Boy's Cinema (1939-40)

"How do you do?" said Judith in a cool, clear voice. "How do you do?" Dan responded. He decided that she was mighty easy to look at. But he couldn't quite make up his mind what she was doing in a plague-ridden spot like this. She was smart and very lovely —the kind of girl more likely to be seen in New York than in the port of Guamao. "INIiss Adams is also planning a journey inland," Gallon went on casually. "You know, you Americans are a strange people. You leave the comforts of civilisation and come here to look for lost worlds in the wild jungle. It is fantastic!" Dan turned to Judith interestedly. "Just what kind of worlds do j-ou expect to find, Miss Adams?" he asked. "Well, I don't quite know," she answered vaguely. " Something old, and a little exciting, I hope." Gallon laughed shortly. "I'm afraid you both will find nothing but a world full of unfriendly savages, wild animals, flood, disease—death!" He spoke in a low. fearsome tone. But if he had intended to frighten either of his com- panions oflf his venture, he was disappointed. Judith just laughed as she lit a cigarette. "Well, you're a cheerful person!" she re- marked lightly. "I'll take a chance, Mr. Gallon," said Dan. "Can you fi.x me up?" "Sure," said Gallon softly. "Sure. I'll fi.x you up all right. Come along to my office some time, and we will talk business." He got up and left them. There was good reason for his abrupt departure, but it was a reason that neither Judith nor Dan knew about. Gallon had seen his two henchmen corno into the bar—the two .'-hifty, mui'derous- looking individuals who had kept watch on Dan down at the water-front. Dan waited until he was out of earshot, then sat down facing Judith. "That talk of yours about finding some lost worlds was a lot of apple-sauce, wasn't it?" he said. "You don't look the type to go hunting through the jungle on any vague scheme." "Don't I?" She put her chin on her hand. "And, speaking of types, you don't look like an insectologist^ either." Dan decided to ignore that. He realised that he was on a difficult inission. and he was not taking anybody into his confidence. "That man Gallon seems pretty well to run things around here,'' he said after a moment or so. "Tell me—does that include you?" He knew his remark was offensive, and made it because he wanted to see what would iiappen. He soon found out. Judith picked up her drink and flung it clean into his face. Then she got up angrily and stamped out of the bar. Tiny saw what had happened, and came running ovei% a cloth in his hand. "Here," he said. "Wipe yoiu' face, quick, before the liquor peels all yo\ir skin off." Dan took the cloth and dried himself. He was laughing. "She's a nice, sor'iable giil." he remarked. "Aw, she's nuts.' Tiny replied. "She must be. wasting a good drink like that." Dan got up and went over to the bar. Tiny followed. "Set them up!" Dan .«aid. "I can do with another." He looked at Tiny interestedly while Tiny was jjouring out. "Say, ^hat brought you to a rathole like this?" "Measles." Tiny answered. "Measles?" " Sure. You see, a couple of months ago I was sloking ship on a South American tramp, and just as we were passing this port I suddenly broke out in pimples. Well, sir, everybody on the boat thought T had sniall- I>ox, so they just dumped me in the fender along with the nu'rchandisc and steamed right <)(F and left me." "Tough!" Dan eonuneiited. "It Kiue was." Tiny agiced. "And I can't get a job on another ship because they forgot to put my papers in the tender with me." Dan nodded and luined away to light a cigarette. As he (\\i\ .so. one of Gallon's men sidled \ip to him aiul reached out, a tiny bottle in his hand. He started to empty the contents into Dan's glass. February ITtli. 19(0. BOY'S CINEMA Tiny was facing a mirror behind the bar at the time, helping himself to another cigar. He saw what was happening, and turned quickly. "Hey, what do j'ou think you're doing there?" he bellowed, and grabbed hold of the man. Dan turned quickly, to find the second man coming at him with a knife. He doubled up his fist and let fly, and the man went crash- ing backwarls, the knife hurtling from his hand. It stuck point downwards in the floor and stayed there, quivering. Tiny came over the bar and waded in with both his fists. The men sidestepped the on- rush and picked up chairs. In an instant there was pandemdnium. Fights broke out all ONcr the bar, and furni- ture began to fly. Dan dodged a table, and got in close to the man who had tried to poison him. He drove his fist hard into the man's stomach, and when the nuui doubled up, winded, Dan let him have it clean luider the iaw. The man went down with a crash, and stayed down. Meanwhile Tiny was doing fine. He picked his assailant up and brought him down with a hearty smack on the top of the bar. The bar split from cud to end, and a couple of dozen glasses went crashing to the floor. Again Tiny picked up his victim. He carried him bodily across the bar-room and hurled him out of the window. The man hit the dirt, scrambled to his feet, and took to his heels. The main fights over, the others died down also. Meanwhile the proprietor of the hotel was standing in the middle of the room, swearing and waving his arms about. "Nice work. Tiny!" Dan said. Tiny grinned widely. Then the proprietor came up and glared at him. "Yovi—you!" he spluttered, hardly able to contain his rage. " You wreck everything— you ruin me. It is all your fault." "My fault!" Tiny said indignantly. "Did you see what that greasy dago tried to do?" The proprietor waved his arms about again. "If my customer wants to poison somebody, it is not your business," he roared. "My customers, they do what they like 50 long as they are quiet about it. You are fired! You understand ?" And he stumped away, leaving Tiny some- what crestfallen. Tiny turned to Dan, looking puzzled. "I can't figure things out," he said. "These town hombres don't go around trying to kill people. Even when they have a revolution, they try awful hard not to hiu't anybody. Say, do vou think that girl had anything to do with i"t?" Dan dug out another cigarette and lit it thoughtfully. " I'tn thinking a lot of things," he said. "First (Jallon introduces me to the dame, and tlien walks out. The next thing I know, she gives me a shower bath, and then takes it on the lam. And to wind up with, a couple of cut-throats come up and try to put the finger on me. Come on. Tiny, let's go up- stairs to my room." Tiny nodded glumh-, and the two went out together. SIGNED ON ! AS they went through the main hall the clerk at the reception desk looked up and grinned broadly. "Senor!" he said to Tiny. "Who gave you the black eye?" Tiny caught s"fflil of himself in the mirror and started. He had got a beautiful "shiner." One of the thugs mus) have clouted him one which, in the excitement, he had oveilooked. "Nobody gave it to nu',">lie said irritably. "T had to fight for it." I^an laughed and took Tiny by the arm. "Send for a slice of beef—raw," he said to (he clerk. "Raw!" protested Tiny. "But I don't like it that way. I want it well done." "Come on, stupid!" said Dan. "It's for that shiner of yours—a poultice." "Well. I'd rather have a porterhouse." Tiny nuittered. "I could use it now that. I'm out of a job." Every Tuesday "Don't worry about a job," Dan said. "You're moving in with me." "Eh?" Tiny blinked at him. He didn't meet guys like Dan every day. "Gee, that's white of vou." "Forget it!" At that moment Judith walked in. Dan saw her and turned to Tiny quickly. "Look here. Tiny," he said. "Get along to your room and pack up. Bring your stuff along here. I'll see you later." "Right," said Tiny briskly, and ambled away. As he passe<i the reception clerk again he stopped and said: "There's one thing I can always count on." "What's that, senor?" the clerk asked inno- cently. "My fingers," snapped Tiny, and went on his ^.ay guffawing, feeling a whole lot Ijetter. Judith sat down at a table in Hie lounge. Dan walked up to her and held out his cigarette-case. "Cigarette?" he said. "Thanks," she lepiied coldly, "but I smoke my own." He watched her light up. not quite able to make her out. There was something queer about her, but he couldn't decide what it was. She didn't look the kind of girl who would get mixed up with anyone like Gallon, hut one couldn't be too carefid in a pl.Tce like this. And Dan was already Heginniug to get an inkling why it was that people \\ho went up the Guamao River never came back. There was something happening up there that Gallon and his sort didn't want the world to know about. After a few moments. Dan said: "If I admit I was a little outspoken a shoit time ago and say I'm sorrv. will that square me?" Judith blew some smoke out of her mouth and shrugged. "What difference would it make?" she asked. "I don't quite know." he cwmtercd. "Maybe you could tell me." She gave him a long, appraising stare. Then she smiled. It was the kind of smile that made Dan's heart turn completely over— in spite of his suspicions about her. . "Mr. Burton," she said suddenly, "are yon still quite determined to go up the Guamao River?" "1 am." Dan answered. "What of it?" "Only that I'd like to go up with you. Guides are scarce, and I tho\ight that ^lerhaps. instead of hanging around here, we could make an exijedition together." Dan frowned. So .she wanted to come with him? Perhaps that meant that she wanted to find out his Imsiness here in Guaniso. "I'll have to think about it," ho said slowly. "I'm used to roughing it," she went on quickly. "I don't doubt it." Dan shoolc hi.s head. "I'm afraid it isn't a deal. I've got plenty to look after without having you on my hands." She flushed, and began to look att^jry. "Yoii're very flattering!" she .said- bitingl^. "Don't get me wrong.'' Dan retorted. "Frankly, I think your company o« tiie trip would be pleasant. I'd Dither travel with another white person than alone. But I'm not going to take yon. all the .sajue." She sighed and stood up. The top of her head came to al)out level with his chin, and he foimd be liked her that way. He never could stand tall women. ".Just forget that I mentioned it." .she said. "Til get there .somehow—maybe hefore even you will. Good-bye, Mr. Burton." " Now look here " began Dan, JjhI, before he could got any further, she had gone. Dan watched her go. In spite of his sus- picions, he found himself liking her uiore -and more every minute. He wanted to believe that she was on the level; on the other h:ind, he had found her in the company of fJallon. And now she wanted to go up (he Guamao with him! Why? P<ihaps it \\ashecaiise the two of them could make the jom-ney easier than one could. But. he didn't believe her story that she w.as in search of lost worlds. Not that there weren't any lost worlds Sn this nnit nf Brazil. Thorp were—traces of