Boy's Cinema (1939-40)

20 ftOY'S CINEMA Terry lashed out at the man, and, bunched knuckles thumping. home, knocked the fellow sprawling "Kent won't set eyes on them," he said. "He and Jean Norman and the photo- grapher are leaving Portland now, but before they arrive here this will be to all appearances a legitimate kelp plant, and all of us who are known to Kent and his girl-friend will be under cover." Degado leaned towards him. "What's the set-up?" he a.sked. "Are we going to let them in and then jump them?" "No, you fool." Boroff retorted. "That girl may or may not be coming here on a genuine newspaper assignment, but in any case it's likely she and Kent and the cameraman will leave word as to where they're bound for. and if they failed to return to Portland we'd have the police out here making inquiries. No, Degado, we're not going to lift a hand against our visitors." He fixed his attention on Sloan, and addressed the latter abruptly. "You are unknown to that Coast Guard ofHcer and the Norman girl," he said, "and you can play the role of manager of the IJlant. When they show up you'll apologise for my absence and tell them I was called away unexpectedly. Meanwhile get our men together and have them pile kelp over those boxes of arnatite in the laboratory. When they have done that, any of them who might be recognised by our visitors will present themselves here in my office, which will be kept locked while Kent and Miss Norman and that Press photo- grapher are on the premises." Sloan hurried off to carry out Boroff's instructions, and when Terry, Jean and Snapper McGee reached the kelp plant about an hour later all evidence that might have betrayed the real nature of the establishment had been concealed. The newcomers had driven out from Portland in Jean's car, and, seated behind the steering-column the girl swung into an enclosed vard adjoining the kelp plant Nnvi'rali'.T 4tli, lf>:lft. and pulled up alongside a high-powered automobile of the sedan type which was already standing there. Then, as she and her companions alighted, a man who was a stranger to them issued from the build- ing and greeted them courteously. That man was Sloan, and on Jean prof- fering her card and presenting Terry and Snapper he introduced himself. "My name's Sloan," he said, "and I'm managing this plant for Mr. Anderson. Unfortunately he had to leave a little while ago, but he told me you people were coming here and asked me to show you around. Er—will you step this way?" Jean, Terry and Snapper exchanged glances, each of them wondering whether "Mr. Anderson" were in reality Boroff and whether that were the reason for his absence. But without comment they fol- lowed Sloan as the latter conducted them into the manufactory and proceeded to escort them through the premises on a tour of inspection. They passed through various rooms, where men were apparently engaged in activities connected with the production of iodine, and in the course of the tour Sloan did his best to explain the work that was seemingly being carried out. As for the visitors, they affected to listen to his remarks with interest, Jean pausing from time to time to scribble in a note- book she was carrying. Snapper setting up his camera every now and then to obtain photographs, Ten-y acting the part of an onlooker who was entirely ignorant of the industry which was in progress at the plant, but who was curious to gain an insight into the processes involved. Under the guidance of Sloan the callers were presently led into a large apartment fitted out with up-to-date scientific equip- ment and occupied by two indiviciuals who were wearing white coats. "Tins is our laboratory," Sloan in- formed Jean, Snapper and Terry. "And Every Tuesday these gentlemen are our chemists. Over there against the far wall you see a ship- ment of kelp." He motioned to a great pile of seaweed, which, unbeknown to the visitors, masked a large number of boxes—boxes salvaged from the Carfax and ostensibly con- taining cans of kerosene, though actually they were laden with the mineral known as arnatite. Snapper elected to take a picture of that mass of kelp, and when he had done so Sloan turned as if to conduct Jean and Terry and the camei-aman from the laboratory. "Well, you've seen everything," he told them, "and I hope you've found your visit instructive " Terry interrupted him, indicating a closed door that was located to the right of the pile of kelp. "What's beyond that door, Mr. Sloan?" he asked casually. "Oh, that's Mr. Anderson's office," the supposed manager of the kelp plant in- formed him. "There's nothing that would interest you in there, and in any case Mr. Anderson always keeps it locked when he's not on the premises." Terry nodded, and without pursuing the subject of the locked door any farther he accompanied Sloan with Jean and Snapper as the bogus manager led the way back to the yard. There Sloan shook hands with them, and a few seconds later the visitors were departing in Jean's car, but soon after the girl had di-iven out of the yard and turned on to the Portland road TeriT ordered her to draw up. "Listen, Jean," he said, as the girl brought the vehicle to a standstill, "I don't pretend to know all about the extmc- tion of iodine from kelp, but I know enough about it to realise that that fellow- Sloan was mighty ignorant on the theme." "Meaning that you don't think iodine is being manufactured there at all?" "Meaning just that, Jean," Terry an- swered. "Thei'e's something shady abom that oiftfit, and I'm going back." Snapper fidgeted uneasily. "D'you think it's safe, Terry?" the Press photographer muttered. "That's not the point," Terry replied. "Playing for safety isn't part of my job. Snapper, and if I can sneak up on that kelp plant without being seen I may be able to find out what's really going on there. Meanwhile, I want you and Jean to drive on in the direction of Portland." His fiancee raised an exclamation of protest at that. "And leave you to run the risk of getting in a jam with nobody to help you? Oh, no " "Look, Jean," the lieutenant cut in, "I'm pretty good at taking care of myself, and if I did get in any jam you and Snapper might just be a couple of extra liabilities as far as I was concerned. Now you do as I say, and don't argue—or I'll never let you in on another scoop as long as I live." He added the last words smilingly, but he was nevertheless firm in his resolve to continue his investigation alone, and. Jean and Snapper finally consenting to part company with him, he climbed out of the car and watched it move off as the girl released the handbrake and re- engaged the gear-lever. Then, the auto- mobile having turned a bend in the high- way, he swung round and began to retrace his steps towards the kelp plant. He made for the yard adjoining the manufactory, but he did not seek admis- sion to that yard via the main entrance. Instead he headed for a small gate he had noticed in the fence that surrounded the enclosure—a side-gate which stood ajar and which was situated near the actual wall of the building. He cautiously edged through the half- open postern and took advantage of the cover afforded by a stack of empty crates that had been planted in close proximity to the gate; and, moving behind those (