Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

Ev«ry Tuesday where the road dipped to the rim of a high bluff overlooking a reach of the deep, broad river. Butch lumbered towards Bob, but, with a hoarse cry, the fireman lashed cut with his right and bowled him over. Then he jumped the gangster's prone form and ran forward a few paces, in the direction that the runaway cur was taking. He stopped. The automobile had gone o%cr the brow of the hill and was gatiicr- iiig speed. He could never hope to overtake it on foot, and a hundred yards ahead the road came to a blind end on the very edge of the bluff! There was only one chance of coming up with it—astride Pat Heeley's motor- bike—and, his face ghastly pale. Bob sprang to the machine, dragged it from its stand and kicked the starter. Next second he was in the saddle and driving at full throttle in pursuit of the roadster. The roar of the bike's engine drew Pat Heeley's attention from iiis battle with Silk, and, leaving the battered crook (o sag against the wail ot tiie garage, the Irishman turned to tee Bob disappearing over the brow of the hill. Connolly took the opportunity to pull himself together and aitempt an attack from the rear, but Pat was warned by tlie shuffle of his feet, and spun round to deliver an uppcr-cui tliat floored the rullian. The fight no longer interested the Irislnnan, and he ran to the crest of the iiill. The gangsters did not follow hini. but, clinibhig to their feet, stood in a sorry group by the roadside. Put gaine<l the brow of the hill and stopped in his tracks. He saw the run- away car heading for the end of the roud.and the edge of the bluff, and l;o saw iiis friend racing after it in a neck- or-nothing bid to overhaid it. "Glory be!" he gasped. And then, at the top of his voice: •'Bob'." he yelled. "Stop, Bob' "i'c'll go over I" Bob did not hear him, for the .scream-, iig engine of the motor-bike shut o>it ■very other sound. Nor would Bob lavc heeded Pat liad the IriLhn.an's dis- racted shout reached his cais. He was making up on the car, but lie edge of the bluff was very near by lOw, and he could see the sheen of cep water far down beyond it. Thcro :emed to be not the remotest possibility f drawing abreast of the roadster and iving June from the fatal plunge to oora, yet he kept the throttle wide pen. The automobile was just ahead of him 3W, and all at once he discerned a ovemont in the front of the car. June as stirring, and slowly she struggled to a sitting posture and drew her hand ross her forehead dazedly. Then she w the brink of the cliff immediately fore her, and the river away below. A look of horror rros.sed her face, and th a shriek she clutched at tlie door. Cn as her fingers closed on the handle 13- roadster hurtled over the edge of • bill IF and dived through nud-air witli impetus that snatched the girl's th away and turned her sick. V moment later the motor-bike had Qwcd it, carrying Bob down, down, ds the chill bosom of the waters. c was a double splash as roadster ,jjtHIR)iko struck the surface and vanished ir' a welter of foam 1 be concluded next week. By per- iion of the Universal Pictures, Ltd., iJng Tim McCoy and Marlon Shockley.) BOY'S CINEMA I "MAID TO ORDER." T (Continued from page 19.) ,, bring into use every ounce of self-control. In flurry's hand was a gun. and it was pointed straight at .Julian's head ! Julian thought quickly, and realised that iMiless he did something at once his chances of doing anything at all were gone. Harry wus no longer the awk- ward, smiling simp that he had been in the cafe, but an ice-cold maniac, hllod with the desire to kill. Julian shrank back as though scared out of his wits. "Oh, put it away!" he cried. "It frightens me !" Harry advanced, his whole demeanour one of gloating. It mattered nothing that he wu« gomg to kill someone whom he believed to be a woman. On the con- trary, the fact thai he had apparently inspired so much fear flattered bis vanity. He jammed the gun hard against Julian's stomach, and grinned. "Say your prayers, sister," he said. "I'll give you twenty seconds." That la.st speech of his was his un- doing. Julian, letting out a fake sobi sank to his knees, thus bringing the gun within ea.sy reach. He clenched his fist, and lashed out at Harry's hand. His knuckles caught the ginnnan's wrist squarely, and Harry let out a howl ol ])uiti as his weapon exploded harmlessly and sailed across the room. Julian got to his feet^ and looked about hurriedly for a weapon. He saw oidy one—a weapon that has l)een used by women from time immemorial. It was uii innbrella ! Jidian grabbed it, and swung it upwards as Harry rushed in. Crash! It landed neatly on the top of his hciul. sending him staggering backwards with tears in his eyes. .Jidiaii took another swipe. The handle of the umbrella caught Harry behind the i!ar this time, and the gangster went backwards across the bed with a roar of pain. "And now what's it all about?" asked Julian politely. "Why the gun?" He advanced menacingly, the umbrella iield high, when Harry did not speak. " W.int .some more?" "No, no!" .said Harry quickly. "I'll tell you. AIcGuire said you were a police.' spy, and was to be binnped off." "Ho did, did he?" snorted Julian. "That means I've got to fix the whole lot of you single-handed." He looked at Harry .sternly. " (^'ome here, Harry.'' Harry slowly rose from the bed. "Say," he said sidlcnly, "you're pretty fierce for a woman, aren't you ?" "I am that," said .lulian. "But it needn't worry you any more." He planted a straight left clean on Harry's jaw, and followed it up with a right that hud all his weight behind it. Harry gulped, stag- gered backwards, and dropped to the floor. "That'll keep you asleep for a b:t," muttered J u 1 i a n gleefully. "Now for the rest of the bunch !" THE tl: 26 In the Caf«. HE clock on Times Building struck hour of eleven as the distant drone of an aeroplane was heard in the sky. Loti Lorraine, waiting on the roof of the Arab night club, a powerful reflector-lamp by fier side, strained her eyes to sec if she could locate it. The drone got louder until it was practically overhead. Quickly she ini- covered her lamp, flashing the aviator above an agreed signal -three long beams and two short. The aeroplane dived low towards the roof, almost skimming the tops of the chimneys. As it zoomed overhead there was a metallic thud from close by the door that led to the biulding below. Loti Lorraine was about to leave the lamp, when the door suddenly opened and AicGuire appeared. He looked down, and saw lying at his feet a bundle. It had burst open, clearly dis- playing its contents—gems and costly jewellery of every description. He bent down and grabbed hold of it. His act was so furtive, and so com- pletely a departure from the agreed plan, that Loti realised she was being double-crossed. "Put that down, McGuire!" she shrieked. McGuiro laughed, and straightened himself. The next moment there was a crash as the door from the roof was slammed and bolted from tiic inside. Loti Lorraine was a prisoner! MeGuiro charged down the first fliglil of stairs to the lift, got into it, and Hashed still further downwards to the cafe floor. He swung the gates back, and so reached the cafe itself. The place was deserted. Julian had seen to that—he flid not want any of the gang to slip through his fingers in the crowds. McGuire paused uncertaiidy in the middle of the floor, still clutching the bimdle of gems. Suddenly a voice behind hiin said : "Looking for me, AIcGuire?" AJctiuiro spun round, to find himself face to face with the fake Loti Lorraine. (July this time the fake Loti did not speak in that soft mezzo-soprano, but in the tone of a very healthy and robust male—namely, Julian. With a snarl of rage, JNIcGuire swung up the heavy bundle of gems and aimed it full at Julian's face. Julian was not taken unawares. He dodged and rushed in, sending McGuire sprawling backwards over a chair. AIcGuire recovered quickly, and picked the chair up. He raised it above his head, and stood there threateningly. Julian did not falter. He charged in again, this time snatching another chaii- from the floor as he ran. He braced his * IS'J 32 Free BilUard Tables. Send for details and price list. A Riley Billiard Table provides an attraction that makes it simple. There's hours of pleasure for the boys and all the family with a Riley " ICome" Billiard lable. The 0 it. size is delivered on lirst deposit of 13/3d., balance by monthly instalments. 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