Boy's Cinema (1939-40)

IsffiiH Every Tuesday 'Mrs. Drake,' he said ominously, "may I introduce Inspector Roget?" "Hov/ do you do?" Pat said, and gave the inspector one of lier most ravish int; .smiles. "And Sergeant Logros." " How do you do?" "Both of the Surety." Pat blinlced. somewhat taken aback. "Oh, dear!" she said. 'It seems I've .said the wrong thing. I'd better think of .some other story, hadn't I?" She pre- I ended to ponder. " wliy don't you tell Ihem that tlie police gave them to you? " Sergeant Legros suddenly came foj-- ward. He had picked up Pat's handbasJ and had opened it. "Perhaps madame will explain these," he said, and took from the handbag a t^acket of notes. Pat stared at them, dumbfounded. Sh? had certainly never had any notes in her ii.ig the last time she looked. 'So you do conjuj'ing tricks?" she said. 'Aren't you clever?" "They also are forged," said Sergeant Legros grimlv. "What?" Inspector Roget put his hand on Simon''; .slioulder. "Monsieur, I arrest you," he said. "And madame, too." And without any more ado. both Simon and Pat wei'e dragged off to the Surete. Fortunately, when they got there, Pat kept quiet while Simon did some earnest talking. Obviously he was oot believed, but as Inspector Holly was on the premises, he was sent for. "Monsieur," said Roget when Inspector Holly came in, "I regret that I have dis- turbed you. These two persons had a great number of forged English notes in their possession." He shrugged. "You will find their story very funny. They say tliat they got them fro.m you." Inspector Holly turned and looked at Simon and Pat, and grinned. Simon giinned back. "Holly," he said, "I never thought I would be glad to see your pretty face." Roget began to look puzzled. "These people are friends of yours, monsieur?" he said to Holly. "I'm afraid they are, Roget." Holly replied. "Sorry I have to do you out of a good case, but there you are." "And you gave them the co'jnterfeit nctes?" "Mr. Drake is on a story for his news- paper, and I lent him some of the notes in case he came across any more—so that he could make comparisons." Inspector Roget turned to Simon and Pat. "Madame! Monsieur! I can only offer you my profound apologies." he said. "That's all right." Simon answered. A frown appeared on Pat's forehead. "But that still doesn't account for——" ;he began, when Simon hurriedly cut he^" short. He knew v.'hat she was going to say. She was going to remark that she still iidn't see how a wad of counterfeit notes (ot into her bag. "Well, that's cleared tha: up," he said. And now we're going down to the office o have a talk with Mac. How about you oming along too, Holly—not to mention our pal Sergeant Bright. I think we ught to do some comparing of results." Holly looked at him hard, and saw that le had something which was going to be ;orth listening to. "We'll be right along," he said, and dded for Roget's benefit: " If only to keep he pair of you out of trouble." They left the Surete and piled into a ixi. Ten minutes late" they walked into le office of the " Gazette." They found Mac glaring mournfully at copy of the "Monitor," the rival paper, carried a story that Simon Drake of le " Gazette " had been arrested. Hallo, Mac!" Simon said, looking over ■ac's shoulder. "The 'Monitor's' been akmg a fool of itself. I see." Mac bounded out of his chair, his face nk. BOY'S CINEMA "Made a fool of itself!" he roared, and pointed with a quivering finger at ihe circulation graph that hung on (he wall. "Do you see that? It's high, and it was Swindon who put it there. But if we have much more muddling from you, it's going to drop through the floor." "When I've fini.shcd, it will be up through the ceiling," Simon retorted, and turned to Holly. "My lad, there is a story behind the arrest of my old woman and me." " Not so much of the ' old woman ' from you, Simon," Pat said shortly. Simon ignored her. "Roget and Legros didn't suddenly descend upon us for nothing." he con- tinued. "Someone must have tipped them off that Pat and I were carrying counter- feit notes." " I didn't mean you to hand any of them to Mrs. Drake," Holly said severely. "Which is just the point I was coming to," Simon said. "I didn't give her any." He turned to Pat. " Come on, Pat, out with it! Whei-e did you get those notes?" "It must have been while I was shop- ping at Beranger's," she replied. "1 mis- laid my bag while I was thei-e. and an assistant brought it to me after a while." She explained why she had gone to Beranger'.s—because it was the shop beneath Swindon's apartment, and because it was the only place where a telephone call from Swindon's place could have been tapped. "Beranger's, eh?" said Holly thought- fully. "That's one of the biggest dress shops in Paris, isn't it?" "And the most expensive." Pat answered, ^Tinning at Simon. "They've got some beatutiful things there." "It must have been one of the assistants," Holly mused. Simon shook his head "Those notes were planted on Pat deliberately," he said. "The crooks knew that she and I came to Paris to find out about them." He snapped his fingers. "But why did they do it? They must have known that we could clear ourselves easily enough." "I think you must be mistaken about Beranger's," Holly said. "They're very exclusive." "And it's exclusive people who are pass- ing the notes," Simon replied. Holly scratched his chin thoughtfully. "You're right there," he said. "I think we ought to go along and take a look at the place." "Just what I thought of doing," said Simon. Holly shook his head. "This is something that is best handled bj the police, Drake," he said. "And rouse suspicions unnecessarily?" Simon laughed. " No, Pat and I are gomg. Pat can pretend to be looking at dresses or something." "I shan't be pretending, darling," Pat interrupted cheerfully. Mac grunted and reached for his coat. "That settles it," he said. "I'm going too." Holly swung round on him. ■ Oh, no, you're not," he snapped. "Oh, .yes, I am,"' Mac reported. "I've got a pile of bills in my desk that would maKe you weep. I'm going to see that Mrs. Drake doesn't spend any more money." " Now look here, Macgi-egor " Mac wagged a pencil in his face. "Don't you try to dictate to me, police- man. I run a newspaper, and I'm not afraid of you. I'm going along with you." Holly sighed deeply "All right." he said. "It's your story, so I suppose you must." Pat smiled at them all. She looked pleased. "That's wonderful," she said. "It'll be a lovely party. And before v/e go there, we'll have lunch. It can be charged up to expenses, can't it, Mr. Macgregor?" "No!" bawled Mac. "Come along, everybody," Pat went on. " I know a marvellous place. Their wines are verv good indeed." 17 Mac groaned loudly, and followed the others out. THE HOUSE OF BERANQER BEFORE going to Beranger'.s, they went; along to Simon's hotel, and ran up a bill for lunch that almost made Mac's eyes pop out of his head. Then they went upstairs to Simon's suite, so that Holly could telephone to Roget at the Surete. While Holly was explaining things. Simon hunted around for the pad that he had taken from Swindon's rooms. "So thats why they had us arrested— to get us out of the suite for a few hours!" Simon said. "What's the matter?" Pat asked. "Swindon's scribbling pad has vanished! " Holly frowned as he hung up the receiver. " Look here, I think you and Mrs. Drake had better keep out of this now," he said. "The gang knows all about you both. If trouble starts, I can't be responsible for either of you.' ""We're not going to miss our story," said Simon firmly. " Are we, Pat?" ' We a'-e not," Pat replied. Holly shrugged. "Very well," he said. "We may as well be going." They reached Beranger's at a few minutes after three o'clock, and went into the main salon. The place was in a state of great activity. A dress show was about to commence, and mannequins and sales- women were already awaiting Beranger's signal. Emile Beranger himself was hurrying here and there, putting the finishing touches to the show. He was carefully dressed in correct tail-coat and striped trousers. Suddenly he turned and saw Pat. He stiffened slightly, then came forward smiling. "Madame," he said, "I am enchanted that you should come and see me again." Pat smiled back, and indicated Simon. "I've brought my husband this time. Monsieur Beranger," she said. "He works on a big newspaper, you know, and the other gentlemen are his friends." Beranger bowed low. "Delighted, messieurs," he said. "Please be so good as to seat yourselves." He went away, walking tensely, as though he were a cat stalking his prey. Mac looked round interestedly. He might be close about money, but he liked look- ing at beautiful women. Suddenly he saw someone across the room who was familiar to him. It was an important man who might have a story worth printing in the " Gazette." He went ever and said . " Hallo, General Craysham! My name's Macgregor, of the ' Gazette.' We met in London." The other smiled acknowledgment. He was grey-hau'ed, and his moustache was stiffly military. No one quite kncv what he did, but his comings and goings were so mysterious that it was rumoured he was employed by the British Govern- ment. "Hallo, Macgregor!" he responded. If I remember rightly, you tried to interview me on the subject of Home Rule for Scot- land. Am I right?" "Perfectly right," Mac answered. "And we were inteiTupted. Well, let's 3 I.Mrtdrl.Mrl.I. f. Post 6d. Board and Darts complete, suitable for the black-out evenings. iS' Cork Face and Darts 3/- Snper " Keep Dry " Board iS" Tournament model. No soakinK Qteried. 5/- Suppr Brass Tournament iisrt Sets. 1/3 JAMES GROSE ltd EUSTON Ro I December 2nd, 1939.