very cheap protection against having his store robbed or himself knocked on the head when he went home at night. And there were any amount of ignorant, fearful mothers who could be convinced readily that a quarter or half dollar per month per child was cheap insurance against having their children kidnaped and held for ransom. And once convinced, they paid their tribute regularly and unwhimperingly whenever he sent his collector around, just as they would insurance. He could think up two or three new schemes like that a day, and they always worked. As he said to O'Hara:
"What's the use of stickin' people up or bangin' 'em on the head when you can talk 'em out of it. My way's not only a lot safer but more fun."
