Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

u With eyes wide with horror ancT amazement, Helen stared at tho brotliei' she loved and respected while he un- folded the tale of his life—how the war had left him a pauper, and of tiie tempting offer to run liquor for a liveli- hood ; how he had been dragged more and more into the game until he had berome one of the big men. " The excitement and thrill were life to me," ho told his sister, "and 1 wanted money. Yon would never have known if it had not been for this rotten shooting. But I promise you, Helen, that I will talk to Goldie Gorio, and try to persuade hiin to let Steve out. Steve belongs to Gorio's gang, and " "Gorio is cruel, callous, and evil!" Helen's eyes flashed fire. "I could kill that man !" McBaine Severs a Partnership. ON the day that Steve was allowed to sit up for the first time, McBaino started his attack. By careful detective work he had learnt much that puzzled him. Wlicn every- thing was ready he rang up King. "This is McBaine speaking. Sur- prised ? I've got a reputation for speak- mg plain, King, and to the point. As crooks go, you're a better specimen than most. You may steal, rob, smuggle, and indulge in other un- pleasant actions, but you don't murder or shoot in cold blood." "Thanks!" King's sharp mouth twisted in a wry smile. "You haven't forgotten the other night by any chance?" "That's why I'm ringing you now. I want to tell you just what happened. It's my job to wipe out murderers and gangsters, and to stop the wholesale slaughter through gang warfare. I decided to do a little killing on my own. Don't interrupt. King, but just listen. Did you ever meet the Doc. ? Ho acted for Goldie." "Sure I knew him," answered King. " You found his body. One of your scouts ?" "Sure he was," came the answer. " He was shot dead two seconds after speaking to nie. He told me that on the night of the 17th the Shark was going out, and that Goldie Gorio was taking her." "What's that?" King spoke sharply. "Thought it would surprise you," came the grim chuckle. "They got wise that Doc. was one of my men, but they wanted him to tell mo about the Shark for some reason. Can you think of a reason, King ? Can you think of one person who might like Steve to take a ride to heaven? I'm not asking for thanks, but I pushed aside one of the puna, or Steve would have been a corpse. I recognised him just in time. Steve had been sent as a deputy. That night Goldie Gorio was supposed to bo queer with indigestion. Do you swal- low that muck?" "Aro you hinting that Gorio sent Steve to certain death ?" "I am," answered McBaine. "I got tho Doc. to try and lure Gorio on board the Shark, and I al.so know that Goldie himself personally gave the order to Steve over the 'phone. Link jill this \ip, King, and ask your nice, kind part- ner why he sent Steve Carlyle to his death." "You meddling police cop!" shouted King. "Why ever should Gorio want to have Steve shot?" "You've got a sister, haven't you?" The words wore sinister. " One of the best-lookers in this city. She's tho wife of Steve. Has Goldie ever sent her any presents? This ain't a bluff on my part, King, but the truth. Why not find out for yourself?" December 26th, 1931. BOY'S CINEMA King was furious with rage and hate as he paced his room. Ho was linking up small facts and details. Gorio had never seen Helen till the day of the wedding; now Gorio was always giving Helen some sort of present. Then there was the huge car, the amazing flat—and King's face hardened as tie remembered that over the dress- ing mirror in Helen's room was scrawled in gold letters: "With the Love and Respects of Goldie Gorio." How Helen had hated that blatant advertisement of a rich man's generosity. McBaine was right when he said Gorio himself had spoken to Steve over the 'phone. Helen had told him so. Then there had been those strange, queer lights in Gorio's eyes whenever he had gazed upon Helen. "McBaine's right!" King hit his clenched fist into an open palm. "Gorio framed Steve !" King snatched up the telephone and put through a call. "Is that Goldie Gorio?" He spoke quietly. "King this end." A pause. "Yeah, Helen's fine, and so is Steve. I'm gonna tell you something. I know how Steve came to be shot. Your murdering scheme did not quite succeed. No, I'm not crazy ! I've learnt all about the Doc and how he died. I'm coming right over to discuss the matter. Reckon we ought to have a show-down." "Anything you say suits me," drawled the tired voice of Gorio. " You've been listening to McBaine, but I'll sure be all prepared to see you. Step right over." His laugh was almost pleasant as he added: "Bring your friends along. You're all welcome." King jabbed back the receiver. "Tho skunk did frame Steve!" He got to his feet. "This city isn't big enough for the two of us. The treacher- ous, murdering skunk !" Murder. IF one could have watched Goldie Gorio without his being aware of it, one would havo noticed a queer change. His mouth kept on twitching, and tho eyelids kept flickering; besides these two facts ho had developed a habit of muttering to himself. "That's queered mo with Helen! Curses on tho meddling fool!" He Every Tuesday paced his luxurious bed-room. "But I'm the big noise in this city, and King's a nuisance. If King goes^ then Helen " He grinned in a horrible manner. "And King is coming for a show-down. He's going to get a big surprise !" In the ante-room to Gorio's bed-room was an invalid chair. The invalid was an old man much enfolded in rugs and scarfs. A grey-haired woman whose face was marked with years of suffering and worry hovered around. She was the wife of the invalid. There was fear in her eyes as she gazed at Gorio, who made a significant gesture for her to get out. "King coming over with his gang—a show-down !" rapped out the crook. "Are you all set? The signal will be when I stroke my chin—get it? King believes you to be only an old invalid pal of mine, so it will be dead easy. Now I'll go and talk to the other boys." \Vho would have imagined that the marble entrance hall of this big building was a death-trap ? Slide back the pictures and small slits in the walls would have been revealed. Behind were "typewriters," the deadliest kind of machine-guns. Handling them were men whose eyes gleamed with the lust to kill. At most times Goldie Gorio used Don't forget to get a copy of this won- derful new Annual. It is packed with thrilling film stories, pictorial articles, and coloured plates. Price 6/- net, at all Newsagents. this building, known as tho Regal, as his home and place of business. His gang were kept out of town, except for a few trusted ones, but Goldie had all the gang brought in as soon as he found King was planning a show-down. King knew nothing of Gorio's hidden menaces, bu^ he was so enraged •viUi the treachery of his partner that he was blind to all danger. Boldly and fear- lessly he went with half a dozen picked men to the Regal. A.=. they marched across the entrance hall a picture slid back and a wicked, snaky barrel fol- lowed the procession with sinister alert- ness. One move by King and his gang and that "typewriter " would speak. Joe met King. The big fellow grinned. "Goldie is expecting you, boss, in his bed-room. Will you follow me?" King gave his men a significant nod to be on tho alert, and stepped after the burly gangster. They were shown into the ante-roo:n. The invalid made a great effort and turned in his chair. He smirked at them, and then sank back "imply against his cushions. Then a door opened and Goldie Gorio stepped out of his bed-room. He was garbed in a well-cut blue lounge suit. It liad three buttons ! "Howdy. King ! I see you've brought your friends." "I've had information passed to me that only you can explain away." King did not waste his words. " You heard what I said over the 'phone. Did you or did j'ou not send Stove Carlylo to the Shark, knowing that McBaino and his men were waiting in hiding?" "The Doc and McBaino had planned it all so nicely that it seemed a pity to spoil their plot." Goldie smiled pleasantly. No longer was it worth while trying to win Helen by gentle methods—force, power and money should achieve his ends. Therefore, why bother to lie? "McBaino wanted someone to shoot at, so I sent someone. Steve wanted to get out of the game, and I do not trust men who want to quit. I decided (hat by sending Steve I'd do him a good turn; but McBaine always was a bad .~hot." "You murdering skunk!" shouted King. "So you boast about planning an innocent lad's death I And what do you think I'll bo doing when you plan to send Steve for another so-called holiday ? You're not the only person (Continaed on page 38.)