Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

Every Tuesday A tale of outlaws of the sea BOY'S CINEMA -priceless pearls—a cannibal island—and of a fought for her hero. 21 girl who V m Stfirring niCIIAKIf AHLES /< ami FAV UHAy. A Crazy Gamble. ALONG, brilliant Ixaeti of smooth white s;iiul : a coral leof, ciicir- chtig the whole coast; a fringe of low iaixl hejoiid the beach, covered with orange, banana, l)read-friiit, and coco- nut trees; patches of cultivated ground hero and tliere, where pineapples and yams were grown ; little w inding pa,ths. delightfully cool from the shade of the tropical vegetatioii. loa<ling to houses scattered atnoiig^. the trots. Such was Icep;ia, a lovely island in the great Pacific Ocean. Pliillip Barker, nicknamed "Pink " by his fricntls, guided his schooner, the (Jeneral Grant, tinough the only open- ing in the reef to the anchorage within the lagoon. Pink was .a tall, handsome \oung fellow, full of health and \ igour. He had made a successful voyage, and when he landed with '■ Square Deal " McCarthy, his mate, he was in a reckless mood. "Como to the ;^aloon. Square." he cried. "All the drinks are on mo to- nighi." "Go slow- on the drinks," warned tlio mate, a thick-set, good-natured sailor, with a rcputatioM for honi'-;fy which liad earned tiiin his ;iicknnme. "Remember the last time I" "Cut it out, boy!" retorted Pink as they entered the saloon. " I don't wanna remembi:r the last time." He ordered drinks all round, and was .«con recounting the story of his voyage' to the company. Presently his chief rival, a shifty-looking tr.ider named Schultz, not/)rioas for unscrupulous deal ing, came up to the table and sat down. "Have a drink, .Schultz," cried Pink jovially. "It's on me!" "Had a good voyage?" asked Schultz lis lie drank. "Sure! Best I've ever made," replied Pink. "Look at that, boy!" He fetthed out a handful of notes and slapped them down on the table reck- lessly. "If you're as flush as all that," said Schultz, his eyes narrowing, "what d'you say to a game ? I can't cover that lot, but I'll go as near as I can." He, too, planked down a wad of notes, and soon the two traders were engaged at dice. Pink drank heavily, and grew more and more excited, while his rival kept dangtMOUsly cool. Square Deal looked on helplessly, knowing that it would be useless to interfere, though his voung captain lost steadily from the start. "Hard luck 1" said Schultz presently as he drew Pink's last notes across the table. "You young fool!" cried McCarthy viciousl.v. " Come on out of tliis!" "I ain't finished yet," exclaimed Pink wildly, taking a pearl necklace from his pocket. "I'll stake this against the lot. It's worth more, anyway. Here goes I" He tlirew a si.K and a five, and laughed jubilantly as the dice fell. Schidtz eyed him coolly, and shook up the dice with greiit deliberation. "Double six," he remarked calmly. "That's lucky! I wanted to give some- one a present. Girl you know, I believe." he went on, taking the neck- lace. " Daisy !" "You'll give that necklace to Daisy?" howled Pink, staggering to his feet and glarijig angrily at his rival. "You won't dare !" "Sure I v.ill.'' _ grinned Schultz. "What's it to you if I do? She'.s through with yo'i since that drinking bout of yours last time." "Come out of it, I tell you!" cried McCarthy, gripping his captain by the arm. "You leave me alone!" shouted Pink .ingiil_\ "I ain't done with this skunk \et. He'- got my cash, he's got my gul, but he .iin't got iny boat. I'll ri.ce my boat against yoius, Schultz—winner to take both.'' For a moment Schultz hesitated, but all the men in the saloon were looking questioningly at him, and he finally .ucepted the ehalleuge. the race.to take p'ace that afternoou. '-ome hours later the whole population of the island crowded down to the beach to watch the stait. The race w-as to be over a course of twenty miles, and Pink's luck seemed to have turned at last. The General Grant got better away, and sailed out beyond the reef well ahead. "My luck's in this time." exulted Puik as he watched the President, his rival's schooner. "We've just got a slant of wind. an<l he's missed it." The breeze was very light and fitfcd, and for a while both boats made slow progress, but the General Grant gradu- ally increased iu'r lead. Wlicu half tho course was covered she was a good Iwo miles ahead. "Canoe on tlii> «tiirlioard bow!" eiied the helmsnian suddeidy. "Never mind. Abe," said Pjnk. "Keep her on ihc eour.sc." "There's a man in it," exelaimi^ Square Deal presently. "He ain't dead. I s;iw him move, but he's all out, 1 reckon. You going to pick hiin up?" "No," said the \oing captain shortly. "We'll lose if I d.o." They went on for a few minutes more, while Pink watched the canoe and bis rival alternately through his glass. "Might just do it," he muttered at lenglli, afti-i- a last long look at tho President. .\nothfr niinurc wout by, and then the captain's voice rang out: "Keep her away for tliat canoe, Abe!" "Aye, aye, sir!" replied the helms- man, altering course. In twenty min\itc^ tho Gener.il Grant came up with the canoe, and its occu- pant, a htunan derelict, thin, haggard, and starving, was hastily hauled aboanl. This act of humaiiity cost Pitik the race, for the President get home first by a few minutes. .\s the General Grant drew in to the haibour the rescued man, now somewhat recovered, staggered op to Pink, who had not yet spoken to hinfi. "Say, boss, must 'hank vou for saving Septeinber 6tb, 163i,