Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

20 u 111, re he h;id been placed, his hat in his hiirul, and his other hand engaged in rubbing his head. "What's the big idea, boss?" he asked truculently. "I got a crash on iiiv head witli a gun-butt, and I don't like it ! Did that bullion driver have some pals out there, or what?" Raymcr did not answer. He just stared hard at Tom for a moment, and then gazed up tl^p trail along which tlie bullion wagon hud disappeared. "I'd like to have a chat with the guy who bashed me!" said Nevada viciou.sly, and shot a vengeful, sus- picious glance at Tom that made that worthy instantly aware of the fact that here was an enemy who might prove move troublesome than Raymer him- self- "Well, it's no good talking here, snapped Raymer. '.'Get your horses, boys, and let's be going." And the party he led back to Ghost City was surely the most silent and nioro.se gang of bandits the West had ever known. Only one of them could lind it in him to raise a faint smile. That was Tom Ijangdon. The first blow against Raymer had been struck, and Tom had won. It promised well for the future, a future into which it was just as well for Tom that he cpuld not see. The Court Sits. MIXUTES before Kurt Raymer went into his headquarters the whole of Ghost City knew that the raid had failed dismally. The surly attitude nf the whole bunch fairly shrieked the news. Bess and Rose, watching from their doorway, knew it instantly, and a worried frown corrugat-ed Bes.?' brows. "If there's been a failure, they might blame the stranger," she said uneasily. "They might. What of it?" de- manded Rose. Bess did not an.swer in words. She just flushed a glorious red, and dropped lier eyes. For a moment Rose stared. Then she understood, and for onre there was just a trickle of a smile at the corners of her lips. "If it's like that, I'll have a word with the stranger," she said in tones of the most reluctant resignation. "They won't get busy until they have had a drink to drown their sorrows, and some of them look as though they'll want the whole saloon to do that." Bess smiled. Rose was such a wonder- ful good sort, in spite of her blunt way of speaking. They we-e still at the doorway when Tom Langdon strolled by. to give them a cool, smiling glance that spoke of the world's confidence. "Young man, Kurt Raymer is the Laramie Kid, so look out !" said Rose, in an undertone and scarcely moving her lips. Be.ss .started, but even she did not miss the sudden tightening of Tom's fist and the sudden glint in his eyes. He passed on as lazily as he had approached, and did not even turn his head to see if it were possible to thank Rase for her help. ••'But his mind was busy. It was flam- ing with resolution. Plans had to be altered now. Raymer was the liaramie Kid, the man who alone could save old Lafe Langdon from the grim penalty the law would demand for the murder of Jim Halliday. A dozen plans were formed and cast aside in (he next hour or two, and Tom liegan to get really anxious. ' Hcplomber 51 li, 1931." BOY'S CINEMA A Grand New Annual Gripping Film Stories and Pictures 1— lERE'S a topping gift book that will make a big hit with every boy—a world of ad- venture in pictures and stories— that's what you'll find in the BOY'S CINEMA ANNUAL, the splendid new film story book. Here you will find pages and pages of gripping film stories, numerous pictorial articles which tell you all about such interesting subjects as Film Making, Life Stories of Well- Known Film Stars, Filming Wild Animals, Sports and Pas- times,and the Big Pictures of the moment. There are also three beautiful coloured plates and sixteen plates of famous film stars. If you want a tip-top gift for yourself or for a friend—the BOY'S CINEMA ANNUAL is the very book to choose. BOYS CINEMA ANNUAL Al all Newsagents ^^ / and Booksellers ^^J j ^ net Every Tuesday Ghost City was so impregnable. Therf appeared absolutely no way of getting in the boys or of himself getting out alone, without taking into consideratiou how much less his chances were of per- suading Raymer to leave with him at the end of a gun. His concentration was intormptcd by Nevada, who came up to him with a glint in his eye that spelt trouble. "Raymer wants you at headquarters." he growled. "Tell anybody else you meet up with. And look lively, stranger. Raymer doesn't like being kept waiting." Tom nodded calmly and moved off at once. Ho saw half a dozen othcr.s moving in the same direction and mora were coming in from the other side of the town. Boss and Rose, coming to the door to see the cause of the rattle of so many boots, looked on with bated breath. "Kurt Raymer is holding a court." said Rose tonelessly. "That means death for someone." "You—you think it " breathed Bess. "That young man looks as though he can take care of himself," muttered Rose. "Slip down to the corral, Bess, and have some horses ready. Likely as not there will be a running fight." Boss slipped off just as the last of the gang went in the wooden head- quarters and closed the door. To say that there was a tense atmos- phere in that room was to put it loo mildly. A long table had been set straight across the room, and Raymer's men as they came took their seats at the table without so much as a single word Raymer himself stood at the head of the table, and Tom found himself being edged to the seat at the foot. The door was closed, and there was utter and complete silence in the room for a full minute while Raymer sur.- vcyed them with his beady, cunning eyes. "I'll have to ask you for your gun, stranger!" he said at last, and his words were so sudden that they came like pistol shots through the silence. Tom drew his gun and pushed it on to the table. In a moment half a dozen hands had pushed it until it was right up in front of Raymer. "There's a spy in our camp," re- sumed Raymer, and his tone was icy, menacing, bitter. "I'm listening for a name, boys." No one answered. None turned a head save Nevada, who gave Tom Langdon one piercing glance. Tom re- turned the glance coldly, and then used his eyes for a much more useful pur- pose. He was measuring the distance his hand would have to cover to get at the gun which was sticking out from the holster of the gangster next to liim. "Well, if there is no talking, I've a way of making someone talk!" said Raymer in the same tones. "Get that prisoner in. Slim." Tom nearly started then. The prisoner could only mean Banty. Not a word was spoken whilst Slitn went out, but Tom's mind was in a turmoil. If the prisoner was indeed Banty, one glance of recognition as he was brought in would spill all the beans. He waited, outwardly calm, but seething inwardly. The door opened. Banty camo in, with two guns sticking at his back. But he.was cool and collected as if ho were drawing his pay-roll way back on the ranch. ^ (Continued on page 25.) I a! f