Boy's Cinema (1939-40)

14 "About five j'ears ago, when I found that I was finished as an actor,'' he said slowly, "I went through a bad time. Money was scarce. Martin at that time had plenty, &v~i he used it to get my wife away from me." Sheenan clenched his fists. Tommy saw his trigger-finger whiten under the T>ressure. and the hammer of the gun lifted a little way. "When mv wife left me. I had nothing else that made life worth while." Sheenan went on. "So you see, I had to kill him sooner or later. It was inevitable." "And now you've aone it you're going to kill me," Tommy broke in. "I've never done you anv harm. I was just imlucky to get in ^'our way. 'Whj' should I sufter?" Sheenan smiled. "I enjoy life in my own way, Tommy," he said. " Now I'm a film director I make plenty of money. ' He shook his head. "I'm sorry you've been drawn into all this. It's just darned bad luck." Tommy realised that his arguments had not deflected Sheenan from his purpose. Sheenan would kill him right enough. And he would do it without compunction —just as he would kill a good stunt pilot without compunction just to get a good picture. There was nothing else for it. Tommy would have to chance everything and make a dive for that gun. "I've changed my mind about that drink," he said suddenly. "I thinic I'll have it after all." "Go right ahead." Sheenan said. Tommy reached for it, pretending that his hand was unsteady. He knocked the paper cup over. ""Too bad!" Sheenan said. "But I can soon put that right. I wouldn't begrudge any man his last drink." He got another paper cup. and felt in his bag for the bottle of whisky. For the merest fraction of a second he took his eyes oB Tommy. BOY'S CINEMA It was all Tommy wanted. He flung himself bodily through the air, his left hand reaching for Sheenan's right wrist. Sheenan was taken completely by sur- prise. He tried to bring his gun against Tommy's stomach, but Tommy forced it sideways. He tightened his grip and twisted Sheenan's wrist. Sheenan let out a shout of pain and drooped the weaoon. It fell to the floor with a dull thud. Sheenan exerted all his strength and got his knees up against Tommy's abdomen. He pushed hard, and Tommy's grip broke under the terrific pressure. He rolled backwards, and Sheenan made a dive for the gun. Tommy sprang again, and landed on top of him. They rolled over the swaying floor, struggling desperately for mastery. Sheenan fought savagely for the gun, knowing that he was an old man and therefore not a match for Tommy. He realised that unless he could get hold of the weapon before his strength gave out, he was finished. He hacked brutally at Tommv's shins, but Tommy held oh. Suddenly a lurch of the train as the driver applied the brakes brought them both on top of the gun. Sheenan freed one hand and swiftly picked it up. Tommv acted quickly. He, too, had a free hand now. He balled his fingers into a hard fist and drove it with all his strength into Sheenan's face. Sheenan let out a shout of pain and surprise, and his finger involuntarily tightened on the trigger. The gun roared, and the builet ploughed a furrow along the floor. The noise of the shot startled Tommv. and for a fraction of a second he relaxed his grip. 'With desperate strength Sheenan tore himself free. Tommy braced himself for the shot that he expected. But just then the door crashed open and the sheriff from Three Point, followed by Skeeter, Paul Smith OKSbdnterbinment/ It's right here in BOY'S CINEMA ANNUAL! A hundred and sixty pages of it. Fun and thrills— laughs and excitement—j^ou '11 find them in plenty in this fascinating photogravure book. Don't miss it! Con ten Is: Stories of: Old Bones of the River Trade Winds Suez They Drive by Night Down in Arkansaw The Frontiersman Crime Doesn't Pay The Crooked Way Picture Story of Gunga Din Visiting King Kong by Car Full page portraits of Favourite Stars How Talkies are Made (In Pictures) Life Stories of Pat O'Brien and Humphrey Bogart Boy Stars of 1940, etc. BOY'S CINEMA ri-i'ifiiir(i(iiinrtMni>' October Utli, lOSD kmS AN NUAL Of o/f Newtadenti and Bookiellers There ytiiW be O ' TUi\^ ' JO make sure of your copy now i Every Tuesday and Betty Lou, burst in. He had not noticed that the train had stopped. ""What's going on in here?" the sheriff shouted. Sheenan straightened himself and managed to smile. "You're just in time, sheriff." he said calmly. "You'd better get him out of here." He pointed at Tommy. Tommy stared at him in amazement. For sheer nerve this took some beating. "Get me out of here! " he exclaimed. ""Why, he " "All right, Tompkins," said the sheriff sternly. "I'll handle this." He held some pictures out to Sheenan. "You'd better take a look at these, Sheenan. They were snapped this afternoon, just before the planes took off. They seem to tell their own story." Sheenan glanced at them. "Not very good camera angles, are they?" he said. "Not so good for you," the sheriff answered. "I'm afraid you'll have to come back and do a bit of explaining. Sheenan, you're under arrest for the murder of Earl Martin." Sheenan all this time had kept his gun in his hand. He had held it at the level of his hip, pointing towards the group at the door. Suddenly he seemed to make up his mind. He raised it suddenly. "Look out!" yelled Tommy, and dived forward. But the warning was unnecessary. Shee- nan put the gun to his temple. A fraction of a second later a second shot echoed through the compartment, and Sheenan dropped to the floor. He was dead! 'When they all got back to Three Point Airfield. Paul Smith threw himself into a chair and passed his hand across his forehead. "From now on, we're going to stop play- ing the fool," he said determinedly. "We can just about pay our way and have a bit left over by operating the old transport plane and doing a taxi-trip now and then. It's a quiet sort of life, but I like a quiet life. The quieter the better. What do you say, Skeeter?" "You're right, Paul. No more excite- ments for us." Just then the door opened and the sheriff came in. He had the air of a man who has done his work well. Sheenan was finished, and he had nothing more to worry about. "Hope I'm not interrupting anything," he said. "But I've got a message for you." Paul Smith looked up lazily. "Spill it," he said. "Well, the commandant of the Border Patrol has just telephoned. He says he's having trouble down there, and needs the co-operation of a good pilot, and so on. He's heard about you folks, and wants to know if you'll help." In a second everyone in the office had forgotten all about their resolutions. Paul Smith bounded out of his chair, but it was Tommy who spoke first. "We're as good as there," he said, and hugged Betty Lou so hard that she couldn't breathe. "The Border Patrol! Boys, this is where we have some real fun!" And the old sheriff chuckled wheezily and wished he was young again. By permission of Paihe Pictures, Ltd. Based on the film " Stunt Pilot," which has the following cast: John Trent as Marjorie Reynolds as Milburn Stone as Jason Robards as Fat O'Malley as George Meeker as 'Wesley Barry as George Cleveland as Johnny Day as Charles Morton as Buddy Cox as Tailspin Tommy Betty Lou Skeeter Paul Smith Sheenan Earl Martin Glenn The Sheriff Tex Charlie Bobby