Boy's Cinema (1939-40)

tveiy Tuesday BOY'S CINEMA Attorney's in his study. I'll see if hell speak to you. " Carter looked round at Roston. "He's coming to the phone now," he said. '•That's fine," returned Roston. who imagined that his arrest would be very short-lived. Fornay's voice sounded in Carter's left ear, and that crook said, in a suitably official manner: "This is Carter, of the Department of Justice, sir. We've just arrested Major Roston as he was attempting to sell mili- tary secrets. He wants to see you before lip*s booked '' "■Very well," said Fornay indulgently. "Bring him out here to my home." Carter replaced the telephone. "He said he'll see you." "That's fine." Roston was vastly relieved^ "Thank you." ESCAPE! ALONG black saloon car was waiting at the kerb outside the hotel, Fornay's liveried chauffeur at its wheel, and in it Roston travelled between his two captors to the mansion in 'Westchester County. The car was left in the drive a little ■way beyond the massive oaken front door, the three alighted, and Carter rang the bell. The white-haired butler opened the door, surveyed the handcuffed prisoner, and said: "You are to go dii'ectly to the study." The hall was entered and the study was reached. Fornay rose up behind the carved desk, his piercing dark eyes fixed on the man who had walked into a trap. "My name is Fornay," he said in his clipped fashion, "Mr. Mann's partner. I understand you wanted to see me." Amazement, consternation and amuse- ment chased one another across Roston's features, but he recovered his poise. "Mr. Fornay," he gritted, "you're very clever. For a while jou had me believing I was under arrest." He raised his handcuffed wrists, and Fornay motioned to Ed Logan. "A thousand pardons." he said. The handcuffs were unlocked and re- moved, and Logan pocketed them. "Be comfortable." Fornay pointed to the capacious leather-covered chair to the right of the desk. "Thank you." Roston took off his hat and sat down in the chair. "You're a hard man to contact, Fornay. " he said, crossing his long legs. "I've been trying to get in touch with you for days." "I think I know why you wanted to meet me," said P'ornay. resuming his seat and slewing round in it with an elbow on the desk to face his unintentional visitor, "but what I'm interested in is why you wanted to see the United States District Attorney." "That's quite simple—I Mas in a jam. The best way to keep out of jail is never to get into it." "You're still in a jam. Roston—a very serious jam." Fornay's tone was pleasant enough, but it carried a menace. "You see, you've been getting ixi my way. I am interested in the Fielding iiivention because I happen to know that it is practical." "That's right." nodded Roston. "The test failed on a clever piece of sabotage. I was blamed for it and thrown out of the service." '•So now you're trying to get back at them by selling military secrets? " Roston shook his head. "I'm not trying to get back at any- body. 'What I want is money." "■Well. I'm sorry. Roston. I've made other arrangements. If the United States rejects the invention I shall buy it." "And if thev don't reject it—what then?" "'Well," shrugged Fornay, "that's a chance I'm willing to take. " Roston folded his arms. "So you're depending on sabotage again?" he suggested. '• You've never seen a secret army at work—sentries inside and out twenty-four hours a day—eyes watch- ing every move you make. You might have been in a position to know the first flight would fail, but you're only hoping the second will. Let me tell you there are no ifs, ands, or buts about doing business with me. I have what you want." ■Where?" challenged Fornay. ■ In a safety deposit va^alt in New York." Fornay twisted the ends of his mous- tache and appeared to reflect. "If this test is a success," he said after a while. " I may ask you to get those platis for me to-morrow." "That will suit me," declared Roston. and he rose as though to go. But Fornay raised a hand. "Meanwhile," he said silkily. "I'd deem it a Dleasure if you would remain here as my guest." Roston glanced at Carter and Logan, who were standing between him and the door, and he bov.ed gracefully to the in- evitable. "Thank you, Mr. Fornay," he mur- mured. "The pleasure is mine." Fornay rose. "Good-night, Roston," he said. "The boys will see that you have everything you wish." Roston followed Carter out from the study, and Logan followed Roston. A curving staircase was ascended from the hall, and Carter opened the door of a bed- room, plainly but adequately furnished. Into the drive from the roadway beyond it swept a grey roadster, driven by Jules Mann. It reached the front of the house and was parked behind the black saloon. Mann got down from it, opened the front door with his own key, and stepped into the hall just as Fornay walked out from the study. "Good-evening. Jules." said Fornay. "■Well, you did splendidly to-night. You should have seen Roston's face when he walked in on me! " They went into the study, and Mann closed the door. "Don't under • estimate him." he warned. "He's clever—and dangerous." " And well I know it." remarked Fornay. "He was clever enough to implant a troublesome doubt in my mind." "About what?" "The wisdom of putting him out of the way—to-night." The bed in the room to v.hich Roston had been conducted looked inviting, and the hour was late, but Roston did not even start to undress. Ed Logan sprawled in an easy-chair opposite the dressing-table, with one leg over the arm; Tom Carter sat alertly on one side of the bed and watched the prisoner pace back and forth between the X(noml>er 4tl!, IPS".