Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

22 Juck would be biought back a captive, hopeful as the liours passed that he had got clear a>vay. When evening came «he mountod her pony and rode oiT towards the river. Fire gleamed at times on the summit of Fire Mountain, and the girl shuddered with fear when- ever she glanced that way. But she went on, all the same. She rode cautiously jilong the bank of the stream for some miles until she came to the crossing, a shallow place where the river* w as usually fordable. Here she stopped and surveyed the ground very carefully. She did not think that anyone suspected her of hav- ing arranged a meeting with Jack, but it was as well to make sure. No one was in sight; so the girl whistled softlj'. There was a movement among some trees nearby, and she caught sight of Jack, who signed to her to come for- ward. She followed him for some dis- tance, and dismounted when at length they had reached Jack's hiding-place amongst the willows. "I'm sure glad you're here, Doris," exclaimed Jack. "I'm glad to be here to sec you, Jack." .said the girl softly, "but I'm always frightened when I get near that horrid mountain.'' " Nothing there to be frightened about," replied Jack, laughing. "For- get that yarn of the ghosts, kid. Tell me where that dirty skunk Reed is now." "Still looking for yoii, I think.'' came the reply. "He went oflf this morning and he hasti't been back in the town all day. Don't let liim catch you, Jack !" "Not I," laughed Jack, "I reckon to take him to the gaol to-morrow. You see, I've found out one or two things about him, and I guess I'm finding more !" "Oh, Jack," cried Doris, "what do you mean?" "You'li see—to-morrow," said Jack. "I told you I had a little business this way. Show your father that, and he'll understand." He handed the girl a small metal disc, at which she gazed in surprise. "You needn't liave hidden at all, then. Jack," she cried. "But I wanted lo tell j'ou something. That race to- morrow. It's awful for dad. Someone got «t Lightning during the night, and he can't rim. He's lame !" "That's too bad." said Jack. "But I've a surprise for you, dear. Your dad may win the race, after all. Come and see what I've got." He led the girl a little farther among the trees, and she saw Jack's own hor.sc and also a splendid white .stallion she had never seen before. Doris Shel- don was a good judge of horseflesh, and her eyes brightened as she looked over the strange horse. "He's sure the real goods." she ex- claimed. "Is he yours. Jack?" "Well, I found him," said Jack ,slowly, "and if you reckon findings are keepings, he's sure enough mine. And I'll tell you. kid, that horse is not lightning—he's faster tlian anything I know—he's greased lightning, I'll ride him in the race to-morrow, and he'll win and save your dad. So that's okay." As Jack spoke a drumming sound, far off' uarul faint, l)ut yet distinct, came lo their ears, and Doris shuddered in alarm, "Those droadful tom-toms!" she whis- pered. "Jack. I'm afraid !" "Don't be afnaid, Doris," cried Jack confidently. "In a few hours you'll have no reason to fear anything. I'm on the track of that drumming, too, and I reckon to find wliat it is to-morrow," August 8th, 1831. BOY'S CINEMA "Looks like your liaving a busy day," smiled Doris. "I'd better get back now l)efore dad misses me."- "You'll see me to-morrow," cried Jack, as the girl rode away, "You'll see me down at the starting-post—an' the wliite horse, too !" ''"^ Judge Sheldon Disappears, BRUCE REED called at the judge's house late that evening to report liis lack of success in the hunt for Jack Allen, and to find out whether there was any chance of the horse Lightning running in the race. Reed had been fuming with rage all day, for not only had Jack given him the slip, but the white stallion was nowhere to be found, and the wily rancher had reckoned on winning the Endurance Race very easily with him. Still, reflected Bruce as he walked up to the judge's house, he had anotlier horse which could beat anything in the race except Lightning, and Lightning was probably out of it. One of his gang had seen to that. "I'll win in spite of all," muttered Reed, "and then I'll make my own terms with Sheldon—and I'll have Doris !" Judge Sheldon was in no good humour when Bruce came in. Light- ning had failed him. Jack Allen, whom he really liked, was accused of rustling and had vanished, while Doris had gone out and had not yet returned, "You ought to call that bet off," he growled. '.'My horse can't run." "I'm real sorry, judge." said Bruce; "but—a bet's a i3et. It's just jbur bad luck, that's all one can say." Doris came in just then, and the rancher soon went away, for it was not his intention to approach the girl again until after the race. "We'll see what she says when the old man has lost everything to me to- morrow," he chuckled as he turned the corner of the building. Then a thought struck him. He went no farther, but crept quietly l)ack to the door of the house and listened. Doris and her father were talking in the front room, and Bruce Reed could hear something of the conversation. "Yes, dad. and he gave nic this to show you." the cunning rancher heard the girl say. He could not see what it was that Doris showed her father, and he listened eagerly for the old man's reply. "A deputy-marshal's badge, eh?" said .ludge Sheldon. "He knows more about this cattle rustling than he calcu- lates to tell us. I reckon." "Yes. dad. And he's got a wonder- ful white horse. It's better tlian Light- ning, he says." "That I can't believe," averred the judge. "Where is Allen now? We must get him back. That tale of Bruce's about him can't he true." Doris did not know that Bruce was straining his ears to catch every word, but some instinct of caution made her whisper her reply into her father's ear. "He's down in the willows by the river." Bruce Reed could not hear the words, and ho ground his teeth with rage. He listened a moment longer, but in vain, for Doris began to talk of other things. The rancher stole away di:jappointed. He had heard something, but not enough. "I've sure gotta be careful." he mut- tered as he went off to find his gang. Presently he was talking angrily to his right-hand man, a certain Bill Haines, wlio was outwardly a. respectable citizen, and yet, in secret, one of the rustlers. Every Tuesday "That guy Allen has got my white horse," snarled Bruce. "Your horse!" sneered Bill. "The horse you rustled out of Montana, you mean." "Well, Allen's got him now, the girl said, and she told the old man where he is, only I couldn't hear the words, darn it ! We've gotta get hold of tho judge and make him talk, I must have Starlig'ht back—may need him to make a get-iaway." "Make a get-away to-night if you're turning yellow," said Bill. "I thought j'ou were riding to-morrow." "Sure I am, but I want Starlight for the race. Fetch up a couple of the boys, and wait your chance to get the judge in the morning. It's too late to-night." Bill Haines nodded in comprehension, and the rustlers parted for the night. The morning of the endurance race dawned clear and fine, but Judge Shel- don got up in the lowest possible spirits. Though Doris had told him that Jack meant to ride the white horse, he did not feel that there was any hope of victory, and he was afraid that this day would see his ruin, "Cheer up, dad!" cried Doris happily. "Jack's going to win." "Not on my horse, though," growled the judge. "You go out in the garden and sit down while I get the breakfast, dad." said Doris, and the old man went out. sat down in a chair and gave himself up to bitter regrets for his foolish bet with Bruce Reed. Two faces peered cautiouslj' out from the. shelter of some bushes behind the judge. Two men garbed in Indian cos- tume, seeing that the coast was clear, crept stealthily across to Judge Sheldon inch by inch. They were within a yard of the chair before the judge seemed suddenly to sense their presence, and he turned quickly to see their fierce faces close to his. With the speed of light one of the men deftly slipped a saok over the old man's head, while the other secured his arms with a rope. In a couple of minutes Judge Sheldon was helpless in the hands of the intruders, who carried him away to their horses hidden amongst the trees behind the house, and made off with him at a gallop. "Dad! Dad!" called Doris, a couple of minutes later. "Breakfast is ready." There was no reply, and the girl came out, thinking that her father might have dozed off to sleep. To her great surprise he was not to be seen. She looked round the garden in vain, and then went to the stables. He was not there, and though she knew that he could not have re-entered the house without her knowledge, she searched there, too. Her father was not to be found. He seemed to have disappeared without leaving a trace. Threatened with Torture. DORIS SHELDON was distracted with grief, at the unaccountable disappearance of her father. Her first thought was to rush for help to Jack Allen, but he was miles away, and it was almost with relief that she saw Bruce Reed walk up. Even he was better than no one at all. "Bruce, have you seen my father?" she cried anxiously. "No, Doris, I ain't seen him this' morning," sai'» the rancher, assuming a look -of surprise, ' ■..■... "He's missing, I can't find him any-' where," exclaimed the girl,' "You don't say!" remarked Bruce, re-' , joicing inwardly that his scheme to kid- i