Boy's Cinema (1939-40)

8 "Naturally, major," nodded Mann. "I've done quite a bit of experimental work myself. Now that I'm no longer in the army I'm looking for a market for my services—for my experience—and for my knowledge of a startlmg development that may revolutionise aviation." Mann flicked ash from the end of his cigar into a circular tray of bakerlite. "May I ask who sent you to us? ' "Nobody," Roston replied. 'My reputa- tion has been unfairly damaged. I can't get a job with any entirely American firm, so I'm canvassing every firm that has European connections." "■We're not an employment agency," snapped Mann. "'We import and export commodities." "I understand that," returned Roston quietly, "but I also undei-stand that you are purchasing agents for several foreign Governments." "What are you trying to sell us?" "Something 1 think you will be greatly toterested in." William i>'ornay crept away from the door at which he had been listening and pressed a bell-push on a desk. A tall, broad, and very muscular fellow with dark hair, a dark moustache and bushy brows, en eied tne room from one beyond it. His name was Tom Carter, and he was one of Pornay's hirelings. "Did you ring for me?" he asked. Fornay nodded and raised a warning finger. ..xajor Roston's in thei'e," he half- whispered, with a jerk of his head,'' trying to sell us the Fielding invention." "■Well, that's a lotta nerve!" snorted "S-s-sh! You take Ed and follow him. Report to me right along where he goes— to whom he talks. And if he tries to sell that Fielding invention to anyone else— stop him." " Yean," nodded Carter. He went out by the door at which he had entered, and Fornay listened again at the other door. "Thats very good, major," Mann was saying; " but I can't talk about it now. My partner is out of the city. If, however, upon his return you so desire it, 111 be glad to discuss the matter with him." "I'd appreciate it very much," Roston told him, getting to his feet. "'When do you expect him back?" " Oh, within a day or so." "I'll be at the Hardy Hotel, Holdman Street, if you care to get in touch with me." Mann made a note of that on a pad and wished him good-day, and a few minutes afterwards Roston descended to the hall of the building in a lift. Tom Carter and a man as powerfully built as himself, but inches shorter, were loitering in the hall when he stepped out from the cage, and they followed him from the building. UNDER ARREST AT half-past seven in the evening of the next day Roston entered the outer oflBce of the Borna News Alliance, and crossed it to the door of Joseph Dur6's room. "Come in!" called a voice in response to his knock. He stepped into the room and ap- proached the side of the desk at which the dark-skinned foreigner was seated. "Good-evening, Dure," he said. "I came over as soon as I got your message." "I have very good news for you," Dui'e informed him with a little smile. "That's fine." "But before we discuss any terms I must ask you a few questions. " Go right ahead," waved Roston. There were two windows in the room, one close to the side of the desk where Roston was standing, the other in a wall that was the rear wall of the building. Outside this second window there was a fire-escape, and the two men who had been shadowing Roston ever since he had left Pornay's office had made for the foot November 4lli, 1939. BOY'S CINEMA ol It directly their quarry had dis- appeared into a lift. Keep your eyes open, Ed," Tom Carter said to his companion, and then he hoisted himself on to the lowest rung of the fire-escape and clambered upwards. Dure, having asked Roston several ques- tions concerning his dismissal from the Air Corps, inquired abruptly : "Is Fielding in on this deal with you?" Roston's brows lifted. "No," he replied, "I'm in it alone." "Good!" Dure .stood up. "But are the plans you are offering as complete in detail as those he offered " Two shots rang out in quick succession, shattering the glass of a window-pane across the room, and Dure fell forward across the desk, upsetting an electric lamp upon it with an elbow. Instinctively Ros- ton ducked: bnt there were no more shots, and he was staring at the broken window when Carter scrambled down the fire- escape, and he and Ed Logan ran off through a dark court into Bedford Street. The first bullet had missed Roston by inches, and was embedded in a wall; the second bullet was in Joseph Dure's heart, and he was dead. Roston wasted neither time nor pity upon his country's enemy, but got out into the corridor as quickly as he could and made for the stairs. He put two blocks between him and the building before he hailed a passing taxi- cab, and it was not till he was in the cab that he breathed freely. He stopped the cab some little way from the hotel, alighted from it, and completed the journey on foot. The telephone-bell was ringing in the sitting-room of his suite when he opened the door on to darkness. He switched on the lights and went over to the instrument. • Hallo," he said into it. "Hallo," responded the voice of Colonel Whalen. "I'm at Clayburn Field. Boston. The new plane is to be tested at seven in the morning. Have you made any further progress?" "Yes," said Roston grimly. "Some amazing developments to-night. Although I have no concrete evidence I have several strong leads." "You'd better come here at once and discuss them," suggested the colonel. "No, don't wait till morning—come now. General Moody's here with me." Practically it was a command, and Ros- ton said that he would leave right away. He went into his oed-room to pack his things, but before he could open the door of a cupboard in which he had stowed his bag and suitcase the telephone-bell rang again. Back he went into the sitting-room, dropped his hat on a low table, and answered the call. It was the hotel clerk this time, to inform him that a gentleman named Mann desu-ed to see him. "Send him up, please," directed Roston, grinning to himself, and he picked up a newspaper and sat down on a long chester- field with it. A few minutes passed, and then there was a knock at the door. " Come in I" he shouted. Jules Mann walked into the room, smok- ing a cigarette and looking completely at his ease. "Oh. how d'you do, major?" he said. "I suppose you re a little sm-prised to see me here after what I said yesterday morn- ing?" "Frankly I am," confirmed Roston, and added : "But it's a pleasant surprise." He rose to shake hands. ""Won't you sit down?" "Thank you." They became seated, side by side upon the chesterfield. "My partner, William Fornay, telephoned me just now from Toronto. I told him of your visit and proposal." "Yes?" prompted Roston. "He seemed greatly interested." "What did he say?" "He said that if this knowledge and experience you spoke of were true we could talk business." Tom Carter and Ed Logan had followed Mann inconspicuou.sly into the hotel, and Every" Tuesday had reached the fourth floor by way of the stairs. Carter was stooping to listen at the keyhole outside the door, Ed Logan was keeping watch on the corridor. "I think I can work everything out to your entire satisfaction," Roston said, and Mann nodded and discarded circumlocu- tion. "Have you any blue prints or specifica- tions of this Fielding plane that a com- petent engineer could work from?" he questioned. "Not with me," Roston i-eplied. "Oh, I see." "But I have them. That's what I have for sale." The door was flung wide, and Carter and Logan strode into the room. Roston bounded up from the chesterfield, glaring at the intruders; Mann rose more slowly and moved aside. "Department of Justice!" announced Carter sternly, and he exhibited a badge in the palm of his hand. "You're under arrest, Major Roston! We charge you with violation of the Espionage Act!" Ed Logan, sweeping round to the other side of Roston, produced a pair of hand- cuffs and snapped one of them round the captive's right wrist. Carter looked at Mann. "Thanks for reporting this to me," he said, " and for your co-operation." Roston stood frowningiy silent, his eyes on Carter, nis teeth clamped together. "Is that all you want of me?" asked Mann. "For the time being," Carter replied. "But I suggest you don't leave town with- out first consulting the United States District Attorney." "I understand," nodded the crook, and he picked up his hat from a chair and went out. "All right," Carter barked at Roston, " let's get started!" But Roston did not budge. "I'd like to see the United States District Attorney," he said. "You'll see him soon enough!' rasped Logan. "I'd like*to see him right now." "But he's not at his office this time of night," objected Carter, exchanging glances with his accomplice. " Would it be too much trouble to try to get him at his home?" challenged Roston. "Do you know where he lives?" asked Carter. "No, but couldn't you find out?" "All right," was the growling rejoinder, "I'll call the office." Carter went to the telephone, and, with his back to tire prisoner, dialed a number. "But you understand I'm doing this only because of your former position." he said. "Thank you," murmured Roston, who had no reason to suspect that the whole business was a fake. A voice sounded in Carter's ear. "Hallo, who is this?" he questioned. "Oh, George? This is Tom Carter. Give me the home address and phone number of the United States District Attorney. Yes. Oh, thanks, George." A surprised subscriber, whose name was not George, was protesting that he knew nothing whatever about any District Attorney when he was cut off. Carter dialed another number, and in Pornay's mansion—up in Westchester County—the white-haiied butler, called Henry, hastened from his own quarters to a tele- phone on a table in the hall. "This is Carter, of the Department of Justice," Carter informed him. "Will you ask the District Attorney if he'll speak to me for a moment, please? It's very important." The butler was bewildered. He knew Carter well enough; but he did not under- stand what he meant by saying he was of the Department of Justice, and he was quite sure he did not want to speak to anybody associated with the law. "District Attorney?" he echoed blankly. "Yes," rapped Carter—and then light dawned upon the butler's somewhat limited intelligence. "Oh!" he exclaimed. "Oh, the District