Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

I Every Tuesday a dozen guiimeii to keep tliiit rock.y entrance clear of ajiy live enemy. The truth was a grim reminder of the difficulties of his task. Outside tliere was Bauty, who could get the boys from the ranch just when thoy were wanted. But what could tlicy do? There was not the remotest chancL- of their coming into Uhost City—they would be blown otf the face of the earth long before they could reiich the rocky entrance. Whatever had to be done would hare to be done inside ttie (Jliost City, and just what was possible there Tom Lang- don had not the faintest notion. It all seemed so utterly hopeless, and Tom remembered that expression in Bess" cyi s. It was justified. But Toin would not give up hope. Tiiere was Bi-.ss to think about, and his promise to take her away when he went. That promi.se was going to be kept, so long as Tom Langdou had life to work. He went to bed that night thinking only of Bess and the fact that he was just ;is nuK h a prisoner as was she. He would never get away now, unless tlic whole gang went with Jiim. And one against Kaymer's bunch of desperadoes v^ere i)r('tty tcuigh odds against succe.'^s. The moriiing came at last, and within a couple of hours of .-uniise Raymer suuiuioned the gang and heiided the way out to the plain.' Xo one s}K)ke during the short ride to tlie main trail, and it was only when tlioy had pulled up that Raymer gave out tfie plan of campaign. He split the gang up into groups, and sent them to vantage pdinfs along the tlail, so that when the bullicri wagon came to a given spot. Raynicr's men would be able to ride on to the trail and entirely surround both wagon and escort. " Keep well down under cover of the Iriishes along the trail, boys," .said Riiymer. "Fll be out first, right at the drivers head, and see that the escort i^ knowing you're all round, boys. Get out —and watch for me ! Stranger, guess you can take that bush their to my light." "Okay," said Tom. and rode off to the bush Raviner in- dicated. Here he dismounted and tied up h i s horsi.^. But he did not slip down behind the busli as Rayuiev expected that he w o II Id. H « ran oautiously into the thicker undergrowth, w'aited a few seconds to make sure he was neither seen n o i- heard, and then ]>lace<l his fingers to his lips and gave vent to a low whistle. " Tm here, Tom !" came in an almost instantaneous whispe;- from just ahead, and the Inishes parted to reveal Banty. "Ban t y. they're holding up a bullicn wagon," said Tom quickly. "When it comes along, Raymer is going to rido out as a signal. Soon iis you see him. take a sj^iot at somebody's ha't and ."icarc 'em ! BOY'S CINEMA Theii shp back and warn the Ixiys. Tell 'em to come right handy to Uhost City, and be ready tor a shoot up!" "Right. \\"hat's the signal to be?" asked Banty eagerly. "Tell em not to take notice of firing —there's going to be plenty of thai .soon, I guess, and there may be no need for the boys to come in at all," whis- pered Tom, and started suddenly. "Theres the wagon rumblin' along tlie trail, Banty. Listen. Til send my tiorse out on the valley. He'll pick up the boys, and if they turn him hell come right back to me. I must get off !" He went without another word, back to the bush where he had left his horse, and drew his gun. His heart beat fast as he saw the wagon coming along the trail, with its unsuspecting escort idly rising and fall- ing in their sjiddles to the motion of their horses. For the first time in his life he knew what it was to take part in a hold-up. It would have been a thrilling sensa- tion were it not for the fact that he had fears for the lives of the wagon driver and his escort. Raymer was ruthless, relentless—there would be no prisoners. Everything depended upon what happened when Banty took his pot- shot. The wagon passed Torn, and rolled on ihto the verj' centre of the ambush so innocently that Tom had to put up a terrific figlit not to shout out a warning. The driver was half dozing in his seat, and the escort were singing a range chorus with all tlie lightheartcdness that was one of the glories of Western life. Yet they were within inches of death ! Suddenly a horse's hoof clattered on the trail—Raymer was out. "Get "em up—you're surrounded I" he rapped out. Instantly, from all around, came riders. guns in their hands which n the sunlight. And only ;i 19 fraction of a second behind Raymer'* signal came the sound of a gun siiot, and a bullet shrieked tluough his hat. Tom grinned, and slipped a few yards towards the gang leader. The escort and the driver, wakened into desperate life, took advantiage of the immediate confusion caused by Banty's shot, whipped iip the hors<-8, and made a dash for their lives. It was then that Tom spotted Nevada, and he began a noiseles^ crawl tow aids Raymer's chief gangster. Nevada had not ridden out, and was not therefore looking for signs of the ciicrny who had started the shooting. He was, in fact, the only gangster who made the slightest attempt to stop the runaway wagon. He got his guij levelled on to the leading horse. But his finger never pulled the trigger that day. Tom twirled his own gun and brought down the butt with a crash on the side of Nevada's hc^ad. The gangster went down into a pit of black- ness without knowing what had liit him. Tom had a moment then to look around. Raymer and his men were rid- ing pell-mell for cover of the bushes, shooting right and left in the bare hopo of getting at least a few of the lueu they believed surrounded them.' And the deep rumble of the wagon wheels grew less and less as fho whipped-up horses drew it at amazing pace away from Ghost City. Once the trail was empty there was siill no sign of Raymer's enemy. He lodc out at last, boldly determined to draw the enemy's fire, but no shot came his way. "All right—come out, boys.!" bo sliouted, and it was curious how ho managed to get a snail into such a loud pitch. The men came out of their hidjof^- placcs, guns still in their hands, their eyes blitzing with anger and wonder. Nevada fairly staggered out, rubbing ;^ huge bump on liis head as though ho thought he could leuiove the pain of it with his fingers. "What haiipeiud, boys?" dciuanded Raymer fiercely. ■' I don't know, bcss. but sonielxnly shot my gun out of my hand just as I had the draw on the driver," groulcd a bearded gangster. "What's tlie matter with you, Nevada?' was Raymer's ue.\i fierce question. "I gotta whack on my head—with a gun-butt, I guess 1" snarled Nevada. "I'd sure like a t;ilk with the guy who did it!" "Where's the stranger?" fuiin d Ray- mer. "If that guy ■" He broke off. Tom Lanj-'den was iggeriiig down the triiil from the bush In order to avoid a stranglehold, Tom kicked out with his right leg to beat back his man. Sf'ptciubtr jth, 19S1+;.