Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

Every Tuesday conversation that had just reached her ears seemed to confirm her suspicious. "No," she told him, "I wasn't spy- ing ! I came hero to see you. But I heard what you .said about June Madi son!" she added fiercely. "And if you think you can give me the gate ,for another dame " "Shut up and come in here!" Mitchell interrupted, and, pidling her into the office, he slammed the door. He glared at her for a moment and then turned to Spike Beldon. "All rigfit," he jerked, "get after that formula. Take Butch and Merlin with you, and don't make any blunders." " Okay, Mitch'," SpJke answered, and took his leave. As he departed. Mitchell lacod Trixic again. His resentment towards her had cooled somewhat, and he decided that it would be wise to appease her. She was a woman of temperament, and consc- ijuently dangerous, and he was shrewd enough to realise that it would not be policy to antagonise someone who knew so much concerning his affairs. "Now, listen. Honey," he appealed, " I'm not interested in June Madi.^on, not in tiie way you think, anyhow. She's only a means to get at her father's money, and if we lay hands on Darrow's formula to-night—I'll never sec her again." "But you fold Spike " IMitchcll interrupted lier. "Bahv," ho explained, "I don't tell Spike Beldon everything. Now you run along and I'll see you to-night." And lie took her in his arms and kissed her. "All right, Dan," Trixie Farrcll mur- mured. "To-night, then." He led her to the door, said ' pood- bye ' to her and retraced his steps to his desk. As ho reached it he at once took up the, telephone and spoke into the mouth-piece. "Give inc Bayside 7710." he called. He did not guess that Trixic had not altogether been deceived by his lies, and that on an afterthought she had paMse<l outside the door. "Hallo." he went on. "Bayside 7710' Oh, is that you, June?" A pause, and then: "I'm coming over to see yon. June. Mitchell continued. "I've sotiiothing very important to tell you. I know you'll be interested." Standing outside the office door, listen ing to the charm in his voice, Trixii Farrell clenched her hands furiously. For an instant her impulse was to <on front Mitchell again and create i 'scene ', but it was an impulse tliat >^'i< qviclled, and with a brooding expro'. sion on her face she made her wa\ 'o the lift. Whi'ii Dan Mitchell left the premi-.e, there was no sign of her, and his mind was completely .it ease as ho haih tl i taxi and gave the Madisons' addi< ~s He arrived at the palatial home on tlie outskirts of the city twenty mmute>- later, and a maid showed him into a room where Juno was sitting ai ,i biireau. "Oh. hallo. Dan." she greeted him, as he pulled up a chair beside her. "Good evening, Juno," Mitchell returned. "Geo! You're looking love- lier than ever." "You always were good at flattery. Dan." Juno reproached. "But whai w'jis it you wanted to see me about?" Ho leaned forward and took her hands, but with a whimsical lit tie smile ihc drew them free. "June," he said. "I want to tell you how much I think of you—because I bc- plieve that you once eared for me." ',0h, dad and I have always ro- BOY'S CINEMA garded you as a very good friend, Dan," June told him. " But you might have looked on me as something more than a friend if this fortune-hunting fireman hadn't come between us," Mitchell retorted bitterly. June resented the words, but kept her feelings under control. "Now, Dan," she said, "that isn't nice -" She was interrupted by the ringing of a 'phono bell, and, cutting short the conversation, reached for the instru- ment. " Pardon me, Dan." she murmured. Then, lifting the receiver: "Hallo '' Yes, this is .Mr. Madison's home—No. Mr. Darrow is not here. Who wants to speak to him ?" It was a woman's voice at the other end of the wire, and the woman was Trixie Farrell. "Never mind who I am, sister," shi> told Jvmc, her lip curling viciously as she spoke into the mouthpiece. "Just tell that sap fireman there's a gang after his formula—and they're going to lay for him to-night. Do you get me?" .Juno's face had paled. "Wait!" she exclaimed. " Don't ring off——" But even as she uttered the words she herird the click of the receiver as the other w'oman replaced it on its hook. "She's gone!" breathed June, turning to Dan Mitchell. "She?" he echoed. "What do you mean, .June? What's the matter? You look as if you'd heard the voice of a ghost or something." June faltered out an explanation. "It was some woman, calling from a pub'io 'phone-booth," she panted. "She s.aid a gang was going to attack Bob. I've got to warn him!" And she picked up the receiver again. " Hallo, liallo—Operator " Mitc'tiell's face had hardened. A woman—giving away his plans. Tiixie Farrell ! But this was no moment to rage in w.ardlv against betrayal. In a few seconds .Tune would be in touch with 23 Bob Darrow, and Mitchell had to do some fast thinking, or his scheme must fail. The 'phone-wire ran past his foot, and, with June crouching over the mouthpiece with her back to him. he entangled the coird around his shoe and snapped the connection with a single wrench. " Hallo, operator Operator " June crammed down the receiver and scrambled to her feet. "The 'phone's dead I" she gasped. "Listen, Dan, Bob is at the warehouse with dad. I've got to get to them !" She wheeled and ran from the room. Mitchell, snatching iiis hat, hurried after iier, but he did not make up on her until she was out on the drive, where her roadster was standing. "June!" he shouted, as he saw her climbing into the car. "Wait, June. There's nothing you can do down there." But June did not heed him. "Hurry, if you're coining!" she cried, pressing the self-starter and stepping on the clutch-pedal. Mitchell bundled himself into the car as it swept forward along the drive. The Attack. I TRAVELLING from his City office to the warehouse where the new laboratory had been fitted up, James Madison found Bob Darrpw" already installed there. "Hallo, Darrow!" said Madison, as ho entered the lab. "Evening, Mr. Madison," Bob re- joined, holding up a vial into whicJi he had just poured some liquid. "I've just finished mixing up a small quantity of my extingiiisher, following the direc- tions of the formula there." And he indicated a document lying on a bench near by. "Fine!" said Madison. "Then we're all .set for the test ?" "Yes," Bob answered, "and I'm going to prove to you, right here in this room, that this small amount of the His eyes were closed. His blackened face looked deathly pale under the grime and oil that streaked it. October 3rd, 1931.