Boy's Cinema (1939-40)

BOY'S CINEMA Every Tuesday on to it. As for his two companions, they toolc to their heels in a panic, and were running like hares when Terry jumped to- wards their cowering associate. The revenue officer pounced on Black and seized him, then swung him round and pinned him up against the wall of the shed. "I thought that would raise a scare in you and your side-kickers," he grated. "You see. Mister Black, or whatever your name is, that was only a bulb out of the station roof that I flung down." Black stared at the spot where the globe had struck the ground, and a look of com- prehension dawned on his craggy features as he saw that no vapour was arising from amidst the splintered fragments of glass that lay there. Then Terry spoke again. "There's a police detail on the way here," he said grimly, "and I'm holding you till they an-ive. Then I'm going to make arrangements to have that shipment of supposed electric light bulbs scienti- fically investigated, and unless I miss my guess a certain rat by the name of Borofl is going to be plenty mad on that account!" I Black cried out hoarsely as Terry | uttered the name of the munitions king, " and all at once he reached for his hip- pocket and tugged forth an automatic pistol. Next second he tried to ram the muzzle of the weapon against the lieu- tenant's body, but before he could do so Terry clutched him by the wrist and with a fierce wrench disarmed him, the crook dropping the automatic with a gasp of pain. "Take it easy, fella," the revenue officer warned. "You're in a spot, and the best thing you can do is to come clean and tell all you know!" Terry has balked Boroff's plan to send the first consignment of disintegration gas to Europe \aa Canada. But will iie succeed in tracking Boroff to his lair and smash- ing that scoundrel's ruthless organisation? Don't miss " Undersea Terror," next > week's stirring episode of this grand | THE SPANNER 'Brmsh''Kf Fnm''^Ccriro?at?on'"LfmUed''* ! 1-|ETECTIVE - INSPECTOR V/ALMS- untisn Lion turn corporation, Limited, i U j^EY of Scotland Yard braked slowly • - ! and pulled into the side of the busy street. lUDnDTAMT MflTIPE Trt EUEDvi "Just going to nip into the bank. Flick," IMrUKIANI NUlll/C lU cVCKT ?he said to Fi-ank Ickson, his American nnV'C PIUCUA DEAHED I'^oy assistant. -Coming? Marlow, the DUT O uincniA IfEHUEIf | manager, is an old friend of mine, and he I was saying the other day he'd like to I meet you." ,„ ^ , ^ ^. , ^1 "O.K.!" smiled Flick. Wood pulp, from which paper is made, I They got out of the car and thi-eaded comes from overseas. Ships may not be | their way through the crowds on the able to bring so much of it as in peace-1 pavement. time. In order to avoid wastage of paper i There was a bustle of activity Inside the we have had to tell newsagents to order | bank, even more than usual Walmsley onlv thp pxact nnmbpr of Rnv'q PmrMA M^o^S^^t; and when he went into Marlow s only me exact riumoer of boy s cinema i ^ taking Flick with him, he remarked that they want from us every week, andjon it to the bank manager. no more. ^ , , . I Marlow nodded as he greeted them. So, If you have not aiready given a f ■• Matter of fact, we're going to have an regular order for Boy's Cinema, will youlA.R.P. rehearsal in a few minutes," he please do so at once? Your newsagent 2 said. 'We've just completed a new shelter ■will deliver it, or keep a copy for ybu each j for the staff in the basement, and we're week. By giving your order you will make i going to see just how quickly everj^hing quite sure of your Boy's Cinema and will I can be packed away and if the staff can greatly help your newsagent. Here is the pet downstairs without muddle, order form for you. Please fill it in, cut | . Then if I don t transact my business it hilt and tflkP it to vonr nnner man i quickly, we'll be thrown out Of the front It out and take it to your paper man. 4 ^^^^. ^j^,,, grinned Walmsley. ,.,..... , I "Strictly speaking, yes," answered • : I Marlow. "There's a public shelter oppo- : DRnPR PORM I 1 site, you see, and ours is only just big . vyr\Lrci\ rvixi i ; I enough for the staff. But you can stay : oi .r 1 : I if you like. -We're rather proud of our : Please reserve for me every week a ; I safety precautions in the basement, for : copy of BCV'S CINEMA. : | not only is the place bomb-proof, but we've I : J got special air locks to keep out poison : : I gas. Could stay down there for hours and ; : i be quite comfortable." : ; I Walmsley looked out of the window at • ^ : I the stream of traffic going by. : it "Bit of a job to hear the sirens going : Dote • I with that racket outside, isn't it?" he S (Write name here, please.) • | asked. ; ■I Marlow agreed, adding: ?• ■ «•..... .••••>•....>.....; i "We've arranged to receive the warning 21 Another thrilling story of Detective-Inspector Walmsley and his young assistant. Flick \ by telephone in my office. I then press a button, which sounds sirens in all the de- partments—and down we go!" They sat chatting in Marlow's ofiQce for a few minutes, then the bank manager looked at his watch. "Time for the rehearsal," he said, and, crossing to a red push-button on the wall, he pressed it. Through the open door of the office Walmsley and Flick could see the whole A.R.P. organisation at work. A commissionaire shepherded the remaining members of the public out of the building and the big front doors were closed. Tlie staff moved swiftly about, closing books and shutting them in the safes, then filing out on to the stairs and down into the basement. Walmsley and Flick followed Marlow down into the depths, and had to agree that the aiTangements were good. Under the bank itself was a large cellar, at one end of which were the strong- rooms, now being closed and locked. At the other end was the shelter itself, built of steel and concrete. They passed into the brightly lit interior, and when the rest of the staff had followed, the big steel door was closed and cool, fresh air began to circulate as the electric condi- tioning plant was switched on. "Everybody's in here now, exceptmg one or two left upstairs to watch for fires," explained Marlow. "Pretty good arrange- ment, eh? We feel as safe as houses down here." Three minutes later the "All Clear" was given and the staff returned to their places. Back in Marlow's office, as Walmslev was talking business. Flick's eyes began to wander around the room, and he smiled to himself as he saw something on a small side-table. It was a spanner; a huge affair, looking utterly out of place in that neatly furnished office. "Are you expecting a stick-up in vour October 2Tst, 1039.