Boy's Cinema (1939-40)

Every Tuesday propiietoi' piclvod ii|i llic iiewsiwipcr, opened it uiil. and liiined ti) a pii^c upon uliicli there Wiis a eroNSworil pii/.zl<'. Some ot Hie -.iiaeeH had heeii flHed in. luil not witli words that (itied Ihi' ehies. Iteadinir fioni left, to right they iiiii : "H27 CAUOHr I5Y KKDS ADVISK Dl!." Tho propriolor of the einarstoio (ore ont the erossword pn/./.le and poekoted it. tossed the rest, of (he newspaper on to a slielf to lio deah witli hiter, aiui shut himself in a lele- pl\oneh()x provided for tlie nsc of cusloniers. He a.skcd for " loiiR distancp." and he slated that he wished to speak to Dr. L. B. Carter, Carter's Sanitariuni, Khn Strei'l. Washin;;ton, D.C. fie inserted the requisite anu)iint in a roin- liox. and after some Httle dehiy the voice of a tfirl sounded in his ear: "Dr. Carter's Sanitarium."' He save a nnnilier; there wa.s a further dehiy. and then a deep, mascuhne voice said: '"This i.s Dr. Carter speaking." "They picked up R.27," reported the pro- prietor. "Oh, that's most unfortunate." The voice was cultured and it did not betray any emo- tion whatever. "Have they been able to make him talk? I see. Well. I suggest you turn the ease over to Edwards. He's the best man in your vicinity. Oh. at once—there's no time to lose." Jolinson was back in his room at the plant befor!' Sinister had laced his boots. The sus- pect had been compelled to strip, but nothing had been found on him, or in his lunch-bo.x, or in the thermos flask. John picked up the thermos flask. "This mistake is going to cost joii boys some flough! " he raged. "T checked that." .said Ted. H>' certaiidy had unscrewed the cup-like top of the flask and looked inside it. but it hadn't occiu'red to him to try to unscrew the bottom of the flask. John tried—and suc- ceeded. There was a separate cavity at that end. and from it he pulled forth some pieces of folded tracing-paper which proved—on being opened out—to contain plans of a bomber. Sinister was caught, but he still tried to bhiPf. "That's not my thermos!" he cried. "It's the one you've been using every dav." retorted Ted. ''No. it. isn't! Someone nnist have traded with me." "Well, let's talk it over at headquarters." said .John. Johnson moved swiftly away from the inner door to his own desk a moment before the door was operjed and Shuster appeared with his captors, and he appeared to be hard at work as tfie three crossed his office to a cor- I'idor that led to the front door of the build- ing and the street. But as soon as they had gone he went to a window, pulled down its blind and raised it again. Ont at the kerb an open car v,as standing, and the guard John had addressed as "Jerry" was sitting at its steering-v.heel with the engine running. Sinister was hoisted into the back seat, but as he floundered upon the cushions there a black saloon moved a\\ay from the opposite kerb and a swarthy fellow- leaned out of its rear window with a sub- mnchine-gun to his shoulder. The giui sprayed bullets, and John and Ted ducked to avoid them, while the guard slid to the floor beneath the wheel. The black saloon roared off along the street, and then thev looked at Shuster. He was not a pretty sight. All the Imllets had been aimed at him. and si.\ had struck him. He was sprawled upon the cushions as dead as last year's roses. "Apparently." gritted Jolni, "somebody didn't want Shuster to talk!" A PRESENT FROM A STAR ONE afternoon, about a week after Shuster's murder. John and Ted entered the massive granite building of the War Department, in Washington, and ascended to a room on the first floor, the door of which Viore upon its panel the words: "Bureau of Intelligence." BOY'S CINEMA The room w ,is an aiili' romn to (he [irivHle oMiee ot Colonel Arlhui- Scully, chief of (he InleIhgeiK-e Division, and was occupied by a secretary who rosi' from his de.sk to greet (he pair as old iicquaiidance.s. ]lis nniiic was I'hiilip Casey, and lie wiis as Irish as liis name. "do riu'hl in. t;enllemeii," he waved. "The colonel's evpecling you." John and 'fed were dre.ss<'d quite .sniardy in lounge suits and looked very difVerent from the I wo supposed mechanics who had worked at (he Duncan Aircraft Company's fac(()ry. They s(eppefl into a panelled room of im)X)S- iu!,' dimensions and appeaiance, and (hey saluted (\)lonel Scully, who was seated at a masrniticent desk. "Ba.xter and Hall reporting, sir." said John. 'J'he colonel, a man of military bearing, might wi'll have been a lawyer with his clear- cut features and his keen brown eyes. His age was about fifty, and his brown hair was streaked with grey. "Never mind the formalities." he returned cordially. "C.kid to see you. Sit down." John sank into a very pomforttible chair at the end of the desk: Ted mused his hat in a less capticio is armchair close by. "I've just been going over your report on the Duncan Aircraft investigation." (he colonel informed them. "You handled that case very nicely. Shuster's death, of course, could not be helped." "There must be half a dozen spies in that factory." said .John, "in addition to the one we got." " So I gathered from your report. Vou con- tacted the men I sent to replace yon?" "Yes. and gave tiiem all the information we could." "I'd have liked to see that job through. sir." said Ted. "So would I." said John. "The men in that car must have known who we were." "Well. I hope they haven't sixjtted Adams and Drake." remarked the colonel. "That's a well organised spy ring. One of the cleverest we've ever had to combat. They seem to get hold of our most vital military secrets, and apparently they can get them out of the coun- try without th,^ leasl^ trouble. We've got to stop them. Y^our next assignment will be in this area. Take the rest of the day off. find a place to live, and report here to-morrow morning." ;{ "Very well, sir." .said John, and he and 'I'ed got to (heir fi'ct. "Any parliciilar [il.iee you'd Jike us to sellle. nil?" iiKiiiiri'd 'I'ed. The colonel sliook his head. "Anywheri' in Wa.shington." he ii-plied. "f expect a certain ii'poil shortly. Yon may \m working with I'bil Dunlap." "Thai's good iieHsl" excl.'iinied John. " I Ihoiight you'd feel tiiiit way ulioiit j(," ehnekled the colonel. " I've soeii Lieutenant Dnnlap's Kis(er. (loodrlay, gentlemen." In the ante room. John wi-nt to (he secro- taiy's desk and dialled a number on a Ifle- Jihonr' there. "How about (he Hamlin Arni.<?" snggefited Ted. "That'.^ a good hotel lot of nice-looking girls live there, too. Keep a man from brooding over his work'. Then there's (ho Courtland Pla/.ii- I used to know a good- looking blonde lived (here. Maybe we ought (o ask I'hil. H<' miirlU know of " Hut John was not paying any attend'on. IIo had go( his luunber, and he said: "Hallo, Eleanor. Yes, it's John. About an hour ago. Not till to-morrow morning. I'll be righ( over. Huh? Of coins" I do. Good- bye, dear." "Hi, what do yon mean, you'll be right over?" expostulated Ted, as (he (elephone was replaced. "You've got to help me find a place to live!" " You pick the place." John thrust upon his chum .some slip.! of paper. "Here are the baggage checks. Phone me at Phil's apart- ment wh(>n everything's arranged." "Hi, wait a minute!" But John was already at the door. "Carry on, lieutenant," lie said over his shoulder, and was gone. Ted scowled at the slips of ]>api>r, antl Phillip Casey walked lound to him. "I know just the place you're looking for," he said cheerfully. "Nice big building —tennis courts—swimming pool—gymnasium. Reasonable, too." "Yeah?" Ted was interested. "Well, what about the " "Some of the best-looking girls in Washing- ton. Lots of those pretty secretaries from the Treasury Department." "What's the address?" Ted's green eyes were quite bright. "Eighteenth and Arden." Casey stroked a little moustache (o hide a grin. Shuster was slow to obey, and John seized hold of him and pulled his coat down over his arms January etb, 1940.