Boy's Cinema (1939-40)

BOY'S CINEMA in and threw llicir hats on to a chair. They were named Ross and Decker. "We spent all nifjht watchinp; the Lone Star," Decker said, "but Mister Crockett of the Secret Service never left the joint." "And that ain't all," Ross added. "Another guy showed up. We think he's one of them, too." The manager scowled. "Well, if they show up here, well know how to deal with them. Meanwliile I've been tipped off that Crockett is gomp; to meet Lopez, the dealer on the end ^table. Lopez promised him some information." "Is that so?" said Decker slowly, and drew a gnu from his pocket. "Well we'll give Lopez what's coming to him, the dirty double- crosser!" , . , "I'll take care of him," tlie manager said sharply. "You look after those feds. If there's any slip-up, the boss is going to cut up rough." ,. ,, T-, 1 "There won't be any slip-up, Koss said iiaishly. , , . , , 1 1 0^1 The maua^'er smiled thinly, and led tliein U) the door. He opened it a little way and ijoiiited to one of the tables. "You'll have to do better than that, he said dryly. . . The man lie was pointing to was Uan Crockett! , ,, , n Dan was enjoviiig himself, by all appear- ances. He was standing at one of the roulette tables, placing bets. ' He was also swaying slightly, as though he had had a spot too much to drink. ■'Get your money down, folks! the croupier was saying. "The wheel's turning." There was a slight pause, then: "That's all, folks. The ball is about to drop." The wheel stopped, and one of the gamblers won a pile of chips. He gathered them up and went over to the cash desk. "Pay me out, will ya?" he said. "I gotta be getting home, or the old woman'll pitch into nie." , The cashier quickly counted the chips, then pushed over a couple of piles of silver dollars. The gambler stared at them irritably. "Say, what's all this?" he deiuauded. "Let I'uo have bills, will ya? I'll need a sack to carrv all this junk home." . "Sorry, sonor," said the cashier politely. "We pay out only in har<l money. It is the rule of the house." The gaiublei gniiiiblod, but collected up the dollars If Dan notice. Then slightlv table. ' . , T. 1 "Move over, buddy," ho said to Dan, and laid down a solitary <lollar on rod. Dan gave him a glare. "Smalltime gambler, huh?" he said offen- sively. "\V<'II, I'll show you how to bet. I got a lotta money." "The wheel is turning, gents, said the crou))i(M-. The ball dropped at last, and the croupier began to pav out.' He pushed some chips over to join Dan's stake. Brass promptly reached out to take it. , "Hey," Dan snapp<'d, "those arc nunc! " Wlio says they're yours?" Brass demanded. "I've been' winning all night. Thoy must be mv chips." . , T-w " I tell vou they're nunc,' said Dan dangcr- oiislv. . ,,_, , "Go away." said Brass wearily. Cant you see I'm busy?" Dan .squared up to " So you want to and stiiffed them into his pockets, heard the conversation, he look no He just went on making fresh bets. Brass came in. Ho, too, looked tiddlv. He Imched across to the <1. "All right. him. be lough, huh?" ho louse, get tough with roarec ♦his!" „ , , , T, Ho aimed a blow at Brass s head. Brass took it. and waded in for a fight. It was an old trick of tlioirs. Dan knew that the management of the Silver Slii>pei- had spotted him for a C.overumont man, and by picking this (|uariel with Brass, ho hoped to establish Brass as a stranger. But the fight never got properly started, for the lights suddenly went out. Tiistaiillv women began to scream, and other fights broke out in various parts of the room. Someone yelled i January 'J7tli, 1940. "Call in the police !" Then the lights went up agair, and the noise died down. Brass t^ilitiked. During the time the place had been in darkness Dan had slipped from his grasp and was now lyii:g on the floor. Ho was very still, and his face had gone a dirty The manager came hurrying over and dropped on one knee by Dan's side. His face became grave. "This man has been stabbed!" he said. "He's dead !" Brass stared. Everyone looked at him accusinglv. Suddeniv the police arrived, guns <lrawn. The police captain wlio was leading them asked loudly : "What is wrong?" The manager stood up. . ^^ "There's been a killing in here, captam, he said. Bra.ss thought fast. If the police got hold of him it would mean explanations, and he wouki have to return to Washington without having accomplished his mission. But if he were known locally a% a fugitive from justice he might, at a later lime, be able to make contact with the gang. He spun round suddenly and dived through the nearest window ! A rattle of shots followed him. Cabby; who had entered the place a few moments after Bra.ss, did all he could to get in the way and delay pursuit. Brass ran hard towards th»^ centre of the town, where he (ould lose himself amongst the crowds. Now and then a bullet whii^ped past his ear, and above the crack of the police guns he could hear shouts: : "Entro aqui 1 Esta alii! Alto 1" Brass went on running. He ducked down a number of side streets, and after a while came to a halt. It was then he found that somehow Gabby bad managed to catch up with him. "Well, that's that!" he said. "So far as the police are concerned, we're lost." "Yeah." said Gabby, breathing hard. "And as far as I'm concerned, too, we're lost. Would you mind telling a pal where we are?" Brass ignored the question. Ho led the way to a lighted window, and produced from his pocket a scraj) of paper. "Dan slipped thLs into my hand while we were scrapping," he said. "Let's see what it says. ' Leader of gang is a man with a wooden leg. He operates at Santa Mar- garita.' H'ln ! It looks as though we're on the trail at last. Poor Dan! I guess those thugs were just waiting for a chance to do something like that.'' He shook his head. "This information isn't worth what it cost to get." "I know," Gabby agreed. "But talking about it won't change anything." Bra.ss scowled. "I feel that it was my fault. I ought never to have let him come over here again," he said. "Why blame yourself?" Gabby asked. "Dan knew what he was letting himself in for. He had a job to do, and he did it." Brass nodded. "That's right enough." he agreed. "He started something, and it's up to us to finish it for him. We've got to got some action now, and gel it fast." "Any ideas?" Gabby asked. Bra.ss thought for a few moments. Then he nodded. "Yes." he said. "We're going to separate. You get back over the border—they're not looking for you. See that Dan's taken <are of, and send a wire to Saxby. Toll him I'm going to look for this Santa Margarita." Gabbv blew out his cheeks. "You know. Brass they'll nab you if you stay on this side of the border," he said. "No they won't. The last thing they will expect me to do is head for the interior. That goes for the men we're after, too." (Jabby sighed. He knew it was no good arguing. Every Tuesday take this with you, otherwise nobody'U know what you're talking abotit." Brass frowned at the book, but made no attempt to take it. "I shan't be making any speeches," he said. "No?" Gabby grinned at him. "Reckon you can do it with signs, eh? Well, how are you going to act out a hamburger steak, medium rare, with onions? Go on, take it." "All right," said Brass, and took it. Ho stuffed it into the top pocket of his shirt. "And no\y you'd better be going." Gabby swept him an elaborate bow. "Buenos noches 1" he said. "And if you want to know what it means, it's on page thirteen. But perhaps I ought to save you the trouble. It means good-night." "Buenos noches," Brass responded, laugh- ing, and the two separated. Brass made his way by a circuitous route to the railway station. He knew that there was only one line out of Ciudad, so he could not go wrong by picking up any train that was head- ing into the interior. He waited by the darkness at the side of the track. Presently he heard the sound of an approaching train. He got hold of a stick and forced if against one of the signal wires, bringing the nearest signal to danger. The train slowed down. Before it had quite stopped. Brass released the wire and leapt on board. Nobody saw him. He walked casually down one of the coaches and dropped into an empty seat. It would not be long now, he told himself. HUE AND CRY LITTLE did Bra.ss know it at the time, but luck was dead against him. Ho got oft the train just before it reached its first stop and lay low until daylight. Then, not knowing the country, he openly bought a ticket and boarded the next train going south. Just before it started, the con- ductor called out: "Train for Santa Margarita del Coronzon, Santa Margarita Reina, Santa Margarita del Rio!" Brass groaned. When the conductor camo down the car he stopped him an<l asked : "Is every place round here named Santa Margarita?" The conductoi' smiled indulgently. "She is the patron ^aint of this part of the country, seiior." "I see," Brass said thoughtfidly. "Then perhaps you could tell me something else, is there a Santa iVfargarita that is iemote from other places?" "Remote, senor?" "Well, standing by itself—not in the middle of a crowded town, for instance." The conductor nodded vigorously. "Assuredly, senor," he said. "It is way up in the mountains. But it is a very hard place to go. to." "I see. Know anything about it?" "No, senor. It is too far from the rail- road. But there is an American in the next car who lives there, and he makes the trip very often. Maybe he could be of service. 1 will call him." Brass managed to stop liim just in time. "It doesn't matter," he said hurriedly. ".Tust skip it. Forget I ever said anything." "As the senor wishes." the conductor re- plied politely, and continued on his way. Brass's luck was out all right. The American in the other car was none other than Decker, and he had Ross with him. Moreover, Decker had been standing on tho platform connecting the two cars at the time that Brass had bc<"n asking questions, and he frowned thoughtfully. Ho returned to his seat as the conductor approac^hed. When the conductor came up he said : "That man vou were talking to—I have an idea I know him. Where's he bound for?" "He wished to know about your Santa JLargarita," the conductor replied. "Santa ISIargarita I" Ross exclaimed quicklv. , _ "Si, .senor. .And ho is a funny nian. 1 say to him, mavbo vou could tell him some- but he say to mo that Ok-Iv " he said, and produced the book thing about the place.^ on Siianish from his pocket. "You'd better 1 should go skipping.