Boy's Cinema (1939-40)

i Every Tuesday m good time and made their getaway, for I have had a radio message to that effect. Consequently there is no fear of betrayal in that quarter." Degado entered into the discussion at that point, withdrawing a newspaper that had been stuffed into one of his coat pockets. "What about Beldcn?"' he demanded. "This rag says he's lying unconscious at the Central Infirmary in Portland, and it mentions that guy Kent is waiting there in the hope that when he comes round he'll talk." Boroff inclined his head. "I know," he replied grimly. "I've read that report, Degado, and I'm well aware that Belden is the kind who might talk if he found himself in a corner. In fact, I wouldn't have had him in the organisation if I could have dispensed with his services." "I wouldn't have left him aboard the Adamic if I'd known he was still alive," Degado muttered. "I could've sworn he was dead. In any case, I counted on the Adamic going to the bottom of the sea. But what's to be done about Belden, chief?" The tall, gaunt-framed scientist answer- ed him in deliberate tones. "It will interest you to learn that Thorg left for Portland an hour ago with Carter," he said. "They had orders from me to find out the precise ward where Belden was located—and to do their best to see that his lips were sealed." "And supposing they silence Belden but are captured themselves?" Krohn put in. Boroff turned his gaze upon the emissary from Morovania. "Neither of them would supply the authorities with a scrap of information," he stated. "They are absolutely trust- worthy. I am quite positive of that, my friend." None of the inmates of the laboratory at the kelp plant had any means of know- ing it, but at that mom.ent Belden was being questioned in a private ward at the Central Infirmary in the city of Portland, away to the south. That ward was situated on the ground floor of the hospital, and its windows, which were wide open, looked out on to an asphalt yard adjoining the institution. It was a room of moderate dimensions, and contained a single bed in which the injured super-cargo of the Adamic lay. He had regained consciousness a minute or two before, and a doctor who had been in constant attendance on him had im- mediately summoned Terry Kent and Jean Norman from a neighbouring apart- ment wherein the Coast-Guard lieutenant and his fiancee had been patiently waiting. And now, in the presence of Jean and the doctor, Terry was interrogating Belden insistently. "Where is Boroff?" That was the earnest query that the revenue officer put to the injured clerk, but. though he reiterated it again and BOY'S CINEMA again, it was some time before Belden made any response, for despite the fact that the man had come round he .seemed too distracted by pain to grasp the mean- ing of Terry's words. Then at last Beldcn appeared to comprehend the question that was being directed at him, and with an effort he roused himself a little. "I'll—I'll tell you what you want to know," he whispered. "Boroff has in- vented—a deadly gas. Disintegration gas, he calls it " "We know he's handling a deadly gas," Terry interrupted. "We've also a pretty good idea that he's arranged to supply it to Morovania in Europe. But where is Boroff hiding out, and how does he pro- pose to ship that gas?" Again Belden spoke in a whisper. "Go to Pier—go to Pier " He broke off as a spasm of pain racked liis body, and, leaning closer to him, Terry addressed him encouragingly. "Yes," he urged. "What Pier?" "Port," Belden groaned. "Pier—Pier And then, startlingly and with the speed of hghtning, something flashed across that room from the vicinity of one of the open windows—something that glinted wickedly in its swift passage, through the air. It was a heavy knife that streaked past Terry's right shoulder and thudded home in Belden's chest, burying itself to the hilt, piercing the unfortunate man through the heart. A brief, anguished cry escaped Belden ere he fell back lifelessly—a cry that was echoed by a terrified scream on the part of Jean. Then she and Terry and the doctor spun round, and as they did so they beheld two figures outside the window whence that murderous blade had come. One was a villainous-looking rogue whom Terry identified as the gunman with whom he had fought in the after- hold of the Adamic. The other v/as the gigantic Thorg, and clearly it was he who had flung the knife that had sealed Belden's doom, for his right arm was stretched forward and his attitude was that of a man who had made a powerful throw. Such was the spectacle that met the eyes of Jean, Terry and the doctor in the moment, that the three of them wheeled, but a split second later Thorg and his accomplice had vanished from the aper- ture and taken to their heels. Next instant Terry Kent launched him- self into action. Bounding across the room, he dived out through the window from which Boroff's minions had turned— landed asprawl on the asphalt beyond it and picked himself up to see Thorg and the other ruffian haring across the yard. He raced after them and was riot far behind them when they ducked out through a gateway in a high wall that encompassed the hospital yard. On the other side of the gateway stood a sedan car which apparently belonged to the two fugitives and which had been left with engine running, and, the first to reach it. 19 Thorg wrenched open the near-side front door of the vehicle and scrambled into the driving-position. His companion attempted to enter the automobile as well, but had .scarcely set foot on the running-board when Terry caught up with him and seized him. The sedan stormed into motion with rearing exhaust, and the man to whom Boroff had referred as Carter was left to wage a lone battle with Terry, the two of them rolling to and fro in close proximity to the yard gateway. Then, separating, they struggled to their feet, and as they straightened Carter clapped a hand to his hip-pocket and plucked forth a squat- barrelled automatic. A look of murderous desperation on his rascally features, he tried to blaze at Ten-y with the weapon. Yet before he could draw trigger the lieutenant brought down his left in a slicing blow that struck the gun out of the man's grasp, and almost simultaneously he ripped the bunched knuckles of his right to the point of the gangster's jaw. Carter measured his length, and though he was quick to recover himself Terry had stooped to snatch up the automatic and had trained it on the ruffian ere the latter had reached his knees. "HoM it!" the revenue officer snapped. Crouching on the ground, Boroff's hire- ling lifted his arms sullenly in token of surrender, and, still menacing him with the gun, Terry darted a glance along the road and observed that the car containing Belden's assassin was no longer in view. Then he riveted his attention on Carter again. "Your pal's made a getaway," he said curtly. "But you're coming with me to police headquarters—to answer a charge of being an accessory in the murder of Belden." ON THE TRACK AN hour after the death of Belden, Terrv Kent was ensconced in the sanctum of Commander Boyle, .senior officer in charge of the Portland Coast- Guard Station. The lieutenant had handed Carter over to the police and had returned to the Coast-Guard station to report to his superior, and now he was discussing the luckless Belden's unfinished statement. "' Pier ' and ' Port' were the last two words he spoke just before he v/as knifed, sir," Terry informed Boyle. "It was as if he were trying to give me the number and location of some dock." The commander frowned sombrely. "That doesn't give us very much to go by," he murmured. "I '' He stopped, for at that juncture a tele- phone on his desk commenced to ring, and, picking up the receiver, he held it to his ear and spoke into the mouthpiece in- quiringly. Then after a moment he glanced up at Terry. "It's for you, lieutenant," he said. "That Press photographer who's a friend of yours wants to speak to you.'' GET THESE GIFTS FREE! Here's how... DARTS BOARD 12!"dlameter cork- faced with three loaded, feather- ended darts. 87 Coupons and Free Voucher. WATCH. 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