Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

u lo her feet and came over to Piccardi. "Hut, Picoardi, Big Boy's a friend of iiiinc. I couldn't " "That's just it. Lita." The gangster tauglit at the girl's arms and squeezed I hem affectionately, smiling down into her pretty face. "Big Boy's a friend of yoius. That makes your task easier." "Bi.it, Piccardi " " Now, now, Lita, you know where jour bread's buttered. Big Boy's never i given you the clothes and the handsoine Ijroscnts I've given you, has he?" Pic- cardi's smile vanished suddenly, aad again his' face took on a vicious ex- pression. "Just you forget him, Lita, ;'nd do what you're told. There's a lot in it for you, if you do, but if you defy :ne " Ho did not finish, but shrugged his shoulders expressively, causing the girl to shudder. But quickly mastering the tear that had invaded her soul, she smiled up at him and nodded. 'Very well, Piccardi," she said in a steady voice. "What is it you want me to do?'' . . While plans were being made in that room at the Blue Dragon to put Big Boy "on the spot," in another such well-appointed apartment, in a house on Fourteenth Street, there sat a man, fast asleep, his head resting on liis arms, which were, sprawled upon the table before him. A thick-set man, with huge shoulders, heavy features, and l-.air that was fast thinning and turning grey. Undisturbed he slept till, in the region of seven in the morning, foot- steps descended the stairs from the floor above, and there came into the draw- ing-room a well-built and not bad- looking youngster, with dark curly hair and clear brown eyes. At sight of the sleeping man, he whistled in amaze- nient, then went across to him. took him by the shoulders and shook him. "What tho Hades!" The sleeper started np in alarm, his hand going in- eiinctivoly to his jacket pocket. But next second it dropped to his side as he becamo aware of his surroundings, recognised the boy gazing down at him so curiously. "Oh, it's you, Roy! Jove, but you gave mc quite a start." He got to his feet, stretched his cramped limbs, then went and sat down in an armchair beside the empty grate. For a moment or two there was silence, then Roy Smith seated liimself ill tlio chair on tho opposite side of the fireplace and gazed across at the thick- srt man with a wistful expression in his eyes. " Was it necessary to sleep down here all night, Howard?" he said reproach- fully. "Well, no." The big man smiled and shvuggetl his shoulders. "But you see, kid, I was exceptionally late home, and I didn't want to disturb you when 1 caiiie in. Extra work. A darned nuis- UTicc, but it couldn't be helped." "But it's knocking you up, old man." A worried frown settled on Roy's brow. "And it's all my fault. Howard, you're too darned good to mc. My brother, but father and mother to mc as well. No, no, you can't deny it. Ever since tiio old folk died, you've looked after mo and kept me, working yourself almost to breaking point. Oh, but if only I could end all that—give you a chanco to ease down. But I don't seem t-> lijavc the least opportunity to " "That's all right, Roy," his brother broke in soothingly. "You do your best I know. No fault of yours that the paper doesn't pny you more than ten dollars A week. A measly wage, but I 'suppose, with its poor circulation, it can't go to more." Sciitenibor 2Ctti, 1031. BOY'S CINEMA "That's because of tho dud reporters we've got. They never bring iu any- tliing worth while—they haven't the guts to go out for the big stories. Why, when Miller had' tho chanco to " Roy suddenly sprang to his feet, a de- termined light flashing into his eyes. " But hang Miller ! Howard, I tell you I'm Jioc going to stick in a groove—re- main a proof reader and junior sub. all my life. I'm going to do something big, forgo them to give me a better wage. And I'll set! Mr. Jackson as soon as 1 get to tho ollice this morning, and ask him to let mc go out after news. Gang stuff. There's Picoardi and the fellow thev call Big Boy to be exposed, and I'll—^" Howard Smith started violently and half rose from Jiis chair. Tlien sank back in it again as he saw the curious look his younger brother gave liim. With an effort he summoned up a smile. "Gee, kid, you go easy," ho said in a somewhat strained voice. "I admire your pluck, your determination to do something worth while, but I'd rather work till I dropped than have you run yourself into danger for the sake of a few more bucks. And let me tell you there is real danger for anyone who noses into the affairs of such crooks as Piccardi and this fellow Big Boy." "But, Howard," protested Roy glumly, "I—I " "Forget it, kid." There was a note of appeal in Howard's voice now. "You stick to inside work. Sooner or later your chance will come." He rose wearily to his feet, came over and patted his brother affectionately oa the shoulder, then went from, the room, quite sure that Roy would take his advice as ho fiad been wont to do iu the past. But in this belief, Howard Smith was wrong, for Roy was grimly resolved that nothing should stop him from making headway on the " Daily Bulletin," and his own experience on the paper told him that the quickest way to do this was to become a news-hound, as reporters were popularly called. Revenge! OBSESSED with the resolve, Roy was all eager to ask Mr. Jackson, the managmg editor of tho "Daily Bulletin," to allow him to transfer to the outside staff. But Mr. Jackson did not put in an appearance at the office that morning and so Roy sat at his desk fuming with impatience—and he fumed all the more when the news came of the previous night's raid on a lorry of illicit liquor that belonged to Piccardi, the racketeer. Big Boy they said had held it up and run off with it and Roy simply itched to go out and try his hand at fathoming the mystery of Big Boy's identity. Who was this sinister racketeer and gunman ? If only he could get his life''S history for tho "Bulletin," Roy knew that he would be made. Afternoon came and still no Mr. Jack- .son. Five o'clock, and Roy was due to leave. And then, just as he was thinking it was useless to hang on la moment longer, the editor caiiie. in and with a casual nod to the staff went over to his desk and sat-down. Roy allowed a few minutes to elapse and then sum- nioning his courage, he approached the big man's desk. ■' Mr. Jackson," ho said a trifle hesitantly, "can you spare me a minute?" "Well?" The editor was busy with 'omo copy for tho next day's issue and he did not raise his head. "I—I want to ask you if you'd be good enough to transfer me to the out- Every Tuesday side staff, sir?" Roy fidgeted with the lapel of his jacket, for Mr. Jackson was somewhat of a tyrant and the youngster was fearful least he should turn round on iiim and rail him. But the editor inade no move, no answer, and regain- ing courage Roy went on: "You see, sir, I want to adviance my position on the paper, to make more money and "And you think you can do it by becoming a newsgetter, huh?" Mr. Jackson shot at him aliuost fiercely. " Yes, that's right, Mr. Jackson," Roy replied stoutly enough. "I'm am- bitious—I feel that if I had the chance I could get the dope on peojile like Piccardi and his gang, solve the identity of Big Boy " "What?" The editor spun roimd in his chair and looked up at Roy with a sneer on his hard lean face. But as he saw the eager light in the boy's eyes his expression softened and he caught at Roy's arm. "By heck, but I'll say Nou've got guts and that's something this paper is sadly lucking. Want to be a news-hound, do you ? Right, then you shall. Get busy, young man, get busy, and if you bring in the goods, I promise you you'll get a darned good rise." In the seventh heaven of delight, Roy flew from tho office to the street. Al- ready his keen young brain had formed a plan. He was quite friendly with detective Brady, who was attached to the local police station and Brady, as he knew, was at present engaged in trying to bring in Piccardi and Big Boy, and other such powerful gaajg leaders. He was bound to know their hide-outs, their haunts and that was just what Roy himself wanted to know; with such information in his possession ho might find some way of learning quite a lot about them. It was as Roy was half-walking, half- running in the direction of the police station that Lita Al\-aro, dressed in a smart black evening gown with a rope of exquisite pearls around her neck, came into that private room at the Blue Dragon. Piccardi and his "boys" wore already there, lounging in chairs, but as she swept into the apartment they rose to their feet, the gang leader hurrying to meet her with a sinister smile play- ing about the corners of his hard cruel mouth. "Okay, Lita?" he inquired eagerly. " Dead easy. Thought he'd still bo as keen as mustard on mc. Coming along here for a friendly little pow- wow." She glanced at the expensive gold watch on her wrist, then shrugged her shapely shoulders. "Should be here any moment now—and he's not the faintest suspicion that you've anything to do with this place. Trust mc to tap him gently and find that out." "Good girl." Piccardi beamed with pleasure and .squeezed her arm. "When that big stiff's out of the way you're going to be well rewarded, my dear. You'll find Piccardi can be very grate- ful for services rendered." Lita shivered a little, for though im- mensely fond of this brute she could not bear the thought of being in tho tiniest degree responsible for sendins; a, man to his death. But there was n? turning back now—she had given her promise and any hesitancy on hor part to carry out the part she was to play could have but one ending. Men and women alike—Picoardi treated any who hesitated to do his bidding or who double-crossed him in but one way. Death from his fell gun! A knock on tho door that made the girl start violently, then she felt the