Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

10 "Say, that's great," ho diclaied, and piodiiced a longer case from hia own potket—a case covered with white lamb- skin. "I've got a little present for you, too." He opened the case, displaying a neck- lace of pearls. Molly gasped. "Oh, it's beautiful," she said in an awed whisper. "It's the loveliest thing I've ever liad!" She looked at the pre- sents in turn and from the presents to the faces of their donors. "I adore them both," eslie declared. But Mike looked gloomily down at his plate. Compared with his gift. Cookie's was magnificent! Marino Pays a Call. THEY had finished dinner and were drinking their coffee when a dark- skinned, thick-set man of Italian appearance approached their table— Marino! "Hallo, sweetheart," said Cookie pleasantly. "Want to see me?" "Just dropped in to say hallo," re- plied Marino easily, and glanced curi- ously at the others. "Well, I want you to meet my folks," ^aid Cookie. "This is Detective- lieutenant-O'Dowd, but don't let that bother you—this is his night off! Won't vou-join U6 ?" "No, t'anks," said Marino, bowing. "I really came-a on business." "Oh, you want to sco mo on busi- ness ?" .said Cookie. "Mr. Slarino, you know, folks, is in the packing business." "Yes, I know," said Mike grimly. "And Mr. Leonard," said Marino, " being in the cafe business, sometimes Ms(>s my beef." "They say it's very good—before it's cut," remarked Mike, somcwhai (lointcdly. " Mr. Leonard scorns to t'ink so," said Marino blandly. ''You know Lairy Pearson, don't \ou?" "Oh, yos," Marino acknowledged. "Da bright boy,of da 'Herald.' Knows I'll—sees all!" "Yes," said Larry brightly. "You'd l)otter put me on your pay-roll, Marino— I know a lot I haven't spilled yet!" Marino''s face clouded and his manner changed. " Derc is' such a t'ing as a now.spapei man knowing too much," ho said menacingly. " Whcn-a I want publicity I pay for it. Remember dat." " Why not como up into my office, and we'll talk about this beef," sug- gested Cookie hastily, aware of Mollys tioubled face, and annoyed at the ihreat. Marino nodded. "Glad to have met you," he said to tlio others. "See you again—eh. O'Dowd?" "I shouldn't lie a bit surprised," re- vponded .\fik<; tartly. Cookie aiul Afarino went off together. They passed through a sid(> door to a (arpeted slairca.«e, mounted to a cor- ridor, and entered a big room furnished as an olPice. whore thoy approa<hed a massive desk. "Well, sweetheart," said Cookie pleas- ;iMtly. "what are your views on the dis- :inri;iment. conference?" And he (hrust liis haiul into his pocket where a bulge i.ppeared. ' r vote yes," said !Marino. ".\nd shall wc approacli the altar and (.■r, iluough tho ritual?" "It COS okay wit' me." Cookio fugged open a drawer in the dr'sk and produced a formidable gun from his pocket. ^Farino produced a gnn from his pocket. Siinidtancouslv they dropped their weapons info the drawer, and the drawer was closed. July ISth. IMl. BOY'S CINEMA Cookie sat and pointed to a chair. Marino sat beside him. "What's on your mind?" inquired Cookie. "Last night eight of my trucks dis- appeared I" " Well,'well, you don't say? Did you notify tho police?" ""You are not so funny as you t'ink." "All right, then, sue me. Only I've got a better idea. Take your sign off, and they won't be .spotted so easily." He fished out a cigarette-case and offered it to Marino, but tho Italian would not accept a cigarette. "Another t'ing," ho said angrily. " Sonio of your boys arc butting into my territory. Now I don't want-a no trouble, and there ain't gonna be no trouble." "Oh, I see," mused Cookie. "We're going to kiss and make it up, is that it?" " Yes—if you stay out of the south side." Cookie frowned. "But tho doctor ordered mo south for my health," ho said plaintively.' "From now on tho south side ain't gonna bo so healthy for you !" "Oh, is that so?" drawled Cookie, lighting his cigai-ctto. The door opened and Larry burst into tho room. Outside a watchful attendant had tried to prevent him from intruding, but knowing him to bo a friend of Cookie's liad not dared to use violence. "What do you want?" demanded Cookio frigidly. ' "Why, I ju.st wanted to use tho 'phono " " U::(' the one outside !" "But I was just going " "Beat it!" Cookie's voice was harsh, peremptory. Larry reluctantly obeyed the command. "That kid's got the habir of nosing in whore he isn't wanted," complained Marino. "Oh, the kid's all right," said Cookie. "Ho doesn't know what it's all about." "Ho knows-a too much to suit mo," snapped Marino. "Somct'ing's gonna to bo done about it." "Lay off that kid," warned Cookie. "I think a lot of him." "Oh, you wouldn't want to lose him, eh?" "I don't intend to lose him! I've appointed you his life insurance !" "What do you mean?" "Oh, for instance, if ho should—or— slip on a banana pool, or get hit by a truck—or stung by a boo—— You know what I mean—well, there'll bo two funerals instead of one, So you'<I bettor take pretty good care of him, Marino.' Marino, compressing his lips, got to his feet. " Not going ?" said Cookie. " Yes '! Well. I'll go as far as the door with you." He opened tho drawer, took out Marino's gun, and offered it (o him by the butt. Then he thrust his own gun back in his jacket pocket. They walked to the door, which Cookio opened. "Drop in often, Marino," ho said pleasantly. "The police arc not always liorc. Just drop in, but let mc know when you're coming. I may want to bake a cake!" Marino went out into the corridor. Miko was standing by tho stairs with Larry, but he jia.ssed fliom without a word. Cookio joined thcni. " Wl'.at's all the excitement?" ho in- quired. "Go and carry on with the party, Mike—I'll bo rigtit with you. 1 jnsl want a wor<l with the kid. Come in, Larry, and shut tho door!" Every Tuesday The Lure of the Racket. MIKE descended the .stairs; Larry followed Cookie into the office and closed tho door. "Wliat's Marino all burnt up about?" demanded Cookie sternly. "Oh," said Larry casually, "I had a little spai-c time on my hands so I 'oat- tered out a couple of stories about him." " You'd better find another way of killing time. Lay off Marino." But Larry was young and eager to e.stablish iiimself in the job Cookie had procured for him. " I'm a newspaper man," he said de- fiantly, "and he's great copy. Why, you told mo yourself to bang 'cna on the noso with it^makc it sensational. Well, I'm on velvet. I'm in with you, and in with Mike, and " " And in with an undertaker, if you don't bottle upl" snapped Cookie. "Aw, be yourself! Why, I'm doing you a big favoiu-! If I can get Marino put away, you'll be tho big shot in this town." "Well," growled Cookie, "I'll fix \ou, that's all!" He picked up the receiver of the tele- phone on his desk, " Chickering 9510,' ho ,said into the transmitter, and then, glaring round at Larry: "You haven't got the sense of a ground-hog !" A voice rang in his ear. "Hallo. 'Herald'?" ho demanded. 'Gimme that old half-wit, Bcttinson, tho news editor." , The familiar voice of Bcttinson came over the wire. "Hallo, you bald-headed baboon!" greeted Cookie. " This is Cookio Leonard, former reporter on your half- baked sheet. Get this straight, sweet- heart—take young Pearson off the underworld stuff. Understand ?" Bcttinson, hard at work in his room with a blue pencil in his fist, promptly shouted back: " We're running a newspaper hei'e! It's our business to get tho news. If I wanted your advice I'd hire you back again—and don't call mo .sweetheart 1" "All right, sweetheart,'' chuckled Cookio. "But I am telling you, and you'd better listen. \ou fathead, or I'll buy your cock-eyed paper ami throw you out on your face. Good-bye, sweet- heart !" He slannnod down the receiver and turned to lyarry with a wry grin. "And that," he said, "is what's known as telling the chief news editor !" ■' Oh, boy," cried Larry adoringly, "I'm waiting for tho day when I can tell him where to head in !" "Don't be a chump! .And listen! If you're going to be a newspaper man, .stick to the new.spaper game, and steer clear of tho racket. D'you get me?" Ho grabbed the youngster by the arm and marched him off downstairs to the restaurant. Mike was sitting beside Molly, who looked worried. 'Pho place was more crowded than ever. "Well. Mike, what do you think of the joint now?" inquired Cookie proudly. "See any customers?" "Oh. I guess you'll get along all right—for a while," qvioth Mike. . ".Vnd, as the poet says. ' The-paths of glory lead but to the gravy '!" Larry, soon afterwards, announced that ho was due at the ofTice. and took his departure. Cookio suggested that Molly slioidd ^ivo him .i dance, and they mingled with the couples on tho polished floor. Mollie had put on the wrist-watch, and Cookio noticed it. "Looks nice, doesn't it?" he said, looking down at it as fhey waltzed. "I believe you like Mike's present betfer than you do mine." i