Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

. 5ye^ Tuesday Up to now Bruce Reed had taken all that Jack could give him, and had handed back as gt)od as he got. But at length condition began to tell. The " strange youngster from Arizona was 'fighting fit. Long days in the saddle, strenuous work on many ranches he had vLsited on his journey from the South, open air and clean living—all these were on his side. Bruce Reed was in fairly good shape, too, but not so tough as ■ his opponent, and a tendency the rancher had for unlimited alcoholic refreshment now began to tell its tale. ' Reed's guard weakened, and Jack's right smashed through and found his j«tw. He swayed for a. second, and then . came again with a rush, sweat on hig lirow, his eyes still gleaming with the ■light of battle. Two steps forward li« took, to run right into another fierce • left that cracked home like the blow of a hanmior between his eyes. Jack bi'ought his right over in a trc- ' niendous upper-cut that had all the weight of his fourteen stone behind it, and Reed vvent down, and stayed \Vhere •he fell. The victor looketl at him for a 'moment as he lay in a crumpled heap ■ oil the grass, and then walked across to 'Doris Sheldon. '•' " ()h, I'm .so glad you came along!" ' Bho cried impulsively. ■ "I thought you needed some help," 'said Jack in a level voice. "Would you cmre to hare me drive you home, miss?" "Will you?" replied Doris, looking shyly at the young man. ' Well, I will. I guess, though I reckon I don't look very well for a lady's escort ot the moment." Jack was right, for Heed's fists had left sundry marks upon his fia.ce, and one of his eyes was nearly closed. '■ "Never mind!" cried Doris consol- ingly. "You saveel me from that rotter, ■and you'll soon be as—as handsome as ever I" Jack laughed, and hitched his horse to the back of the buggy. He helped the girl to a seat, mounted himself, and drove off just as Bruce Reed staggered to his feet and looked about him in a dazed way. But Doris Sheldon and : Jack Allen had no eyes for him. .' "You are a .stranger here, aren't Toii ?" asked Doris. "I'm from :'Arizona," said the Toung man. "Down there they call me the ' Riding Kid.' but my name's Jack Allen. and you can call me . Jack !" Liohtnino. DORIS SHKr.DOX stole a glance at , ■ the stalwart youngster who sat by her side. He was good-looking, he could . certainly use his fists— had ho not just laid out the most rrdoiibt- ablo fighter in Hamil- ton?—^and he had a very good horse. That much w a s obvious enough. Why he had come from Arizona, , and what ho meant to do in Nevada, she did 'Hot. know, but she was sufficiently interested ili hitri to ask for in- fornlitidn on these points. BOY'S CINJEMA "Are you staying here long?" she ' asked presently. "Don't suppose so," replied Jack. "I'm just wandering around seeing the world, you know, miss." "I'm Doris Sheldon," said the girl. " I thought perhaps you had some special business this way." "Well, I have, a little," came the reply. "'And I reckon I might have a bit more to do hero than I expected— now, Doris." Jack looked so expressively at the girl that she blushed, and hastened to introduce a fresh subject. "If you're called the Riding Kid, you're fond of horses, sure," she said, "and I guessed perhaps you'd come here for the Endurance Race. It's next Saturday, about two o'clock." "No, I hadn't heard of it," aJiswercd Jack. "My father is Judge Sheldon, and ho hopes to win the race. He's got a very good horse. He's sure crazy about horses," said Doris as they drew up before a largo house in the town of Hamilton. -A big, jollj'-looking man, with a cigar in his mouth, came oiit of the door as .fack assisted Doris to get down from the buggy It was by this time nearly dark, and Judge Sheldon thought for the moment that his daughter was accompanied by his friend. Bruce Reed. "That you. Bruce?" he said, coming forward. " Why, Doris, my girl, who is this you've brought home? I thought you were with Bruce." "So I was, dad," replied the girl. "But he—he was very riidi- to me, and Mr. Allen—Jack. I mean, helped me and brought me home." "Bruce Reed rude to you?" ex- claiuHMl the judge, staring at Doris in bewilderment. "I would never have be- lieved such a thing of him. You can tell me about that presently." The judge turned to Jack Allen and held out his hand. 19 "SlKike, boy," he said heartily. " Anyone who helps my girl is my frientl, sure. I'm certainly obliged to you, Mr. " "Jack Allen," the youngster cut in. "But down in Arizona folk call me tho Riding Kid, as I've been telling IVliss Sheldon." "The Riding Kid, eh? Fond of horses, ain't you?" asked the *idg:e eagerly, scenting a discussion on his favourite topic. "You bet I am, judge. Your daugh- ter was beginning to tell me about the Endurance Race just now, and I'd like to hear all about it." Judge Sheldon signed to the girl to go away, and she tripped into the house with a smile to Jack. "Now she's gone we can talk," cried the old man. "I reckop you're straight. I can tell by the look of you, and I'll tell you what I haven't told her, though I reckon everybody else in this town knows it. I've staked a lot— too much—on thi.s race, and I've gotta win it. somehow.'* "Well, judge, why shouldn't you?" asked Jack. "Dor—Miss Sheldon told nu3 you have a good horse." "I'll show you the horse," said tho judge. "There's just light enougli left to see him, I guess." Judge Sheldon led the way to his stables, and eamc to tlu' box in whieli stood the animal whicii he hoped v.ould save him on the day of the race. "You're going to see the finest piece of horseflesh you ever saw in your life." said the old man with immense pride. "I'll swear there ain't any such horse in Arizona, or any other place, either. There he is ! I call him Lightning, and there ain't a horse to beat him in Hamilton." Jack looked over the animal with a critical eye, and it showed its teeth and snarled at him as he came near. "Looks good to me," remarked Jack You're no Indian ! " cried Doris, raising lier hand to strike as tlie man approached her. " Let me go ! I»in going home ! " AiiifXist 8th. lesi.