Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

Every Tuesday For an instant he failed to grasp Ihc truth. Then the grim nature of his plight dawned on him. The woods were ablaze, and the terror was closing in on liiin relentlessly. He began to struggle with the cords around his wrists, but they had been lied by a man who had intended to give the captive no opportunity of efi'ectiiig his escape. In vain Bob fought to free 'himself, and while he maintained his futile efforts he watched the menace of the forest fire draw nearer. The flames came surging through the tliickcts and towered amid the trees. Grass and underbush were swiftly burned to cinders, and the lofty pines around the cabin became so many fiery uolunms. Masses of smoke obscured tlie flare and found their way through every crevice of the dwelling in vvhicii Bob was imprisoned, and his whole body was racked witii an agonising cough. He was still striving to break or loosen the cords that bound him, but he met with no success. They were too ttrong to sever, too cunningly tied to slacken, and, his strength expended, he loaned weakly against the pillar and gave liimsclf up for lost. The smoke that had found its way info llic cabin was overpowering, and the flames raging outside were already be- ginning to wrap themselves about the dwelling, the fierce heat of them even penetrating the thick log walls. Bob made a lust despairing attempt 10 gain his freedom, but it was imavail- ing, and its only effect was to exhaust liim. And then, his aching eyes fixed on the window, he caught sight of a figure approaching through the flames. It was the figure of a girl in riding- kit, and on horseback. For a moment ho thought his imagination was playing some cruel trick on him, but as she gallopAl nearer he knew that the girl uas no illusion. "June '." he cried involuntarily, though h; knew that she could not possibly hear hiu). He guessed what had happened— guesse<l that she had given her escort the slip and dashed back to his rescue when she had realised that the cabin was doomed—and her courage filled him with admiration. He had sjived her life more than once, but this time she was to save his, having risked her own in the process. He watched her as she came riding through the flaming trees and the whirl- ing clouds of smoke. Then all at once a shout of dismay escaped liini. for he saw her pony plant one forefoot in a Kibbit's scrape, and in another instant the creature had stumbled and fallen. He came down heavily, and .June was thrawn clear over his hejid, to land in a crumpled heap some yards in front of I he anunal. The horse scrambled to his feet, but iJiuic did not stir. She lay pi-one in that world of flame, while Bob watched Lher in an agony of suspense, wondering lU she had been badly hurt, wondering u{ she would recover in time to escape Ithc forest fire. His own plight was Ifprgotten in the anxiety that he felt "'or licr. He thought he saw her move, but in I'.he same moment his attention was ^erted to a. gigantic pine-tree that pd not far away. IS tall trunk was wrapped in fire, was a red-hot mass near the base. kt wa.s tottering, and a cry of horror prang to Bob's lips as it snapped and ill, crashing towards the very spot I here June lay. (To be continued in another breath- king episode next week. By permis tfn of Universal Pictures, Ltd., starring liTim McCoy and Marion Shockley.) r^ BOY'S CINEMA i "ADIOS." I I (Continued irom page 10.) I Through the short summer night they rode, and when t!ie dawn came they were still on the right track. They had gained considerably, for Francisco's horse had travelled many miles on the previous day. So as Howard and his men neared the village of Santa Anna, they saw the fugitive not more than a quarter of a mile in front, and they raised a shout of triumph. Francisco heard the shout- ing, .ind urged his tired hor.se to a final effort. Into the village he swept, and there stood Pedro, holding a great white horse. Francisco slowed his horse a little as he came level, swung himself to the fresh steed's back, and was off again without a second's delay. The posse galloped past and kept up the chase for a few miles more, continually losing ground. At last all trace of El Puma was lost, and Howard returned to Los Angeles, glad at heart that Dolores' brother had eecaped. El Puma had gone, and his men re- turned to their homes. Judge Travers found it advisable to return to the north, and under the firm but just rule of David Howard the district round Los Angeles settled down in peace. A few weeks after Francisco had escaped, Howard called at the Kancho de los Coyotes, and Dolores, dressed in black, and very pale, but Tnorc beauti- ful than ever in the eyes of the young .American, came out to meet him. "I've had a letter from your brother, Dolores," said Howard. "He says he's sorry he led me a wild-goose chase. He had arranged for a change of horses at several villages on the way to the border." "I'm glad you didn't catch him," smiled the girl. "So am I," laughed Howard. "Listen to this." He read aloud fiom the letter. "'Tlieie is nothing between you and Dolores now that I have gone out of your lives. Rosita and I are spending our honeymoon in Mexico City. We are very happy here in Mexico, and I hope that you and my sister will be just as happy in California. Adiosi' "What do you say, Dolores? We can be just as happy, if you are willing to marry—a gringo!" Dolores looked reproachfully at David Howard, and the next moment she was in his arms, her face buried against his coat. "David," she whi.spered softly, "my father is dead, and my brother is far away. I have no one left in the world but you. What does it matter that you are an American, if we love each other?" And, judging by the way he kissed her, David Howard did not seem to think that it mat- tered at all. (By permission of First National Pathe, Ltd., star- ring Richard Bar- thelmess and Mary Astor.) 25 ^H^^—.^— "DEFENDERS OF THE LAW." (Continued from page 16.) the Chandos found themselves covered by wicked-looking guns! Greedy hands snatched at necklaces and jewels, whilst fierce voices demanded that the men hand over their money or pay the con- sequences of refusal. A pounding of heavy feet and into the restaurant charged the police. Guns barked, women .screamed, and tablo were tlung over with a crash. Joe Valet had not moved since he had given the signjil, but had kept Terono and the woman covered. If ho made tiio raid before the arrival of the police he intended to take Terone and the woman as his prisoners. With one he could dictate to the police, and the other to checkmate the activities of Tcronc's men. Or perhaps he aimed to clean-up the swag for himself and shake the dust of Lincoln from his feet. But all that was changed by the advent of the police. Everything was ruined, half his men and Terone's wotild be captured or killed, and his owii life was endangered. A blind rage gripped him. It was this crawling snake who had betrayed him, and His gun spoke once, and -with a scream of mortal agony Terone sank to the ground. With a cry of fear Meg flung herself towards the curtain. Tlie gun spoke again. The woman clawed at the heavy velvet, hung suspended, and then slithered to the grotmd. One glance at the chaos in the Chandos and then Valet jumped over the woman's prostrate body and disap- peared the way he had come. It was Houston who first found them. One glance at Terone showed tliat the crook was dead, but the woman groaned. "He shot his partner," she whispered gaspitigly. "Got wise to mc and shot me. He escaped througli there " "Muldoon!" shouted Houston. "Take two men and comb that passage—reckon vou'll be too late." ^^ "Terone got drunk and talked,' whispered the- wounded spy. " Valot overheard mo give the warning, b\it lie didn't shoot till the hoys appeared and lie knew the hold-up had failed." "You've done fine work, JNIcg.'' Houston h.id traced the stream of blood. " Thank heaven, he only got you through tlie shoulder!" Two of Terone's gang were dead and three were prisoners—all of Valet's men had escaped because their chief had told them about the back way. When escaping tliry had .Tininst walked on the rileyshomC BILLIARD TABLES Write for particulars to E. J. RILEY. LTD„ Howard Works. ACCRINGTON, and at Dept. 35, 147, Aldersgate Street, LOHDOS, E.C.I. October I7th, 1981.