Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

6 Quietly a figure stole up to watch the little scene. It was; Michael Marlow, and his small moustache hid tho ghost of a smile. "I'll see you to the street," amiounccd Vincent in a determined inanner. The other members turned away—the inci- dent was apparently at an end. "Are you sure you haven't made a mistake?" "The number is thirty-six." She smiled shyly. "Don't bother about me, please. I'm quite all right." At the door of the club she held out a gloved hand. "Good-bye!" The girl spoke firmly. She did not require his assistance any further. "Good-bye!" blurted out Vincent. He watched the girl go down the steps, scratched his chin, then resolutely turned his back. Why should he feel such an interest in this young girl? Why had he not insisted upon getting a taxi and seeing her home ? " A chance to become friends and I neglect it," he murmured as he scowled at the club notice-board. "What the blazes does she want to go to number thirty-six for ? I'll see if she has made anyone hear." Cautiously Vincent walked tho few steps to tho front door and stepped out on to the stone steps leading to the main entrance of the Terrace Club. The girl was standing before the door of number thirty-six, and was actually letting herself in with a latch key. Even as he gasped over this baffling incident she opened the door and stepped inside. Vincent ran down the club steps and gave the empty house, with its broken and ehutterod windows, a keen look-over. The front door was half open, and he glimpsed for a moment a bare, dusty hall and stairs; before the door closed noisclesslyhe had seen two figures coming down the stairs. Men with cape over their eyes and dressed in dark suits. Boldly Vincent walked up to tho door of number thirty-six and tried to peer through the keyhole. He would have liked to have knocked, but could think of no good excuse. He decided he had bettor go back to the club before a lot of inquisitive pedestrians formed themselvee into a crowd. Reluctantly he walked down the stone steps and stood rubbing his chin and staring. Obviously the place was empty, although there was no "To Let" sign pasted on the windows. The place had caused several of the members to com- plain, as it was an eyesore in a stylish neighbourhood. There was a rumour that the owner wanted too big a rental. Yet this queer girl had a kej' ! Perhaps she had an order to view ? Then he almost leaped in the air. He had heard a sharp scream of fear. Vincent ran up the steps and thundered his fists on tlie closed door. Michael Marlow had hastened back to his room. "Curiosity killed the cat," he chuckled softly. "1 wonder if it will get young Floyd?" Swiftly* he put on a dark overcoat and picked up a felt hat, then he rang a bell and a sleek man-servant appeared. "Deliver this letter at once to Mis? Morella Arlen," were hie orders. "At once—you will find her in the main restaurant having coffee with some friends." When the servant had gone, Marlow walked over to what looked like solid wall. He pressed a hidden spring and a panel slid back on oiled wheels. Beyond was the dirty, dusty hall of number thirty-six. October 3rd, l'J31. BOY'S CINEMA The Mysterious Packing Case. VINCENT hammered on the door. A click and it swung open. A pasty-faced, dirty-looking ruffian in an old brown suit and a filthy felt hat stared at Vincent from narrowed eyes. "Hi! Hi, mind our door!" he grumbled. " We ain't deaf." "What's going on here?" demanded Vincent. "A young lady came in a few moments ago. I heard a cry for help." "Ho, did yer!" The fellow sneered. " Honest to-goodiicss folk live here, and thoy can't make a sound without noscy- parkers abutting in ! The .stairs ain't loo good, and nuiybe you hoard some- one slip on a loose board—or maybe it was just your imagination. Guess you're making a mistake." "I'll come in and look round." "You'll do nix of the sort," was the answer, and then a big, burly fellow appeared by the speaker's side. A typical water-front tough, witli cauli- flower ears and a great rod face. " Bill, this guy thinks he hoard a scream," said the first fellow. "He'd better take the air. Had a drop too niucli, mate '!" growled the big man. " Come on, Sid! We gotta move that box." "You run along and tell your mother all about it." jeered tho man called Sid, and slammed the door in Vincent's face. He retreated down the steps. Impos- sible to break into the house—and quite probably there were otlier customers like these two. If ever he had seen two ruffians, lie had seen them in this old house. Why wore they there ? He had not overlooked the presence of Marlow when the girl had fainted, and he won- dered if that arch-scoundrel knew any- thing about this house. "Something fishy going on." He paced slowly up the road. "I wouldn't mind staking a level quid that tho.^e bright lads are some of Marlow's gang —the chaps wlio helped him in that Lady Angela business. Have I got enough evidence to persuade the Yard to give mo a search warrant, and, if I go away, will the birds have flown by the time I get back ? I might "plione from the club, and " His murmurings died away. A taxi had drawn up before No. 36. Th« front loor opened, and the two men that Vincent had seen came down the stone .steps. Tlicy spoke to the driver, who got out. They appeared to be di.scussing the roof of the taxi, at which thoy kept gazing from time to time. "What tho blazes is up now?" rumi- nated Vincent. Ho was not long kept in doubt, because the two men went back into No. 36. and a few moments later re- appeared, carrying a huge ;>ackiiig-case. Sid and Bill tarried the front portion, whilst two other pleasant-looking ruffians supported the end of the case, which was over seven foot long, about three foot broad, by two in depth. It was evidently very heavy. The men had just got the case to the pavement when Vincent strolUnJ up. "Hullo!" Sid nudged the big fellow. "Here's little Willie again! What yer want now. Nosey?" "What's inside that case?" "Grape fruit." Sid's remark made tlie other men gufTaw. "Well. I'm not swallowing them." Vincent boldly walked iip to tho box, by which two of (he men were .standing. He did not -see Bill and Sid wink at each other. Tho amateur detective passed his liand down the wood and rapped with his knuckles. Every Tuesday "Come in!" Bill chuckled. "I dunno what's coming to this country. Why is he at large ? He's a danger to Ai<3 public." " Reckon he's escaped from soma place," Sid cried. "Come on, boys, geS the case on the roof. We ain't got too much time. Now then. Nosey, stand back—unless you want a punch on the jaw !" "Are you going to give me one?" Vincent strode up to Sid, over whom he towered. " One flip from my fist, and you wouldn't liave so much to say.- What's in that case ?" A policeman came leisurely along tho street, and quickened his pace when he saw that trouble was evidently brewing. "What's going on here?" demanded the man in blue. "Officer, you see that case?" cried Vincent. "They wanted to put it on the roof of this cab and take it away. You've got to stop 'em. I want to know what's inside that case!" "He's talking out of his hat!" Sid^ explained, in an aggressive manner. "That there box ain't got nothing what would interest him inside of it. We got orders to come here and take that case away, and all the while this guy keeps badgering us. If you likes to take a look, constable, you'll see it's marked fragile. I dunno, but I reckons it's one of them valuable foreign mummies, or maybe glass. We ain't got to drop it on no account. We'd be obliged if you'd ask this gentleman to pass on. W^'re in a hurry." ^^h. "'Fraid I can't do anytliing, Mister^^ Floyd." The policeman had often bcjen in.side tho Terrace Club, and knew Vincent as a somewhat eccentric sports- man Tlie four men proceeded to lift tho case to the roof of tho taxi, whilst Vin- cent tried to argue with the rather stupid police-constable. " Oflicer, why can't you demand to know what's inside that case?" he <5aid. "I'm pretty certain some dirt.y work is going on here. They came out of a deserted house carrying tliat case. Why can't they be burglars ?" "That house ain't deserted, though it looks it." The constable stared at No. 36. " It was sold a month ago. and that gentleman "—he pointed to Sid. who smirked—" is tho nev*' owner. Took over about a fortnight ago, didn't you, sir?" "Quite right- quite right I" Sid waved his men into the taxi. "We'll be getting along, somiy boy !" "Ask 'em where they're taking that case !" raged Vincent. "Croydon .lir-port for France, Nosey!" shouted Sid from the window. "Any- thing else you want to know? I'm thirty-two, got a wife and two children, and " His sally caused much niirfh. "Would you like to come and call some time, sonny boy ?" Even the policeman had to smile. He waved them off. and the taxi-driver .shoved in his gears. P'loyd stood thcw? with clenched fists, watching the taxi drive away, with Sid and Bill waving th(Mr hands to him. "I'm sorry, .Mi«ter Floyd, but I fl couldn't say anything to them." Tho K\ policeman shook his head. " If they chooses to eart cases like that about, it ain't none of my business." "You'd be a .<-ergant if you made it your business," snapped Vincent. "But I'm not l)caton yet." Up the steps into the Terrace Club he ran. and at once got liimself put through to the Croydon air-port. "I want to speak to .Jim Lancer." An interval that seemed like hours before liis frieiul answered, with a: "Hullo! Who's that speaking?" "Vincent Flovd. .lim, is there a ( t