Boy's Cinema (1939-40)

12 Dorothy, are you sure you locked the safe properly \viien you came back last night?" fcjhe hesitated the merest fraction of a second, remembering what had happened be- tween her and Thurloe. She remembered that she hadn't locked the safe, but she daren't admit it. If she did, she would have to explain why. "Of course," she lied. "Of coiu'se I did." Houghton rr.n his fingers through his hair. "I'll have to report it," he said. "But there's oik; thing we'll have to keep to our- selves—that you know the combination of the safe. Nobody is supposed to know it but me —not even Thurloe and Madison here. You understand ?" "Of course." She laughed uneasily. ' "But all this is absiud. They wouldn't suspect me." "I know they wouldn't," Houghton agreed. "At the same time I've disobeyed orders by letting you go to the safe whenever you've wanted to." "It's all right," broke in Madison. "Thurloe and I won't say anything. Will we, Thurloe ?" "Cross my heart," Thurloe answered. "The firm will stand solid behind its gallant chief." Houghton jiiade a gesture of impatience. "This is no time for fooling," he said, and began pinning the plans on a drawing board. "I'll ring up Hamilton later on. Meanwhile we've got to get a move on. Thurloe, go out to the workshops and see how Porter's doing. You might be able to make some suggestions—Madison and I may have over- looked something." "Right," Thurloe said, and turned towards the door. As he went, he gave Dorothy a significant look, and she followed him out. They waited until they were outside one of the big hangars before they spoke. Then Dorothy said: "What are we going to do? He's sure to find out." Thurloe shook his head. "He won't," he said. He went closer to her. "I/isten. You can't go on like this. All he thinks about is work, work, work. He doesn't give a thought for you. Come away with me, Dorothy. I'm a good pilot, and could get a decent job anywhere—enough for us to live on." He paused, watching her ex- pression. "Will you?" She reached out and put her hand on his arm. "I'm sorn/," she said. "The answer is definitely no." Then she turned and hurried away. La.te that same afternoon, while she was getting ready for tea. Porter went over to the house. He was carrying a roll of plans. In his crafty eyes was a gleam of excitement. He found Dorothy in the big library. He smiled at her oilily, and said: "Excuse me, madam. May I speak to you a moment?" She looked at him in sudden alarm, not liking his tone. "Of course. Porter," she said. "What is it you want?" Porter closed the door behind him, and went close to her. He lowered his voice. "I saw you and Mr. Thurloe in the drawing ofllce last night,'' he said. "I saw everything that h;\|>i)ened. I am afraid it was you who left tiiat safe open." She went pale. "What aie you talking about, Porter?" she asked sharply. "You know perfectly well what I'm talking about, madam," he answered. "And I think that if Mr. Houghton got to hear about it, he would be—well, somewhat angry." Again he smiled at her. "I would npt like to make trouble." he went on. "But I am a poor man, and a little money would come in very useful to me just now." She took a step backwards, hardly able to control her rising anger. "I see," she said. "Blackmail!" Porter did not seem in the least troubled by that ugly word. "I could not have put it better myself, madam." l;e answered. "Well," she said, "how nuich do you want?" "Shall wc say— i-\\n hiuidred pounds?" She stared nt liim aghast. December SOtli. 'SSD. BOY'S CINEMA "You must be mad!" she exclaimed. "Two hundred pounds. Why, I haven't got such a sum !" "But your husband could get it. And you could persuade him to give it to you. It would not be very difficult. He loves you very much, and would do anything for you." Porter paused for a moment, then added: "You have my assurance that if I have the money by to-night, I will forget everything I saw. I will be waiting at the cross-roads from eleven onwards." Dorothy opened her mouth to reply, then closed it again quickly as Houghton himself came in. He was carrying a model of the revised supercharger, and he placed it care- fully on the writing table. So absorbed was he that he did not notice the atmosphere of tension in the room. "Hallo, Porter!" he said. "Looking for me?" Porter turned to him easily. "I just brought these drawings over, sir," he replied. "I thought perhaps you might need them." Houghton nodded. "Thanks." he said. "Put them down on the table, will you?" "Certainly, sir." He did so, and walked to the door. "Good-day, sir. Good-day, madam!" Then, softly, he went out. Houghton unrolled the drawings. and smoothed them out on the table-top. He was smiling quietly to himself, pleased at the results of his work. "Well, old girl, it looks as though we're in sight of success at last," he said cheerfully. She looked at him, hesitating. Then she went close to him, her hands clasped together so tightly that the knuckles showed white. "Dick," she said, "I want to talk to .you? Do you think you could let me have some money?" "Of course," Houghton replied promptly, and pulled his wallet out of his pocket. "Help yoiuself." She shook her head. She knew that he never carried more than five pounds about with him at a time. "I want rather a lot," she said. Suddenly she went to him and caught hold of his arm. "Dick, I don't mean to be a nuisance, but I've been stuck in this place for so long that it's getting on my nerves. I want a change— new clothes—lots of things. And I must have them. I must!" He looked up at her. suddenly worried. "Here, here, old girl!" he said. "You mustn't get. fretting yourself." He looked at her critically. "H'm! You're a bit pale. I'm afraid I've neglected you. But we haven't much longer to wait now. In less than a week it will be all over. Then we can go up to London and have the time of our lives.", * She shook her head, feeling desperate. "I can't wait a week," she said. "I must have the money now—at once. Dick, you've got to listen to me." He put his arm round her shoulders, and stopped her from going on by saying: "All right. If it will make things easier, I'll give you a cheque right away. How much do you v.ant?" " Two hundred pounds." "Two hundred " He stared at her in amazement. "Good heavens, it's going to bo an expensive binge, isn't it?" He shook his head. "I'm sorry, old girl, but I haven't got it. And I couldn't possibly raise it. After the Air Ministry trials, I'll be able to do some- thing, but at the moment—well, funds are low. If I tried to cash a cheque for a q\iarter of that sum at this minute, the bank manager would flay me alive." Ho patted her gently "You go upstairs and lie down. Take thing.? easy. And remember, when the trials are over, I'll give you the time of your life. Hang out until then—I promise you won't regret it." Hopelessly she turned away, and left the room. It was no good. There was nothing more she could do. If Houghton hadn't got the money, that was that. Then she remembered Thurloe. Ho had got her into this, and he ought to get her out of it. He might be able to lend her the money—or at least hold Porter off for a week, Every Tuesday which would be long enough for her to find the money herself. She left the house, and ran across the flying- field. She found Thurloe in the cockpit of his plane, checking over the instruments in readi- ness for his next test flight. Houghton had told him that he might have to go up again any time now—to-night if the newly designed supercharger was ready. Houghton had no idea of (ime—he'd call for a flight at three in the morning, if necessary. "Jim," Dorothy said breathlessly, "some- thing terrible has happened. Come out on to the field, where we can't be overheard." Quickly he climbed out of the cockpit, seeing that she was distressed. As they walked back across the field, she told him about the inter- view with Porter. When she had finished, he said: "Two hundred pounds! I haven't got two hundred shillings. You know what I'm like^ I spend money as fast as I get it." "Then what are Ave to do?" she cried. "I'll talk to Porter," he answered. "Leave everything to me. If he thinks there's a pos- sibility of getting the money, he'll wait. He'd be a fool not to. If he opens his mouth too quickly, he won't get a bean. I'll make him see that." "And you think he'll agree?" she asked. "Of coiu'se he'll agree. Stop worrying. I'll fix everything." At eleven that night, Thurloe walked through the trees towards the cross-roads. When he reached them, he stopped. "Porter!" he called softly. "Where are you?" Porter showed himself from behind some bushes. Thurloe went to him quicklj'. " So Mrs. Houghton has sent you as her representative!" Porter said. "Well, it comes to the same thing. You have the money ?" "No." Thurloe spoke sharply. "It isn't possible to raise a sum like two hundred pounds at such short notice." -"I di^ not expect cash," Porter answered. *'A cheque would be quite satisfactory." •"Non$ of us have got the money. You'll have to \vait for a week." "And what if I refuse to wait?" Thurloe clenched his fists. Porter's crafty, smiling face looked horrible in the moonlight. He was like some devil. " You'll have to. If you open your mouth, you'll get nothing. Even you ought to have sense enough to see that." Porter smiled thinly. "I also have sense enough to see that unle.ss I act quickly, Mrs. Houghton might act fool ishly in some way—that her husband would then find out in any event. But if the money is paid, and the whole matter is off her mind- well, it woiiUl be so much nicer for all of us, wouldn't it?" Thurloe made a gesture of despaii'. "Look here. Porter, you've got to wait," ho said. "We can't do anything yet. It's quite impossible." Porter nodded. "I will not be unreasonable," he answered. " So I will give you until to-morrow night at this time. That is my last word. If you fail to deliver two hundred pounds to mo by tten, I will go straight to Mr. Houghton and toll him—everything." There was a leer on his face as he spoke. Thiuloe went white with rage and lost hi.-i temper. He struck out savagely, and \uh clenched fist caught Porter full on the point of tho jaw. Porter clutched wildly at air and toppled over the root of a tree. He went down with a crash and lay still. Tluu'lop bent over him and gave a cry of horror. Underneath Poiter's head was a large stone, and it was splashed with blood. Quickly Thurloe put his hand over Porter's heart. Tho man was dead. Thurloo felt himself in the grip of an icy terror. He had killed a man. It was an accident, and he hadn't intended to, but that didn't make any difTeronre. He was a murderer! And if he got caught A sound from far up tho road nunde him )