Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

Every Tuesday I ''BRANDED'' | t (Conlinued from page 8.) I Ills gun and belt off him—one of us is going to get an a,wful whipping ! Swede, get outside ! Bob, take that half-brceU away I" Moore's belt fell to the floor and was louioved. Tom shed his own belt J(tid clenched his fists. " I'd like to have a share in this, Dale," said Starrett. "No," decided Tom. "This par- ticular argument is between him and me—you can settle your own score some other time. Take Mr. Bill Saunders with you, and hold him tight!" The fight that followed was one of the fiercest ever waged between two men in the whole of Texas. Moore, with the roar of an animal at bay, snatched up a cliair and hurled it at his enemy; but Tom dodged, the chair sped harmlessly over his head, and the conspirator re- ceived a sledge-hammer blow between the eyes that sent him staggering against the table. From the table he made an ugly rush, and Tom found that he was no mean opponent. This way and that they swayed about the room, giving and re- ceiving blows. Olaf, who had gone no further than the veranda, glued his fnghtcned face to the window-pane and watched the battle with bidging eyes. Twice Tom went down, and if Moore could have had his way ho would have choked him; but he had met his matcli in physical .strength and his superior in tactics Each time Tom brought his opponent down with him and was the lirst to rise. The room became an utter wreck ; cvou the solitary picture on the wall fell from its nail upon them; and at last Moore picked himself up from a corner, bieathing heavily, with only one idea in his head—to escape. Inch by inch he fought his way to the front door, and there lashed out with a vicious left that caught Tom in the mouth—and managed to get the door open. But even as he was about to back out through it Tom was on him, and a terrific pui.ch caught him with such force under the jaw that he was lifted clean over the veranda, lost his balance on the top of the steps and crashed Ixickwards down them with his head on the ground and his arms flung wide. Tom leaned against the rails to re- cover his breath, and Olaf went anxi- ously to him. "Say," lie faltered, "w-w-was you all right?" •• Sure !" nodded Tom. "Wait—till—I get my—breath." Starrett was waiting in the yard with his prisoner Tex, who was looking dis- tinctly the worse for wear. "Made him cough up that money, Tom?" inquired Starrett. "Yes," nodded Tom, "I've got it. And now they can put that fence up again." lie descended the steps and jerked Moore to his feet. "Come on, you hammerh«id!" he said masterfully. "Olaf, bring some tools." The prisoners were marched over to the wrecked portion of the fence and provided with hammers and nails. "When you're through with this line," Tom informed them grimly, " you'll know all about fcnce-building." It took far longer to re-erect the fencing than it had taken Lou's men to knock it down, but there was no rest for Moore and Tex till the task was BOY'S CINEMA accomplished. Tom, Starrett and Olaf squatted on the turf beneath a tree, nursing their guns, and Olaf lifted up his raucous voice in a song about a Texas cowboy which seemed to consist ot innumerable verses. When the fencing was restored, Tom inspected it, and nodded his approval. "Thanks, boys!" he said cheerfully, "Couldn't have done it better myself 1" "Yeah?" lasped Moore. "Well, we'll be back." "Call around any time!" The worn-out pair made wearily for their horses, and it galled them that in order to go back to the Preston ranch to collect their belongings they must follow a roundabout route. They were almost in sight of the ranch-house when they fell in with the sheriff of Falls City, who was riding that way, and Moore greeted him as on old acquaintance. " Why, Mack, you old son-of-a-gun," he exclaimed, "how arc you? What are you doing up in our country?" "Oh, just a little errand," responded the sheriff, "decorating trees and things. Ever seen these liombres before?" And he passed over one of a sheaf of posters. Moore took the sheet and opened it out, and as he did so his narrow eyes gleamed with evil satisfaction. For the poster contained pictures of Tom and Olaf. and announced a reward for their capture, dead or alive—a reward of five thousand dollars ! "Let's get into the office," he sug- gested, and they proceeded to that building. Lou, from the ranch-house, saw them arrive with a man who was a stranger to her, and, wondering what fresh mis- chief was afoot, stole out to find out. A window was open, and she crouched be- neath it, listening. Inside the ollice Moore passed the poster to Tex with a grin. "Ilavo wo ever seen these guys be- fore?" he said. Tex looked at the pictured faces, raised his heavy brows and whistled. "Have wo not!" quoth he. "Well, that's good hearing," declared the sheriff of Falls City. "Nice old time I've had fixing their identity and gettin' picters of 'em from over in Knox County, where they come from. I'm here to get that feller Dale and his man Olaf for the stage holdup men- tioned there, dead or alive." "Dead or alive, eh?" said Moore. "That's \vhat I said." "Well, listen—will you lot me select my own posse to round these babies up? I know where to put hands on 'em, but they're tough liombres." T1k> sheriff considered the suggestion, "Why not?" he decided finally. "Go ahead—<ind I'll ride into town and notify the Weston county sheriff that I want these men. But don't let 'em get away from you." "We won' t!" promised Moore. "And Sheriff Wat- kins wilt bring you straight to their hang-out." The sheriff pre- sently mounted his horse and departed in the direction of Wostonville. "This'll be the first time I ever put lead into a fellow and pot a rewaid for it!" chuckled Tex. 25 "That's the idea!" nodded Moore. "We'll .'ay thoy tried to make a get- away and we had to shoot. It'll be loo late to argue by then!" Lou did not linger to hear any more; she darted down the yard to the stables, saddled the bay mare, and set off at a frantic gallop in the direction of the Dale ranch only a few minutes before Moore called a passing cow-hand to the door of the olHce and instructed him to get some of the outfit together as quickly as possible. LESS tf Ranch Starrett Tells the Truth. han half-way to the Dale ch, Lou caught sight of Tom. He and Olaf and Starrett were driving back to the mesa some over- looked cattle he had innocently acquired from "Bill Saunders." She Hew to him in a panic as fast as the bay could carry her. "You've got to get away at once!" she cried. "They're coming to kill youT' "Kill me?" echoed Tom. "Who are ?" "Mooie and Tex—they know you're wanted for a stage hold-up." " We didn't hold up any stage '. That can be proved 1" "Not in time," she said, and put a hand pleadingly on his arm. "Oh, please go—oh, do ! For—for my sake !' "For your sake?" he repeated, scan- ning her face. "What do you care'i" "Everything!" "Oh, Lou!" he exclaimed joyfully. "Do you mean that?" "Can't you see I do?" she faltered. "Now, please go before they come." But Tom, resisting an impulse to put his arm round her, set his jaw. and said : " I'm sorry, Lou, but I—I wouldn't run away from anybody." "All right, then," she cried desper- ately, "it that's the case, I'm going to get the sheriff' to straighten this thing out." And she shot off in the direction of Westoiiville. Tom whistled to Olaf and Starrett, and they rode over to him. "Never mind the caittlo," he said. "Moore and that gang are coming to clean us oui. They've heard about the stage hold-up. Let's get hack to the ranch-house and make a stand for it." Olaf's face was a picture of consterna- tion, but Starrett nodded grimly, and they rode. Long before they came to the yard, however, they saw that they were too late. Moore and nearly a dozen men were already grouped round the shack, brandishing their guns. "1 hate to do it," growled Tom, "but we've got to go !" They swung to the right, making for the road that stretched between Weston- villc and Falls City ; but Moore caught sight of them as they went tearing (Continued on page 28.) ^ I5'5 32 Free Billiard Tables Send for details and price list. A Riley Billiard Tabio provides an ttraction that makes it simple, here's hours of j)loasure tor the hoys and all the family with a Riley " Home" Billiard Talilc. The (i ft. size is delivered on first deposit of 13/3d., balance by monthly instalments. Cash Price £11 159. 7 days' Free Trial allowed to te.?t the table, and Riley's pay carriage and take transit risks. 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