Boy's Cinema (1939-40)

BOY'S CINEMA Every Tuesday Slio lau^iiL 11 ill! -^ wa^ ^ttady- iiiK her. Brass grinned ut her, and chinbed up on to a window ledge. From there he was able to jump and "rip the beam. Agilely he swung himself upwards. "You see," he said cheerfully, "things are looking brighter already. Now we shan't be long!" Clouds of dust descended into the room as he unwound the rope and let it trail. It was a good long one. and when let out of the win- dow woidd reach almost to the giound. While he w'as busy on the beam there was consternation amongst the crooks downstairs. One of them, going outside to bring in some stores from a shed, had seen the thin file of police winding up the mountainside towards the mission. He dashed back, his face white. "The cops!" he cried. "They're coming!' The priest uttered an oath that was hardly priestly, and went out to look for himself. When he returned there was no longer the calm, kindly smile on his face. His eyes were hard, and there >vas a grim, ruthless expression in his feature.". "We have little time," he said. "Very little time. Ross, go up into the tower and deal with those two. I'll finish my arrange- ments down here." Ross nodded, grinning wickedly. He pulled a gleaming knife from his pocket and darted up the stairs. He pushed open the door'of the tower. But Bra^s and Elaine had heard him coming, and when he entered it looked as though they were still tied to their chairs. Ross smiled at them cr.ielly. "1 lio[)e you have found your quarters com- fortable." he said mockingly. "It's too bad we'couUln't have provided you with something more luxuiious. but somehow we have not the accoirnnodation ho.ie for visitors. However, you won't \\oiiy about such details any longer." ]5rass looked at him steadily, every muscle ii] his body tensed for action. "What do you think you're talking about?" he asked. Ross chuckled, and showed tliejn his knife. "Your fricnfls the j)olicc are on their way bore." he said. "It is a pity they had to come so soon. If means that yonr lives have been shortened by their haste. Too bad!" Jlo felt the edge of the knife against his thumb, then turned towards Elaine. Jainiiiry 27th, 1040. "You first, my dear, I think," Jie nuinnuitd; and crept towards her. She stared at the knife, fascinated. Step by step he approached her—nearei, nearer, until she felt that if he came any closer she would have to scream at the top of her voice. But he did not get within striking distance, for suddenly Brass leapt. As his weight landed on Ross's back, his fingers closed over the knife. There was a quick struggle. Ross twisted round in Brass's grip and struck out. Brass, his mind on the knife, did not see the blow coming. It caught bim on the side of the head, momentarily stunning him. Ross did not wait to continue the fight. He wrenched himself free and raced through the door and down the stairs. He thought only of his own safety, and he wasn't going to tackle anyone like Brass alone. The others could do that. But while the fight had been in progiess the priest had been completiug bis arrange- ments. He went down into the cellars and was gone for some mnuites. When he came back he was rubbing his hands with satisfac- tion. "Boss, the police are closing in," Decker said, scared. The priest took a ,gun out of his pocket. "Close and lock the gates leading to the tower," he ordered. Decker stared at him in amazement. "But Ross and Butch are up there," he protested. The priest la\ighed, and hefted the gun in his hand. "Why should you and I worry about that?" he said, "('lose and lock those gates!" Decker hesitated, then obeyed. Sweat was pouring from his forehead and ilown the sides of his face. "Excellent!" said the priest when Decker had finished. " In this way ever.ything that could be turned into e\ idence against us will bo destroyed." "What are you going to do?" Decker asked. His voice was little more than a croak. He was watching the gun. "It is all quite simple," the priest answered. "As you know, the basement is filled with dynamite. There's enough of the stuff down theie to blow this mission anrl ej'er.vthing in it from Ikmp to China. And T have already lighted the fuses. That gives me five nn'nntes. Nobody is going to be left to testify against mc. You uiKiSrstand ? Nobody!" Dukci H teiioi. The pi iest snnled, but tins time his smile was not gentle. There was murder in his eyes. Deliberately he raised the gun until it waa pointed at Decker's chest.' Deliberately he pulled the trigger. The gun kicked in his hand, and Decker's face suddenly went blank. He folded at the knees, and then slumped to the floor. At that moment Ross came rushing down the stairs. He saw the locked gates—saw, too, that Decker was lying on the floor. "Hey. boss, let me out of here!" he shouted. The priest openly mocked him. "You know. Ross. I don't seem to romcmbor where I put the key," he replied. "You had best get back to the tower, and see if yon can't get out that way. And you'd better hurry. You have very little time left." Ross went dead white. "Great heavens!" he muttered, and turned and fled \ipwards again. ESCAPE ! BUT when he reached the door of the bell- tower he found th:it he could not o()on it. Brass and Elaine, making their escape, had barricaded it so that they could not be ])ur.sued from above. Frcnziedly Ross hammered on it. "Open the door!" he shouted. "Quickly, open it! Parker's got dynamite planted in the cellars, and is going to blow the whole joint sky-high !" Brass heard when he was already half way down the rope. There was noihing he (■Mild do Elaine was alread.v oti the ground, and seconds were precious. If he climbed up again and cleared the barricnde away from the door ho would probably be blown >ip with the rest. He jumped the last few feet to the ground and grabbed Pjlaino by the arm. The two of thorn ran as hard as thoy could towaids the on- coming police, now only a few hundrerl yards away. "Back!" Brass shouted. "Keep back! Thiv're going to blow up the mission." The iK)!ice heard, and turned and raced away in the opposite direction. Suddenly there was an car-splitting crash bo- hind them. Brass flung out an arm, and dragged Elaine to the ground. 1'hey turnoil to see the whole group of buildings fly apart and hititlo skywards in a cloud of smoke and dust. "Keep your hearl down!" Bra«s shouted to Kl;iine. and coverrtl her with his body. In a few seconds thi> crashing died away, echoing along the mountain valleys. The mm-