Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

Every Tuesday • They rushed to the bushes in search of their clothes, and then to the shelter under which they had left their horses I hero was nothing to be seen. For a moment they stared at one another in dismay, and it was Ben who broke the startled silence with a grunt ot deep disgust. "VVell, this is about the most thievin' district a galoot ever walked into'" he growled. "First thcv pinch our car and now they've taken our clothes and horses ! What d'y'know about that ?- T J '1°,",'*, '^"°"'^' '° f""f'h about that as I should hke to!" said Bob grimly and «miled .suddenly as he looked down at file companion's dripping shorts. "But I do .know that you're looking some guy to^waJk into a respectable town, Ben'" , Well, seeing that you are dressed in just the same as myself, you ain't gonna look .so mighty attractive!" growled Ben And your curls has sure been left in the pool, Bob!" "Take cover—I hear something!" in- . terjected Bob suddenly. • They darted behind the cover of tall bushes at the side of the trail, and waited hopeully. The creaking of wooden wheels drew nearer and nearer, and surl- fienly swept into sight—and two hopeful .expressions turned to dismay. A middle-aged woman was driving to- wards them, .seated in an old fashioned, ■ Init quite serviceable, buckboard She saw them at the same moment as they spotted her, and in a flash the horses •were whipped into a gallop, and the tjuckboard flew past them in a cloud of dust. "That's that!" grunted Boh. "There's nothing for it but a hike, Ben-anJ a hope that our luck will chane-e!" "Let's be going!" snilTed Ben. "The sooner we fii.<i a drcent hombro in these parts the better I'll be feelin"" •And they struck the trail in rather •tender fashion. Their feet were not hardened to walking on a hot, dusty frail, and to them it seemed that every loose stone in Montana was laid out. before them. ■It was only just in time to prevent .heir utter collapfo that they stumbled up to a wooden shack that had every appearance of being de-erted By that BOV'S CINEMA tmie they wovdd both have risked im- prisonment for life to obtain a pair of hefty boots to protect their feet agaii-st the hot trail. "We're going in there, and if nobody IS at home, we'll help ourselves to whnt- ever there is,", said Bob, setting his teeth desperately. "I'm sure stuck risht up with this trail paddlin', Ben!" ^ Ben could only grunt. He felt that It fie opened his mouth very much he would groan. Cautiously they crept up to the door ot the shack and knocked upon the door. Ihere was no answer, which gave them both a greater hope. Just as cautiously. Bob opened the door. It gave way to 11= touch at once, and a single glance told them that there was nobody at home. ■' "Inside!" said. Bob briefly 'n^u't i/''*""', >"■' ^^"'"'"gly enough, ,uid Bob foUowcd him and shut the door In- .side they fountl all that they could want -clothes for both of them, includiii;; boots that more or less fitted them. Thus it was with a little more cheer- fulness that they walked once more on that troublesome trail, their borrow,-.! ciothes lending them proteotion against the hot sun and making ihem feel rat'ie- more inclined to meet up with anybody who luippened .to come along. As it happened, they came up to sor."P- body they least of all expected to nwet Look—there's our horses!" said Ikib suddenly, pomting to a little clearing just off the trail. "And. gee! What's that? Men and cattle !> Say, this is where we step in, Ben!" B(!n nodded and pushed back his shirt cuffs, in businesslike fashion. In a moment more they were moving caiiti- ously to the clearing. Two men were buey'in that clearin<— too busy to take any notice of the new- comers. They were obviously branding a calf, and behind them were the ♦wo horses the car rustlers had left with Bob and Ben. ' But the men turned quickly enough when Bob spoke. "Say, guess this is where v,e collect our horses!" said Bob calmly. "Your hjs-es'" giowled one of them 21 I "^".?", T^'^" °"^" hosses! Somebody I rustled them from us!" . " Somebody rustled our car, and left us the horses-I guess we'll make for the sheriff aud have our argument out with him!" said Bob grimly. "Suit you?" , The second man let go the calf, and in a moment it was dashing into the open country, taking with it the sliglit and not unpleasant smell of sinwei-v brought about by the branding. ^ The next moment the two men flung them selves on Ben and Bob, and a wild fight started. There was no time for the citv men to wonder why the men of the'plains should objec-t to settling the disputed ownership of the horses before the local sheriff rhey had to protect themselves as best they could against iis savage an attack as they had ever encountered. But the troubles that had come their way had roused Bob and Ben just suffi- T-n ■' ■l'^ ^='?* ,"'''^^ "^°'-^ feroc-ity than bki 1. They lashed out right and left, and there were no rounds. Thcv to>ik blows as hard as they gave, but neither party showed the least inclination to stop the fight until there sounded, from the distance, the rattle of hoofs. That changed the whole outlook. In a flash, guns appeared in the stiangei-o hands, and two anxious sets of eyes glared'ferociously at Bob and B.m . Keep away, stranger! We'll blow ho.es in you if you put your fists this way again—and stand back!" Unarmed as they were, neither Bob nor JJpn could do anything but obey, lliey looked on in dismay as the men hurriedly mounted the horses and kept their guns pointing steadily until the rapidly approaching rattle of gallopin-r horses urged them to dig in their spurl ^"'',..''f,'' '"'''''y f<"" cover of the woods. Hell here's another go!" grunted Ben, rubbing his jaw. "I was just go- '"S to sock my man in the jaw, too!" Ihere was no tune for more Horse- men were all around thoin. and again guns came into play. And of air the men that had been met, these were the g'";p^'"es*- b'mch ever. "Sd^ ain't thoic a guy in this dis- I ♦' Look here-you can't get awcy with this 1 - said Bob desperat^ August 20tli, 193i,