Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

Everjr Tuesday Law and Order. DAV]^,. assistcil by Cloudy, liad fairly installed liinisclt' iu Bowdcii, and witliiti a month of taking up his residence there he had fixed up quarters in a vacant shanty close to the Williams' Hotel. He still posod a.s Ranger Dawson, and, to lend credence to the well-meant deception, he had hung up a signboard over the shanty, bearing the legend; "Ranger's OtTice." But that was not all he had done to justify himself in his new r61e. All Bowden was talking of tho exploits which be had performed in the interests of Law i;nd Order. One forenoon, when Dave was sitting at his. desk in the office and Cloudy was reclining with his feet on a slow-com- bustion stove, a small oval patch of reflected sunlight shone through the window and flashed across the shady room. Cloudy took no particular notice of the circumstance until he noticed that the flash kept recurring, and then, turn- ing to Dave, he saw that the pseudo- Ranger was watching the flashes and busily writing something in.a book each time they danced through the office. "What's the idea?" Cloudy demanded. "Just a little code that'Pop Williams and I worked out." Dave explained. "Pop is in a house on tho other side of the street, heliographin' me with a mirror. Kvery time anybody passes he sigi).als whether they're good, bad, or doubtful, and I jot down their names. One flash means that a guy's plumb bad. two flashes tell me that an honest citizen is passin', and three flashes signify a doubt," Cloudy grunted, and then he was silent for a while. When he spoke again it was with great deliberation, as if be had been turning o". er some deep problem in his mind. "Did you ever stop to think what would happen," he said, "if the guy that shot the real Dawson ever drifted into town?" Dave's eyes narrowed. "That's wliat I'm waiting for. Cloudy," he answered slowly, "and when he does drift iu I'm banking on him showin' his hand in .some wav or out on to nail to nail BOY'S CINEMA other. The moment be .ilio\', .■, his hand I'll nail him!" It was at that moment that a long, lank figure passed the window—a figure at the sight of which Cloudy leapt to his feet. It was tho figure of the under- taker, and, pausing at the office door, which was open, he bent a mournful eye on Cloudy. "Five feet eleven," he murmured, "and thirty-seven round the chest." And then he moved on. A chill perspiration broke Cloudy's brow. "That's the guy tliat's goin mf," ho wailed. "He's goin' me down with coffin pegs. I kin see it in his face. Aw, Dave, what was Daw- son to you, anyhow, that we've gotta stick around here an' find his killer?" "Dawson was one o' the whitest men I ever met, Cloudy." said Dave, "and I happen to know that he left a widow and three kids. And if it's the la>t thing I do, I'm going to get the bunch of dirtv eovotes that were responsible for his "killin'." Cloudy lost his temper and began to rave at him, and he was indulging in some particularly ungentlemanly expres- sions when a girl appeared on the threshold of the office. The girl was Molly Williams, and as Dave caught sight of her he began to make feverish attempts to silence Cloudy, but not until the latter actiially perceived Molly him- self did the atmosphere become suitable for f(>minine oars. "There's one thing I like alxjut Cloudy." Dave said to Molly, with .i grin. "He's just as mild as an old burro." Cloudy looked daggers at him, but at tliat moment a diversion was caused by a wild scries of flashes from Pop Williams' mirror. "Gee!' David commented. "Half the town must be headed this wa>' !" The first men to pass the window of the office were the Hook Brothers, and with threatening mien they inarched in acros> the threshold. They had appar- ently made some boast about bearding the .Raiiger in his den, for there was it fairsi/ed crowd of ruffianly-looking loafers on their heels, and the mob stood outside the office to listen to what was said. Cloudy's first impulse at sight of tho Hook Brothers was to reach for hi.s gun, but he checked himself and gaped in bewilderment as he .saw the three of them wink distinctly. Then, speaking as usual in one voice, they addressed Dave. "Ranger." they announced, "the Hook Brothers wish ter state that they don't give a coupla cents for yon, and if it's thinkia' you are that you'll make law-abidin' citizens out of us—come ntul try it!" They spat deftly at Dave's feet, whereuix)n the mob outside smirked approvingly. Then, advancing nearer, the three Hooks addressed the pseudo- Ranger again. But this time, although their voices sounded as grufY as ever, their words could not possibly have reached the ears of the ruffianly crowd in the street. "Ranger," they went on, "we're the worst ornery bunch o' wildcats in this no-man's country. But for your private car we'd like to let you know that if yon uani an\' help you can bank on us." They drew back once more, and at the doorway they reverted to their former threatening attitude. " Bear in mind what we told you. Ranger." they declared, "and you'll save yourself a heap o' trouble." Then, with another sly wink at hlni, they turned on their heels and departed, amid thi- applause of the crowd. Dave glanced at Cloudy. "Can yovi beat that?" ho .said. "Those three hard cases are for us." Then his face grew serious. " All thu same." he continued, "we need every man we can count on—even with three huskies like the Hook Brothers. We seem to have been keeping things in hand pretty well since we started out to clean up this town. But the wilder elements are only lyin' low f9r the time bein', I guess, and one day there's goin' to be a show-down !" He looked at his companions. " Molly—Cloudy," he told them, "I've They stood waiting with drawn guns as they ■heard .the newcomers ride up to the shack. September 6th, 1D30.