Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

20 towards Uie moiiiilains, in the midst of the aimed party of gangsters. From time to time they looked back, hoping to see Brad Farley and his boys in pursuit, but in vain. The plain was empty of horsemen, save for the gun- men, and the girls almost gave way to despair. Wlien the party approached the mountains Kedge Darvis came up to Sue. "You'll lead the way to Pine Creek now," he said sternly. "And supp<jse I say I won't?" retorted Sue defiantly. "Then you'll stay here, with several bullet holes tlirough you!" snarled Darvis angrily. "You know me by now. I ain't playing. You'll show us the way, or I'll drill you—both of you," he added, turning to Hampsey Dell, who shrieked with fear. Sue looked the gang-leader straight in the face, and his eyes could not meet her fearless glance. "You cowardly hound," she said in a low voice of concentrated ecorn, "to threaten two helpless women!" "Maybe!" muttered Darvis. "Are you going to lead the way, or must 1 fchoot ?" "I don't want to die just yet," said Sue, "especially at the hands of a cowardly murderer like you. I'll show you the way to Pine Creek, and I hope you'll like the journey!" Sue and Hampsey were sent to the front of the party, and they led the waj' into a long, narrow mountain gorge which wound up and up into the heart of tile hills. Darvis looked round appre- hensively as they went on, for the gorge seemed the very jjlace for an ambush, as Sue very well knew when she agreed to go on. But there was as yet no sign of an enemy, and Kedge Darvis began to congratulate himself on having made a smart getaway. In Chase. BRAD FARLEY and his boys were just turning their horses to ride ofT to Vancey Ranch when a man on horseback came galloping furiously up. "Say, stop a minute!" he yelled. "One of the gangsters gave me this note, and told me to bring it along. You'd better read it before 30U start." Brad Farley took the note, opened it, atid read aloud : "'To any rube whom it may concern. If we get to the city the ladies will come hack safe. If not—you may say it with flowers.' " "They've taken Sue and Hamp.sey with 'em as hostages, and as a protec- tion against bullets into the bargain, the low skunks!" growled Brad wrathfully. "I'd sure fill that jasper Dar\is with lead!" cried Stub Wallock, his face lengthening as he thought of Hampsey's danger. "Sure I would—if I knew where he was!" "I figure they're making for Pine (^reek across the mountains," said Brad thoughtfully. "I supjjose they reckon to get on a train there. They won't come down into Bunsen. Still, you folk ','nard the station, just to make sure, and we'll go off and try to catch 'cm in the mountains." A po.sse of townsfolk was at once formed to guard the station, quite an unnecessary move, as it jiroved, while llrad and the cowboys set ofi" at a gallop across the jilain. Before a mile had been (overed the young leadei- threw up his hand, and the men drew rein. "Stub." he ciicd, "take half the men down to Ilorton's corral, and bring up fliat lot of mustangs we left there this rnorning. You'll find me along the Sfl)tpml)(>r 12tli. 10^1. BOY'S CINEMA A Grand New Annual Gripping Film Stories and Pictures l_JERE'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 WelU 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 At all Newsasents ^^ I^ and Booksellers ^J / ' net Every Tuesday gorge—you know the old track that comes down into it half-way. We'll get there before 'em if we hurry, and so will you, too, I reckon. These guys will make a slow journey—they can't ride — they just sit on horseback." "Okay, chief!" replied Stub, and he went off at once with half the men o'l his errand, while Brad rode on with thi remainder, and in due course took the old track over the mountains, hoping to intercept the gangsters when tho track led down into the gorge. Meanwhile the gunmen were making very heavy weather as they slowly ami painfully pursued their way along tho gorge. The road was rough, and tha gangsters were unaccustomed to hor.sej. They were soon reduced to a walking pace, and even that was a labour and .sorrow to most of them. Suddenly a loud rumbling, followed by a crash, made all the gunmen jump. "What's that?" howled one. "Just a rock!" growled Darvn. "Don't get scared because a rock rolU down the hill." "What made it roll down?" gasped a gangster, looking fearfully round. "What d'you mean?" snarled Darvi.s. "Ir just fell, I reckon. There's another " A second loud crash just behind the last of the party sent the gunmen scurry- ing forward in fear. They looked in affright at the sides of the gorge, but no one was to be seen there, and no more rocks moved as Darvis and his men, went on. Yet, though Darvis did not suspect it, Brad Farlcv and Stub Wallock wero concealed behind some rocks on tlia mountainside. They had got ahead of the gangsters, and had sent off some of tho men with instructions nbout the mustangs which Stub had brought i^p- Other cowboys were scattered here and there among the rocks, watching tho gunmen until Brad gave tho signal to attack. "That's scared 'cm,'" grinned Brad, a.-i the rock he had pushed down foil at: the rear of the gangsters' line. " We'll wait until the boys bring up the mu.s- tangs, and then we'll catch Darvis on that steep slope, half a mile down." "They'll shoot the women," said Stub dolefully. "Not they!" cried Brad, "This is oui- country, and we'll sure give 'om something to think about. And I've told Tack Gillup what to do about the girls," The gangsters went on cautiously, niid presently Sue and Hampsey. still in t.ho load, saw a steep slope in front. Down it the gunmen wont, more slowly than over, trying to niako the horses pick Ihcir way amongst tho stones. The twn girls, looking back, choked with silent iaughtor as they saw the doleful faces of the uncomfortable riders, mo.st of whom sat their horses as though thoy were afraid every moment of being thrown offT " Say. I reckon you'd bo more coni- fortabio in a car." said Hampsey to Darvis. who was riding just behind her. "You shut your mouth!" gro\ylo(I Dnrvis, looking enviously at the two girls, who wore managing (heir horses «ith perfect case. "If I can't ride 1 can shoot, so don't you try to rim oft " "Oh. no," grinned Hampsey, "11 sooner stay and watch you try to rido. \ ir.s .^o funny ft makes mo laugh." ^ Darvis. with a vicious oath, raised his liand to strike the girl, but « frantic yell from behind made him (urn. "Wild horses! Lookout there!" Comifig down the slope at a furioua g:illop. tlic gangsters saw a herd of mustangs, riderless and wild, snortinj^ (Continued on page 26.)