Boy's Cinema (1939-40)

22 hearings, and all their calculations arc rlrawn up on a map in the form of straight lines. Where those lines cross is the actual spot where your transmitter is workins." Flick spoke to one of the operators. "Heard nothing yet?" he asked. The man shook his head. "We've been in touch with the other vans, too, ahd they've heard nothing. Of course, that radio gadget of yours may be miles away by now, in which case we shan't be able to get a bearing on it. But—■ He broke off as a voice came from a loudspeaker. One of the other vans was calling up by radio. "We've got a signal." said the voice. " Came on for about ten seconds and went again, and then came on again five minutes later It's away to the north. All vans will have to move up in that direction to get a bearing on it!" Walmsley moved over to the micro- phone. "What sort of sounds did you pick up?" "Very faint," came the reply. "But it sounded like two men asking one another questions. We didn't hear any answer. But the wavelength's exact!" The green vans moved quickly north- wards and spread out again, their operators listening unceasingly with the headphones and revolving the aerials above their heads. For an hoiu- nothing further happened, then the operator sitting by Flick tensed in his seat. "I heard it that time!" he said. A hurried call was put through to the other listening-vans, and the answers came back. Pour of them had got the signal; they had all taken bearings. On a map of the district those bearings were drawn in pencilled lines. Walmslev and Flick looked eagerly at the spot where the lines converged. "Right at the top of Streckland Hill." said Walmsley. "I know the spot " He broke of with a low whistle. "It can't be!" he went on. "There must be some mistake! There's only one house at the top of that hill, and do you know who it belongs to? Sir Rutherford Bingstram!" "Sir Rutherford Bingstram!" Flick re- peated the name almost in a whisper. " Chief, you're right. There must be some mistake. He's a big noise in the Govern- ment, isn't he? Why, one of the papers named him as the man who was going to win the war for Britain. He can't be in on thi.s racket!" "Stranger things happen in war time," said Walmsley seriously. "If he is work- ing for the enemy, then by gosh he's in the right position! And whether he is or not, we're going to call on him—search that place of his from top to bottom, whether he objects or not!" It was two hours later when Walmsley and Flick drove up in a police car to the pillared entrance of Sir Rutherford Bing- stram's house and asked to see the baronet himself. They were shown into the library, whei'e Sir Rutherford was standing on the hearthrug with a welcoming smile. "Inspector Walmsley," he said, "what brings you down in this direction?" "I'm sorry to have to trouble you. Sir Rutherford, but a man who escaped from custody three days ago is still at large, and we have reason to believe that he is somewhere in this district." "My men have reported nothing suspicious," said the baronet. "Simms is a clever man," replied Walmsley. "He may be hiding right in this house without your knowing about it. I'll be glad if you would allow me to make a search.' For a fraction of a second a glint came into the baronet's eyes, but the smile did not go from his face. "Certainly, inspector, look where you ke," he said, "Jove, you're right! This is a rambling old place, and it would be easv enough for a man to stay in hiding. October 14Ui, 19m. BOY'S CINEMA Every Tuesday I'd better take you around myself or stolen my car and used it for this—this you'll be bound to miss some of the nooks outrage!" and crannies!" "Quite likely, sir," agreed Walmsley For half an hour the search went on. smoothly as he and Flick began to lift and they, so far as could be judged, were out D36 and remove his bonds. "The taken everywhere—even into the deep only reason we decided to search this cellars that ran right under the house, house was that our secret radio apparatus Back in the library, the baronet offered picked up sounds of someone being cross- them refreshment, and then said with a questioned. That someone was D36, and laugh: the questioning took place in this house. " Well, I'm afraid your jailbird must be However, I've no doubt that D36 himself somewhere else!" will be able to clear up the mystery when "There's one place we haven't looked he has recovered." in, sir," ventured Flick. The full meaning of that was not lost "Oh—and where is that?" on Sir Rutherford. He began to see that "The garage," answered the boy. it would be impossible to bluff his way "The garage," repeated the baronet °^^^ ^ i. ^ .. -i.,. , • , j * w slowly. " Ah, yes. But, good heavens. The baronet stood with his hands to his there's no hiding space there! My cars ^^ead and a dazed expression on his face, practically fill the place, and it's been He still stood there immovable as locked up all the time. Still, I will go Walmsley put a whistle to his lips and and get the keys and then take you blew a short blast. A moment later the down " grounds of the house seemed to be filled When he had left the room Flick darted with policemen and detectives, across to Walmsley. "Let's get down there—quick!" he said. " "There may be some phoney business m his office a few weeks later Detective- before we arrive! Inspector Walmsley closed a folder and Walmsley was already out of his seat, tied it with tapes, making for the door. They hurried down "That's that,' he said to Flick. "Great the stairs, out of the front entrance and Scott, youngster, I don't believe even now round to the garage. There was no one you realise what a big thing you've pulled about, but as they stood there they heard off—or do you? hurrying footsteps coming round the "If D36 had not been found again we corner of the house. It was Sir Ruther- should have had one of the biggest ford, with two other men. "traitors in history still at work. D36 For the first time since they had met, knew something. He was getting together ^' Walmsley felt he was on sure ground, for the facts against a number of suspects, at the sight of them waiting there the including Sir Rutherford, but the whole baronet's face was ashen idea was so fantastic that he didn't dare , "Had a .lob to find the dashed keys," to breathe a word until he was sure of he muttered. His fingers trembled as he his ground. That s why they pounced on inserted one in the padlock and opened him—before he had a chance to speak, one of the doors. Walmsley went forward ^^iipk grinned, then gave a bored yawn, and pulled the other one wide. "^^^ P^%^^]^^ ^ ^^"' *° •^"°^'- Daylight streamed into the garage and "Ten me chief " he erinned "Tec's glinted on the bodywork of three cars ^-p sunnS to have a ild"hot existence standing there. The baronet hurried in |ren^t toev' WelfwheA does the exr^fe' and took ^ swift look around the space ^^fnt hl^f^Q" ' excite- between the cars. "^^"'^ "^^S^" • askS^uHorSd nihtnlss^^'^' ^^•" ^'' (Another grand story of Detective- asked with 101 ced ightness. Inspecfor Walmsley and Flick next week) Doesn't look like it, sir, answered , Walmsley smoothly, moving towards one ,,,_, «_..,_ ..«..«- _« -.,-.» of the cars IMPORTANT NOTSCE TO EVERY The baronet had begun to swing one of the garage doors shut, but he found BOY'S CINEMA READER Walmsley standing in the way, staring OUJ 9 umcmn ncnucn down intently at the wheels of the nearest ^ , ., ,, ^ car. The mud on them was still wet. To make quite sure that you get your ■This is your car. Sir Rutherford?" he ^9?^ °^ ^°r'^ ?i'!f^'' ^^^""^ ^^^''' ^''^^^ ^^ queried. what you should do. "What? Er—yes, of course. They're Wood pulp, from which paper is made, all mine," replied the baronet. Walmsley comes from overseas. Ships may not be took one swift look m Flick's direction able to brine so much of it ns in neare- and the boy's eyes plainly said: "This is f.° „ ^° ^""f so mucn oi it as in peace- the car that was used last night." So ^i™^- I^^ o'^der to avoid any wastage of far as Flick was concerned, he could even paper we have had to tell newsagents to identify the piece of metal on the luggage- order only the exact number of Boy's grid which pressed hard into his body as cinemas that they want from us every he clung to the back of the car—could still .^ppi, ^nH r.n mnvo feel where it had prodded him! ^''^^^' ^1^°- "° T^°^^- . , , „, i™^i (. J il 1 J •<-, So, if you have not already given a Walmsley stood for several seconds with- vpe-nlnr nrdpv for Rnv's Ptnfma win vnn out moving, and out of the corner of his legulai ordei loi Boys Cinema, will you eye he could see the baronet becoming Please do so at once? Your newsagent increasingly agitated. Walmsley's trick will deliver it, or keep a copy for you each was an old police dodge; nothing is more week. By giving your order you will make calculated to break down the bluff of a quite sure of your Boy's Cinema and will person with something to hide. greatly help your newsagent. Here is the "Well, sir?" blustered the baronet, order form for you. Please fill it in, cut " ^}'Sr ^°" satisfied?" ^^ , ^ „ ^ it out and take it to your paper man. Not quite, Sir Rutherford, answered the detective quietly. • • His next act was swift. He whipped ORDERFORM i open one of the doors, bent down and y^rvt^t^wx r\^r\t § . whipped a rug off the floor in front of the : Please reserve for me every week a : rear seats. | copy of BOY'S CINEMA. i There, bound and gagged, was D36! : ; Walmsley turned to the baronet. ; f "I don't; pretend to understand this, • • sir," he said softly. "This is the man I : : am looking for. Not a crook, as I said, : : but a very valuable member of the Secret • ' Service who was kidnapped last night. I : don't think I will ask you to make any : Date ^^']f knSwnothing of this!" Sir Ruther- : <"'"'« "«'"* ''"•*' P''"''-^ ford burst out. "Someone must have ■ I&