Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

Every Tuesday Yolli- ui.d shouts bioko out—paiide niouium was let loose. Those who ht^d backed Six-Shooter were almost hysteii- cal at tlie niiravie, whilst those who had backed Rosedawn and The Wasp were wild with rage. And Buddy when he stood before the stewards was smiling. He had cased his own conscience, saved I'op Blake and Sleepy Jones, and smashed Wally .Webcr. " What explanation have you to offer of your extraordinary riding, Doyle?" demanded the judge. "You pulled Kofc- dawn to last place and then acted like a madman. Whv were you shouting ' W'hoop-te-do !' "?" Buddy Doyle made only one answer to every question: "I have nothing to say about my rid:ng." " Youre suspended for a year. Doyle," the judge rapped o\it his verdict. Di.sgraced but with head held high. Buddy Doyle passed through a crowd wlio wanted, in most cases, to lynch liim. - A girl tried to get through, but the press was too much. B>iddy Doyle left Kentucky on the brake rods of a southern express. The Price of Dishonour. THERE are many towns known by the name of Wellington in the States, but this* was a small cow- town in Southern California. Its chief claim to any importance was the race- course, where cowpunchers and others came from miles around to enjoy the sport. Favourites had a strange habit of fail- ing at the.se meetmgs. and it was not always the fault of the horses. The ridin'fr of nuuiy of the jockeys was very questionable. One morning in late summer, two months after the sensational Cold Cup. a thiit man in flash clothes and straw liat louiiged against the rails. His weather-tanned, lined face gave his age at fiftv ; the eyes behind the bushy eye- brows" were very much alive. Clarence Hardwick was known on many race- courses as the Dude, and he earned hi? living by gi\ing tips. One could learn tips "froni strange quarters out in the West, and the Dude found he .could make more money than on the bigge courses. Thoughtfiillv he cliiued and wondered whetlui the information he had got for thiee dollar^ from " ckirkie stabli hand was going to prove good. Unless oiu _ could find at lea.st one ^, winner it was better to hit the trail befoi some of the mob starti I getting fresh. Out of the corner ( t his eyes lie saw a figuic fme round a biiildin,' Hcing would not strut for another two lioui^ ond he wondered who the stranger might In Was it a rival snoop ing round after lu formation? t The stranger wiis i young man, but tin features loioked pale 'and wan. whilst the grey serge suit was dusty and almost threadbare iti parts, the open white shirt was not too clean, and there Vras no hat to the mop t>t curly hair. Suddenly the Dude stiff enod because liis ■.tia« BOY'S CINEMA keen memory for hite^ told him who the stranger nright. be—a jockey who had once given him sound information. '■'Morning," drawled the Dude, keep- ing his hat over his eyes. "You look- ing for a job ?" "'Morning." was the reply. "I'm riding Aircraft in the second race." "Know my face?" The Dude took off his hat. "Remember the tipster you helped at Boston, Doyle?" The tattered figure started and glared at the Dude. '■ Shush! Not that name here!" he cried. "My name is O'Burn." "That's okay with me—O'Burn." The Dude gripped the jockey's hand. "So \ou'rc riding Aircraft—Hagan's nag! Hum I How have things been going, lad ?" 'Reckon you can guess how l>ad. Dude. " Buddy looked as if he needed a square meal. "You get put up for a trial, and the', want to hire you on the spot, but when you sax jour name that's tile end. My face seems to be kinda familiar, and there's always some skate ready fo recognise me even when I use another name. Reckon no one will know me down iiere." " You're CI'Burn to me." The Dude smiled, then frowned. "Charles Hagan ain't a sportsman that I kinda want to kiss. Watch! Pipe down, son, here comes Hasan." A big. burly fellow in a tweed sports coat and wearing a black trilby hat strolled towards tiiem. His thumbs were in the armholes of his waistcoat, and a big cigar was stuck aggressively from the corner of his mouth, wliil'-t a heavy gold chain across the waistcoat did nothiiig to impress a person in Hagan's favour. He nodded to both men. stroked his heavy, clean-shaven jaw, and half closed one eyelitl. "A word with you. O'Burn." He took the jockey's arm and led him just out of earshot. "Wanta talk about that horse of mine. Aircraft. I was hoping that tlie nag would start at sixes, but some mutt has tipped my horse, and the colt's at evens. Danged annoying whr'U th<' stal)li' .-lin't got their moiie\ 13 on ! The secOTid favourite is Water Wings, and if Aircraft don't win that'.s a cert., and the price is fives. I'm back- ing Water Wings." "I don't quite get the idea." Buddy looked .it the big man in perplexity. "If Aircraft don't win to-day, it may win somewhere else," was the reply, accompanied by a heavy wink. "And it will win at long odds. That suits me. Now do you get the idea?" '■ You don't want Aircraft to w in ?" "That's the scheme." The mati lowered liis voice. "See that my hor.so don't win. and vou'ro on a hundred bucks and the chance to ride Aircraft next time out. Is it a bet?" "You want .'lie to pull Aircraft?" Buddy spoke througli gritted teeth. The Dude tdgxl closer, as he was good at smelling trouble. "Yeah. But not so loud." "I'm not doing any pulling for aiiy- bod\." raged the jockey. "If I ride Aircraft. I ride it to win." "Oh, is that so?'" Hagan removed his cigar. "I should have thought that yon were prettv good at pulling horses— Doyle !" So he had bee!i ix cognised again, and the price of silence was dirty riding. Rather would Buddy starve. " You dirty trickster 1" The youngster lost his temper. " You can't blackmail me into pulling xour horse. Skunks liko ,\ou oughtn't 'o be allowed on a race- course I" "You impoitinent young rogue!" roared the big man. "You dare to call me names, and all the world knows how voi! pulled Rosi'dawu in the Gold Cup. got a thousand buiks for doing it, and y. "You're a liar!" screamed Budd clenching his fist>. The raised voice> had attracted atten- tion, and curiou> folk slowly approached. Stable lads, trainers, hangers-on. and. by bad luck, one of the officials. "I'll knock you stiff!" raged Hagan, who was a notorious bully. "Then take that as a start!" Buddy hit the big man slap on the point of the jaw. Tli'^ Mnu .III 1 )r huit \ei\ much but Hagan drew back his right hand to strike Buddy. The Dude push- ed in between them. SeDtember 5lli, 1931.