Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

nvery Tuesday BOY'S CINEMA 13 Eastern gunmen, in the guise of capitalists, come to a Western ranch. Within a fevi^ weeks the finding of gold starts a war between the gunmen and a band of fearles^ men of the plains. Welcome to Bunsen ! AN express train roared its w.iy across the plateau of Wyoming, on its long journey to Seattle in tiic far nortli-west of the United States. Around a table in one carriage sat five men, well-dressed «nd, to all appear- ance, prosperous citizens of that great nation which stretches across America fioin Atlantic to Pacific. A tall, stern- looking man. about thirty-five years of nge, was obviously the most important member of the party, and the others paid marked attention to eveiything he said. "Seen this, boys?" lie remarked. " Listen !" From a newspaper in his hand ho began to read. ""Clang War Rages! Kedge Darvis, New King of the Underworld. His chief riv^al shot dcMd. Where are our l>olice ?' "That's the m.o^t important news of the day. And the edilor hands it out to the police good and strong." Tlie company laughed heartily, for the man who had read the glaring headlines from the newspaper was Kedge Darvis himself, and the others were the chief members of his gang. "Just .is well we moved out for a while." said "Spot " Skee. Kedgo's right-hand man. "I reckon the excite- ment will be all over in a week or two, and, anyway, the cop.s won't put ycu in the chair this time." "Me? You mean yourself. T guess. Spot," remarked Darvis. "You shot him." "Anything you say. Kedge." grinned '. Spot. "I shot him. if you say so I" "Can all that !" snapped Darvis. taking up another new.spaper. "Now, boys, see here—an advertisement from the leuling citizens of (he rising city of Bunsen. Idaho. lOver heard of IJunsen?" "No!" cried the gangsters in chorus. "Nor 1."' said Darvis. "It's one of those little places in the West they try to boost as great cities. I reckon." "Well, what about it?"' aisked Spot. "The advertisement says the citizens of Bunsen will welcome visitors, and will givo concessions to capitalists. Now. that's us !" "But wo ain't capitalists, Kedge!" [)rotested a gangster. "We are capitalists, if I say ?,> !" snapped Darvis, glaring angrily at his followers. "Okay, Kedge," said Spot. "We're capitalists, sure, and what next?" "I'm sending a telegram from the next station to the Mayor of Binisen, saying that Darvis and friends, capi- talists from the East, will arrive in hin city this evening. We'll spend our \a(a- tion there." "Think they'll have heard vour name?" asked a gangster doubtfully. "Heard my name? Heard of any- thing that's goitig on outside their own comity, or tlie State of Idaho at the most? Not they ! You don't know these Western States—they're out of date. Never heard the word gangster, very likely. Yon boys will be quite the ' gentlemen from the East ' till I give the word." "We may find nothing worth doing in a place like that," remarked Spot. "Sure we may. Then we can go back East when the excitement there is ever, can't we? But even Bunsen will have a bank nnd a few rich men. And 1 figure that Bunsen will want more capital when we've gone tlian it did before we came !" The gangsters grinned at the idea of opening the eyes of the poor mutts at Bunsen, and Darvis duly sent his tele- gram when the train stopped again. I'he result of that message over t!ie wires surprised even him, for when, some hours later, the train drew up ;it Bunsen. the town was ipparenily cti fete. I'lags and streamers decorated the station, and seemingly the whole popti- lation of Bunsen had assembled there. Darvis got out and looked uncon- cernedly at the crowd. His followers giinned openly, until a sharp look f.oni their leader set their faces into a look of rigid solemnity, just as John K. Ilortoii. the Mayor of Bunsen, came forward to greet the "capitalists" fiom the East. "Mr. Darvis?" he inquired. "Wel- come to the city of Bunsen." They shook hands, and a little girl came up with a bunch of flowers. "I—I " she stammered nervouslv. "Well—here's some flowers for you!" Darvis took the bouquet amidst the irrepressible grins of his men, and the mayor then formed a procession to escort the distinguif^ied \isltors ;o the hotel. The town band led the w.-.y, playing with great strength and vigour. 'I'here was more drum than anything else, certainly, for the burly citizen wlio carried the drum seemed to think I.is instrument the most important of ioll. The cornet i)layer, too. was a bar be- hind everyone else most of the time, but the intention was good if Uie result was poor. Kedge Darvis marched solemnly alona; with the mayor, and the four gang- sters followed, trying their best to look like "caiiitalisis " from the East. Soon the company arrived at the hotel, aud the mayor led Darvis and his men up the stejis and began to introduce thetii to the chief citizens of Bunsen. "This is Mi.ss Vancey," .said he pre- .st>ntly. bringing forward a verv pretty' ,Sp|>teml.c-r 12tii, 10.31.