Boy's Cinema (1939-40)

2 BOY'S CINEMA Every Tuesday "Get your man, or don't come back!" That is what the chief told Brass Bancroft when he sent him across the Mexican Border on a special assignment. Brass came back all right—after the jaws of death had missed him by inches! A gripping story from the First National film, with Ronald Reagan as Brass Bancroft SPECIAL ASSIQNMENT IN Washington, capital of the United States, there is a huge white stone building which bears the words: "Federal Bureau of Investi- gation." Like Scotland Yard, it is the headquarters of a tremendous organisation for the hunting down of criminals. Like Scotland Yard, too, it has a suite of offices set apart from the others—offices where only the most confidential matters are handled. In London, these offices are marked. "Special Branch," while in Washington the words painted on the outer doors are: "United States Intelligence Division." Ono day in summer the Intelligence Division was unusually active. Chief Saxby, the short, thick-set boss of all the Intelligence men, was worried. Mostly he was a cheery man, but when a job had to be done he could be stern and unrelenting. He sent for his secretai-y and dictated a tele- gram. He spoke rapidly, for the matter was urgent. He finished with the words: "Am instructing Bancroft to get into touch with you immediately on arrival." Ho reached out for the dictagraph, and snapped dovi'n the switch. "Send Bancroft here," he said curtly, then turned to the secretary again. " Send that telegram in code. I want it to go right away." "Yes. sir," the girl answered, and left the room. After a few minutes there came a knock on the door. Saxby cnlled out: "Come in!" And when the door opened he went on: "Hallo, Brass! Come over here and sit down." "How are you. chief?" Brass asked, as he -at down in the rhair Saxby had indicated. "Fine, thanks, Brass," Saxby replied. "I'm sorry I had to send for you before your vaca- tion was ended, but Dan Crockett needs help, and I'm afraid you're the only man T can call "That'? nil nVht, chief," Brass said, .ranuary 87th. 1040. 'That vacation was killing me, anyway. I never could bear doing notliing." He thought for a moment, then went on: " Say, didn't Dan get that Bureau of Engraving hold-up to settle ?" "He did," Saxby answered grimly. He sat down at his desk and opened one of the drawers. He took out a small bundle of treasury notes. "The men that pulled that job," he went on, "got hold of the plates for the new federal reserve issue of tens and twenties." Brass stared incredulously. "Phew!" he muttered. "We kept it quiet, of course, and Dan trailed the gang as far as New Orleans. There he lost the trail. About a month later—that is, two weeks ago—these began to show up." He tossed the treasury notes into Brass's lap. Brass picked them up and examined them thoughtfully. They looked perfect. "There's no doubt about them," Saxby said. "They were printed from the stolen plates, and the gang will have no trouble in passing them." Brass went on examining the notes and, after a few minutes, he said: " They look like the real McCoy. About the only thing that might give them away is the paper." Saxby nodded. "If they find a way of duplicating that we're sunk," he remarked grimly. Brass gave the notes yet another look before handing them back. "What are the chances of them getting a sur)ply of paper?" he asked. "Good, unfortunately," Saxby replied. " They can easily bleach notes of smaller de- nominations—ones and twos." "T see. Where is Dan now?" "He's working out of El Paso." Saxby dropped the notes back into the drawer and slammed it shut. "Most of that queer stuff has turned up in the Bouth-weet." " Which means it's probably being made on the other side of the border," Brass said promptly. "Anything else I ought to know?" Saxby shook his head and got up. His face was stern. " Miss Wayne will tell you where you can find Dan," he said. "She'll also show you the files and everything else we have on the case." "Right." " Don't contact the local police if you're across the line. If you do find the men you're looking for, wire me at once. I'll arrange for the arrest through the State Department." Saxby held out his hand. "Good luck, Brass I" "Thanks, chief," Brass answered. "There's just one thing more," Saxby said as he walked with Brass to the door. "This matter is serious—very serious. You know our code here. Get your man—or don't come back I" Brass nodded, and left the office. Outside he found the chief's secretary, Miss Wayne, in conversation with a comic-faced chap who waved his hands about a lot as he talked. The man was showing Miss Wayne a conjuring trick with some cards. "Cute, eh?" ho said, then he became aware of Brass. "Hallo, stianger. What assign- ment did .you get?" Biass chuckled. His questioner was known in the department as Gabby. ■ "The treasure stick-up." Brass answered. "Right down my alley,'' Gabby said briskly. "When do we leave ?" "You'll have to include yourself out this trip," Brass said. "You couldn't go, anyway. Aren't you guarding the President?" "No. He went fishing ajjain. He's always going fishing. I5csides, you need a man like me to lor)k after you." Brass laughed. "I do. (\h?" ho retorted. "And who's going to look after you?" He saw Gabby beginning to look indignant, and put a friendly hand on his shoulder. " I have to run along and get