Boy's Cinema (1939-40)

B know. He sent Tiny out to bring the men in one by one. "Pedro." lie said to the fiist, "you told me that Hannibal, the boatman, forced you to throw that wounded man into the river." "Yes." answeied Pedro. "It was murder." "Good enough!" Dan produced .some strips of bark. He had no paper, and had to write the evidence on the bark with the stump of a pencil. "Sign here!" Pedro shook his head. "Me can't write." he answered. "All right. Stick your thumb into that late.x and press it down on the bark. Who's next?" "I'm Amando," said another native. "They tortmed me. I couldn't stand it any more, and I tried to run away. They fovmd me next morning and beat me. Then they put me into the stocks." Dan wiote it down rapidly and got another thiunb-print. By the end of the night he had got nearly a dozen such pieces of testimony. He hid them under the hammocks during the day- while he was out at the frees. Two nights later he told Tiny: " I've got enough evidence now to hang Scipio and all his men. AVhen the Government gets a load of these reports, we'll be able to clear this tcriitory of all these thugs and get the place decently organised." Tiny wds busy smoking latex. He coughed. "I wonder how they like this stuff—medium, rare, or well done.'' he said plaintively. The following night Hoiedad went to Scipio. He had in his hand the pieces of bark Dan had collected, for he had been searching the huts that day. "I find these in the American's luit," he said. Scipio looked at them and saw that they contained writing. But he could not read, and neith r could Soledad. Judith was in the room. Scipio waved Sole- dad away and beckoned to her. "Senorita. I carmot read English," he said. "I watit you to tell me what they say." Judith took the pieces of bark and glanced at them. She started, realising what they were. She uho realised that Dun had had something to do with thetn. "They're—nothing," she said hesitantly. "They're just some notes about—about insect life in the jungle." "So!" said Scipio. "Read me some of the words." "Well, they're not written very clearly, but I'll try," she said, and went on, pretending to read: "The brown beetle is of an luuisual texture, blending its colour with that of the surrounding terrain. In this lespect it differs from—fiom its prototype, and " "That is all, senorita," Scipio interrupted. "Thank you." He went outside and told Soledtid- to bring Dan to him. Soledad went away. When Dan came, he found Scipio in a most genial mood. Scipio said to him: "You are a wiiter, ch?" Dan saw the pieces of bark, and felt icy fingers up and down his spine. "What of it?" he asked. "Very beautiful work!'" said Scii)io. "So you write book, eh ? I know you write book— all about insects. Miss Adams here tell me about it. Why did you .say you run away from police '!" Dan started and caught Judith's oyo. In the next few seconds his whole opinion of her changed. He realised that she had saved him from discovery—which meant that she was not one of Scijiio's emjjloyee.s after all. "Oh, that!" Dan said offhandedly. "I had to get up the Guamao River somehow, and that was as good a way as any. You know, Scipio, the way you've found me out is little ■ short of geniu.s." "A genius? What is that?" "Well, a genius is a smart man—a very clever man-like you." Scipio's chest expanded at least a couple of inches. Ife looked pleased and laughed pleasantly. "A genius!" lie said. "That is right. IMe a genius." Dan .saw that his flattery was having good effect, and tried some more. February 17th, 1940. BOY'S CINEMA "You know, Scipio, it's grand to come to the depths of the jungle like this and meet a man as brilliant as you—a man who can't bo fooled." he said. Scipio almost strutted roimd the room. "You know something?" he said to Dan. "You are a smart man, too—I mean, to find out about me. Maybe jou write book about me, eh ?" Dan nodded enthusiastically. "You'd make a great subject for a book," he said. "It will be a big book—take many years to write." Scipio's eyes were gleaming. He was thinking of all the books that had been written about Napoleon. "You come and live in this house and work, yes ? And you no leave Colonia Scipio until you finish. Do we trad.-?" "To write a book about you, Scipio, is going to be an honoiu-," said Dan quickly. " "It is settled, then. You go away. Get yourself cleaned up—like me. Take a shave. You are moving in to-night. I will give orders." "Thanks." said Dan gratefully. He was getting a bit tired of the rubber-curing hut, ^ anyway. Just then the door opened and Maria came in. She looked at Dan interestedly, saw that he was dirty, turned and went out again. Scipio put his arm in a friendly way around Dan's shoidders. "That is my bambina," he said. "She is pretty, eh ? Only she is not so happy. Maybe if she get married she be happier. You and Maria make very fine-looking couple, eh ? What do you say?" Dan swallowed hard. He did not at all like the idea of marrying Maria, but he did not dare say so. "That, too, would be a great honour," he said evasively. Scipio waved his arms delightedly and turned to Judith. "There you are—it is all arranged!'' he said. "And even Napoleon did not have a better-looking queen than me, eh?" He had addres.sed that last question to Dan. Dan stared at Judith in astonishment. "Your queen?" he stammeied. " Afaybe some day soon," said Scipio; The door opened again, and the servant came in with Dr. Taylor. Scipio rubbed his hands with delight. "Ah. it is time for reading," he said. "To- night, my profe.s.sor. j'ou read me how Napoleon marry and have a royal wedding." Dan stared at the old man and almost cried out with siu-prise. Dr. Taylor! The most eminent of all rubber experts! In this hole! And in that condition! Di-. Taylor started reading, and Scipio was completely absorbed. Judith caught Dan's eye and they walked over to the other side of the room. "So that's it!" Dan said, and in his voice was a tinge of disgust. "You're going to be his queen." She put her finger to her lips. "Ssh!" she whispered back. "Not now." Dan said no more. He did not understand her, and gave up trying. Another two nights passed by. and Dan decided that the time had come to have a look I'oimd Scii)io's library. He did not have any opportunity of spanking to Judith again in the meantime, for ahnost every minute of the day was spent in listening to Scipio talking about himself. And when Scipio started on the subject of what a great man he was, there was no slopping him. Dan waited until the house was dead quiet, then crept out of his room. He reached the library and began rununagiug through the drawers of the huge writing-table. Suddenly he heard a somid and flattened against a wall. The door slowly opened and someone came in. Dan moved over, caught hold of the intruder and clapped a hand over her mouth. It was J\i(lilh ! "Spying on me, eh?" Dan said, and let her go in disgust. "Spying!" she cried. "Why shovild I spy on you '!'' " I've been waiting for this opportunity of telling you exactly what I think of you. How Every Tuesday any self-respecting girl could think of marry- ing that fat pig -" Her hand came iip suddenly and she sma<kcd him hard across the face. He .stepiK-il back, his face white. "It's the^sccond time you've done .something like that," he said. "Well, maybe I asked for it."' "I'm .soiry,'" she said in a low voice. "Nov/ that I come to think of it. I suppose every- thing does look a bit queer to you." "Queer is putting it mildly." J^an sairl. "Just what have you come down here for?" "I came to look for the keys of my father's room." Dan stared at her in astonishment. "Youi- father?" he said. "You mean—Dr. Taylor?" "Yes. I took the assumed name of Adams because I didn't want anyone to know why I \vas coming out here. I guessed he must be in_ some kind of danger, and came to help him." Dan's face cleared. He took her by the shoulders and laughed softly. "I was hoping all along" that it would be something like that," he said. "Don't you see, we're both down here for (he same purpose?" "You mean—you're looking for dad, too?" "It was one of the reasons why I camo." She laughed, too, then. It was a happy laugh. "It's swell to know that.'" she said. "And I suppose you're trying to find those barks." " Partly." he said. Ho said no moie. The sound of soft foot- steps came from outside. They were receding rapidly. "Let's get out of here," said Dan lirgently. She nodded, and they went hurriedly back to their own rooms. ESCAPE THE faint footsteps had belojiged to Soledad. Soleda(l had been passing the house on his night rounds, and had heard tlieir voices. He went straight to Scipio and woke him up. " Soledad!" Scipio exclaimed irritably. "What is i« that you want at thi.4 hour of the night ?" " .4inerican man and girl just sneak out of your library." Soledad replied. "1 get them and bring them to you, eh?"' ';Wait!" Scipio thought rapidly. So the two white people were meeting in secret, were they? Although he was vain, he Mas no fool. His pig eyes glittered as he had an idea. "Come!" he said, aud went down to th» library with Soledad. "Bring nio the prc- fes.sor. I think of something." Soledad took the keys and vent away. Scipio, grinning fiendishly, opened ;• cupboaid and brought out the pieces of Iwrk. When Soledad returned with Dr. Taylor, Scipio put one of the pieces of bark into his hand. "Something has happened that I want to know about, professor." he said. " A messen- ger has just come with these. Read for me." Mechanically Dr. Taylor, not knowing what he was doing, looked at the piece of bark. "'They toitured me and put me in tho stocks,'" he read slowly. "'It was because I did not produce enough rublier.' " Scipio's wicked grin broadened. "It is enough," he said. "Soledad, take him back to his room." Soledad did so When he returned, he found Scipio pacing up and down, his hands behind his back, alternately frowning and chuckling. Suddenly he stopped. "Soledad, do not say anything about this to anybody," he said. "I will have fun. 1 will fiv them all in the morning. You undei'- stand?" He smiled evilly. Soledad understood all right, and smiled back. Then thej' both went to bed. Dan waited until the house was quite quiet, then crept out of his room and tapped softly on .ludith's door. She came out. and together they loft the houss and made their way to Tiny's hut