Boy's Cinema (1939-40)

Every Tuesday Potter licked liis dry lips and Ijiiislit-d his hail- agitatedly. " It's a deal! As soon as yon kfc|) up yonr end of the liarH;iii"i i'" tiwti thu inont-v over to yon." Wade took the conih fiotn liis sliakinK liaeid. V Well, I usnaiiy ^ot tny nioncy in advance." he drawled. "JJnt 1 don't think yon'll inn out on me." "Don't woiiy," snarled I'otlor. "F want to 1)0 alive to siiiff at the luueial of lliat donblo-crossiir coyote!" Watle grinned at Monty as the angry puncher walked away, then picked up his hat and calmly went round to the porch where 15en Wallace and Sandra Courtney were break- fasting. Wallace was none (oo pleased, but Miss Courtney invited him to join them. "I've been doing a lot of thinking since last night, Wallace," Wade said presently. "And I've decided that if Don Aliso isn't captured in the next two or three days. I'm going to take my men and iinll out of the couiitiy." "Well, why? Miss (^iiirtney's offered to pay your e.xpenses. and you made a few extra dollars yesterday by iielping us to evict the Del Campos." "It's not a question of money. I just don't like the deal. It's none of my business how you take the Rancho del Campo, but from the looks of things it has all the ear-marks of being shady." Wallace frowned. Sandra Courtney stared at Wade in amazement. " Don't you think that's rather a strong accusation, Barton." the foreman growle<l, "especially since Miss Courtney is the one mainly concerned in the transaction?" "I really think you do owe me an apology, Mr. Barton." the woman said coldly. "As far as I know, the resnrvey of the El Rio boundary lines was perfectly legal. Originally I dis- agreed with my brother over dispossessing the old Don, but his cold-blooded murder gives nie just reason to show them no mercy." Her voice was shaking -with emotion. Wade calmly drank his coffee. "Well. I may be wrong, and, if so, I aiwlo- gise to both of you. However. I have no desire to he mixed up in ah investigation." " Don't take Barton too seriously. " Wallace said to his fiancee, controlling his anger. "You have nothing to worry about at all." "I hope you're right." She rose. "Will you excuse me?" Her foreman's tone changed when she had gone, and an ugly light came into his eyes. But ho got no change out of Wade Barton. Wade told him quite frankly that he had his own ideas about the El Rio Rancho moves— and then he came out with some information that made Wallace start. Ranee Potter, he said, had been talking. " Hg oflered me fifteen hundred dollars to sling my gun on you.'" he told Wallace, with- out turning a hair. "He told me he helped you nnnder John Courtney and place the blame on Don Aliso. He figured if you were caught, you'd talk too much for your own good and implifi-ate him." "Potter mu.st be out of his mind I" siRirled Ben Wallace in astonishment. "Anyway, he's never seen fifteen bundled dollars." "That's what T thought,'" Wade drawled. "Well, whether he's right or wrong. I'm still working for you. and I figured you ought to know this, so you can be on your guard." His somewhat imaginative report had a definite effect on Ben Wallace. He knew he had done viseful work that morni-ng in sowing the seeds of discord between the two crooks. "Well. I'm much obliged, Barton." said "Wallace heartily, "and when this thing is straightened out I'll see that you don't lose by sticking to mc " He broke off as three horsemen raced up to the porch and dismounted hurriedly. "Pedi-o and a gang of Mexicans drove us off the El Rio ranch and took the place over," one of them gasped. "When did this happen?" barked the fore- man angrily. " Early this morning. There's fifteen of 'cm and all heavily armed." "Well, if Del Caniix)'s friends are lookin' for a fight, they'll sure get one," said Wallace dangerously. He called all the men available. BOY'S CINEMA "Get your horses saddled niid ready (o ride! Sam, you go out to the north ruiige and rnniid up cveryono you find (here. Pete, you bring nil the men from th(! liliH sluiek." Amid tlio exeitenient, Sandra Cf>M«tney ran out. "More trouble, Ben?" "Yeah; Del Camjio and his Mcvican friends have run our men off the El Rio Rancho. J'm going to wipe them out once and for all." Her face paled. "You're .going lo do nothini; of the kind. This is a matter for the law lo take care of." He paused in surprise. " But why should we have to wait on the law? We're iicrfectly within our rights." " Perhaps we are, Ben, but I'm sick and tired of this fighting and killing," she sai<l passionately. "(!et Sheriff Warren and h-t bim take charge. If Ik; wants to swear in our riders as tlepulies, it's perfectly all right. Otherwise I won't allow them to leave the ranch." "All right. Sandra, you're boss round here," he said heavily. "I'll go into San Carlos after the sherifl." He paused in the act of mount- ing, having spotted Ranoe Potter near by, anfl his face darkened. "On second thoughts. Ranee, you'd better come with me." Looking at him suspiciously. Ranee obeyed, and Wade hid a grin. That would be an un- comfortable ride for the pair of them. He warehed them cantering away, then took !Miss Courtney aside. It was obvious .she had her own ])rivato doubts about the whole affair, and he thought it a good time to iell her a few things. She really hadn't known much about the snrvey excejit what she had been told by her brother and his foreman. "Personally. I wish the controversy had never begun," she said wearilj-. "Isn't it irue," Wade asked hesitantly, "that your brother was against your marrving Ben Wallace?"' "That's rather a personal question," she said, flushing. "But a very'important one. T have definite proof that Ben Wallace murdered yonr brother, and Ranee Potter knew about it." She turned away, her face white. "I don't believe it," she said shakily. "Please"—Wade took her arm—"I'm only trying to help an innocent man and return him to his rightful home. I appeal to yon as a fair-minded woman. Miss Courtney, be- cause I believe Ben Wallace is lusing you as he did your brother." "Oh. I've tried to keep from doubting." she cried suddenly, "but there Avere so many things he wouldn't explain, and I certainly don't want anything that doesn't belong to me. But I'll have to have more proof!" Wade called Monty, and they told her of Ranee Potter's blurted confession. She was convinced at lust, and eager to help right the wrong that had been done. She went inside to change into her riding habit. Wade and Monty went to the corral to get their horses, but on their way they paused. A group of riders was approaching the ranch, and in their midst was a stiff- backed, pale-faced old man—Don Aliso. RACE TO THE RANCHO SO the old Don had been caught! Wade knew he had to act swiftly, for no mercy would he shown Don .Xliso. He strolled to meet them as they dismounted. "Good work, boys." he grinned. "You're tellin' ns!" their leader growled. " !Me and Jce can use that reward money." Wade rested his hands on liis giiiibelt. "That's where you're wrong. Hank. I cap- tured Don Ali.so the other night and Potter butted in and let him get away." "You must think we're a couple of easy marks," the puncher sneered. "No. but I think you're smart enough to know I'm not bluffing," Wade said menac- ingly. "Wade'* right, Hank." said one of the others. "Potter claimed he was to collect the money." "That's right." Wade coolly patted Hank's shoulder. "That reward belongs to me, and J.. I intend to ctilleot it. Monty, ict'i tnk« Don AMmi alonif with u<<. We'll JiK-k hiiri np." Hunk hud to back dovwi; he iiud no ^vi^h lo fo.co it i*lir)\\dijwn with u giMifigliler ul Wude's reputation. Hiil as Wurle and Munlv and the Don wne inoiintiiig, (li'-v saw tuo ridi'iH Icuiing down th<r trail lowurdi; the runch. Hen Wallace and Hance Potter! "They must be wise lo ns," Wade Fiiaiiped. "or tlir'y wouldn't have come back logeliier." Wallace and Ranee Poller, jogging toward San CarloM, their liandH near their (runs and watching each iilher siiHpiciutuily, hud gradually got talking—and it was not long before tliey realised Ihat Wade had triek> J them neatly by playing them off against eatli other. Hen Wallace was furious when he learned Raneo had talked—before a ■witiie»— enough to put their heads in the wrong end of a rope. Wade and the others spurred Iheir horses. scattering the cowboys as the angrj' foreman and his henchman neared the ranch. They rode straight for the fence, and in complete unison the three horses sailed over superbly and pounded away at breakneck speeti. "Don't let those men get away!" roared Ben Wallace furiously. A big bunch r)f Ihem thundered out after the three fugitives, with Ben Wallace in the lead. Out in the country, the foreman reined in. "Pete, you and your three men follow the Don. We're gointr to the hacienda. If we get the girl, nobody will do anj- talking. Come on !" The party split, and Wade Barton, pausing on a hilltop, saw this move and guessed it? significance. "Monty, you go get Utah and the boy.=." he rapped. "And bring them to the hacienda. I'll do the best I can until you get there." With a wave, he wheeled away from Monty and the Don and set off recklessly down a rocky slope. Griml'y he set himself to rac ■ tKEJECaSY Interested in model planes ? Then you need the "AERO MODELLER," the monthly magazine that tells you how to buiid and fly fighters, bombers. flying boats, duration models, both rubber and petrol driven. March issue contains FREE building plans of " Hampden " Bomber. Price 7d. from your newsagent. Send coupon and I jd. stamp for FREE copy of a recen: issue. To : "AERO MODELLER." Allen House. Newarke Street, Leicester. Send me FREE copy of\AtRO MODELLER." I enclose / jd. stomp lo defray postage. Name Address B.C. ^0 «" FOR YOU AND YOUR CHUMS DOWN brinss a Kiley " Home " KiliiArd': Table, carriage paid. 7 • FKEE TRIAL. Balance monthly. Write for ART LIST. J. EII.EY, LTD.. Ensign Worts. ACCEINGTON. or D e p t. 3 6. 46 47, Newgate Street, London, E.C.I. February 17tli, K'40.