Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

r Every Tuesday "THE CRIMINAL code; "I deserved it. Lost my temper, and -T-well, the man died." "What a relief you arc!" she ex- claimed. "They all say they're inno- cent as a rule I" She paused, thinking. " How long are vou going to be here for?" • "Another eight years, less remis- sion," he said. "Good!" Her gladness was quite open and unashamed. "I rather like you. I certainly feel safer with you than " She stopped suddenly. Above the noiso of the engine came the scream of the prison siren. "What's that?" she said quickly— almost nervously. "Someone's making a break for it," said Graham grimly, and slammed on (lis brakes. The prison was less than a quarter of . a mile away, and the siren's awful din .swept over the countryside like some cry of agony. Ala-^ost immediately after- wards was hoard the sharp, staccato lattic of machine-guns. It lasted a bare minute, then died away. Graham remained where he w.is, listening. A full five minutes passed before he spoke. "What do you want to do?" he then said. "Go on, or wait until all the danger is over?" '•riJ go on," she said. "And please hurry. My father might be hurt, or something." Graham slammed in the gears, and pressed hard on the accelerator. The car shot forward in a cloud of dust. "WhoKill«d Runch?" THE scene hack at the prison was serious. Two men had tried to get away, and the news was already spreading like wild-fire that they had beeu , caught beca*ise someone had squealed. The guards, waiting for the squealer's stoiy to be vi'rified by artual happenings, had bided tlieir time until the two convicts were in thi> act of climbing over the coukhousc roof and su on to the wall behind, and had then ordered them to surrender. The convicts were re- luctant. F r e e 'd o m seemivl too near. So Gleason ordered hi.s marhiiie-gu.miers to per- suade them. - - Streams Of. bullets: had ripped into tkr stonework at the escap- ing convicts' feet, and thry liad surrendered. But the other convict.? —'iind.. there wore more tlian a thoiisanti of thotii^—knew the inner secret of what had haj)- poned, and word be.ijan to pass roiind swiftly. "Ruhch squealed! Someone must get htm!" BOY'S CINEMA When Graham and Mary reached the warden's private gate, they found the guard on it doubled. Graham, not knowing what had happened, left Mary in the car while he made inquiries. "Is it safe to bring Miss Brady in?" he asked. "I guess so," replied the guard. "You'd better go straight to the warden's office, though. There's trouble brewing." Graham took her there, and found Brady pacing up and down in agita- tion, his hands behind his back and a dead cigar in his mouth. He greeted Mary abstractedly, and sent her straight to hor room. Graham waited for further orders. The door opened, and Gleason entered. "I've got annoimced. " Bring him Ho appeared Graham was to him." Gloason went returned with a life-sentenco man. "VVell?" Brady at him with contempt want ?" Kunch crossed the oflice in a .series of short, jerky hops, and caught Brady by the hand. Fear was written on every line of his craven face. "They're after me, warden," he sqiic^akcd. "It was me who told about the two who tried to escape, and tlio others have threatened to kill mo." "Who?" said Brady quickly, a glint in his eye. "I don't know. Someone scratched Runch outside," ho in, to still said Brady abruptly, have forgotten that present. "I'll talk out, and cringing. presently quivering demanded, looking ' What do you 17 a message on the wall outside my cell." For a moment he swayed as though ho would collapse. "They'll got mo! I know thoy will ! Do something, war- den—send mc away from here I" Brady looked at Gleason sharply. "Is what ho says true?" "Yes," replied Gleason. "But for him. the other two would have been missing for good." Brady shifted liis eyes back to Riincli with distaste. He disliked a .squealer; at the same time, by law, it was tho duty of every convict to report a. pro- jected escape. "All light," he said. "I'll make a report to tho commission and have you removed. Meanwhile you'll work in this office as one of my clerks. That'll keep you out of danger for the time being." Gleason nudged Runch from behind. "Como on," he said. "Go and get vour kit and move into the trusties block." Runch was about to turn away, when a noise came from t!ie exercise-yard. It started .«oftly at first, and gradually svollcd in volume until it was almost deafening. "What's that?" he said in sudden fear. "They're yammering." said Gleason; "and if you don't know what that is by now you ouglrt to." The sound soomod to get louder and louder, until a thousitnd powerful voices were raised in a long-drawn-out "Ah-h-h-h!" Gleason went to iho window and looked down. "I'll soon sottlo them," he grated harshly. "Half a dozen machine-gims will darn quickly quieten them down. They're doing that to cover up some- thing, and it's got to stop I" He made for the door, but Brady's " Look out," he shouted, " or you will hit Gleason I July 4th, IMI.