Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

1 limed to Mr. Willaril, tlic manager of I he airport, who had just conie in. "I'm afraid there's something wrong, sir," he remarked. "Last thing I heard was a sort of scream, ' We're out of control 1' I can't got them now. I'm afraid they've crashed." "I can liardly fliink that," said Willard. 'Rogers is one of tho best pilots we have. Stiil, if you can't get an answer, we'll send out anotlicr 'plane to look for them." A few minutes later a fast machine took off, and flew out over the Ridge Route. A strong wind had by this time cleared the fog from the mountain slopes, and in less than two hours the 'plane reached the scene of the crash. Circling above tho wreckage, the pilot was about to make a landing when his observer touched him on tho shoulder. "Look over there !" he cried, pointing to some low ground at the base of tho mountain. The pilot looked, and saw, some throe miles away, a man stumbling slowly along, carrying an inert form across his shoulders. Soon the rescuers had landed close alongside Bob Rogers, who had carried Jimmy a long distance, seeking in vain for some place where he could obtain help. Swiftly tho 'plane returned to the aii- port, carrying both the injured men. Bob Rogers was not badly hurt. Save for a fev>- cuts and bruises, he was little tho worse for the crash; but he knew I hat .Jinany Devinc had not come off so easily. Jimmy Dcviiie had not recovered con- sciousness, and when the doctor saw him it was evident tlwt the young pilot's condition was very serious indeed. "You had better send for his relatives at once," said the doctor gravely, when he had concluded his examination of Jimmy's injuries. The manager rang up Grace' Devine, telling her little beyond that her brother had met with a slight accident, and s-oon the girl came along in some alarm. Outside the door of the hospital ward she saw Bob Rogers, who was standing there uneasily, waiting for news. "Thank Heaven you're safe. Bob!" she exclaimed. "Where's Jimmy? Is he much hurt?" " He's in there," muttered Bob, and when Grace saw the haunting look of fear in his face she guessed at once that her brother must be seriously injured. She rushed at once into the ward, and after a moment Bob followed her slowly. An anxious group surrounded Jimmy Devine's bed as Bob crept in to stand i>,t tho foot. The doctor was bending over tho injured pilot, while Grace had B'iiatcd herself on the bed, with Willard, the miiiiager, standing behind her. Bradford, the assistant manager, had also come in. "How is he, doctor?" asked Grace in a whisper. "I want to know the truth." "There's not much hope, I'm afraid," replied the doctor very gravely. "I ain not even sure that ho will regain consciousness." .\ minute or two later, however, Jimmy opened his eyes. "Guess I'm through, doc," he mut- !<red feebly ; and then, closing his eyes again, ho lay still. Bob Rogers cast one agonised glance at his friend; but tho doctor signed to all of them to go out, and outside the door Willard tackled the unfortunate [jilot at once. "What's happened, Rogers? Who wa.", at the •ontiols when you crashed?" "I hat! charge of tho ship, hadn't I '"' prowled Bob. ■•H'ln! Aiid is that all you have to say?" "Yes," replied Boh shortly. "I can guess what happened," com- Noveiiiber Ttli, lOJl. BOY'S CINEMA mente<i the manager. "Drunk again, eh ? Well, Rogers, you've been warned before. This time you're through. We shall not need your services again, and your licence will be cancelled." The manager turned to walk away, while Bob Rogers stumbled out, dis- graced and without a job, his mind in a whirl. But, uppermost in his thoughts was the terrible idea that his friend Jimmy Devine lay at death's door, and that Jimmy was dying through his fault. Bob walked dazedly across the flying field towards the 'planes, and a.s he went another pilot, Pete Johnson by name, came up to him. " Say, I don't believe you crashed into that mountain, Bob," said Pete. "Was Jimmy steering?" Bob made no reply. He walked up to an old aeroplane, examined it, and got in. "Where are you going. Bob?" asked Pete in astonishment. "Don't know where I'm going," said Bob shortly, and a few minutes later he was high in the air, flying away toward.s tho south. A Leap for Life. IT was a week or so later that Bob Rogers walked slowly along the street of a small town in the north of Mexico. His eyes were bent upon the ground, his face was haggard, and he had the appearance of a man brooding continually over dark thoughts. How he had reached Mexico he hardly knew. Without any prospect of a job, and with hardly any money left, he had come to tho end, he thought. "I'll go in here and have a drink!" he muttered to himself as he passed a saloon. "Then I'll go and end it, some- how." He turned into the saloon, grim thoughts of suicide in his mind. Sud- denly, to Bob's great surprise, a voice hailed him in English. He glanced towards the bar, where he saw ecveral Americans, one of whom he recognised as a man named Kelley, once a pilot at the airport. "Hallo, Rogers! What are you doing dow-n here?" cried Kelley. "Nothing particular, Kelley," replied Bob. "I didn't know you had fetched up in Mexico, either." " I heard some talk of yoii getting into a jam," remarked Kelley. "Come and have a drink. I've got a job for you, I reckon. I happen to want a good pilot just now." "Want me to pilot a 'plane, do you?" asked Bob, accepting the drink. " Sure! I want you to pilot a 'plane up north," replied Kelley. "You can earn real money at this job. Are you interested ?" Bob Rogers hesitated, for Kelley had not the best of reputations, and ho had left the airport some months before in suspicious circumstances. ^Moreover, the four men who were with him were shifty-looking individuals to whom the young pilot took an instant dislike. Still, Bob knew nothing certain to Kelley's discredit, and a job of soine sort he must get. "Okay, I'm on!" said Bob at length. "When do you want to start?" "Early to-morrow morning," replied Kelley. "Come over now and I'll show j-ou my 'plane." The next morning found Bob Rogers seated once more at the controls of an aoioplane, flying steadily towards the, north. Kelley had told him nothing of the object of the journey, beyond that he wished to make for Los Angeles, but as Bob glance<l from timo to time at his employer and the men with him, he Every Tuesday felt very doubtful as to ■whether their business was of a legitimate kiiid< Presently he overheard some words which made him still more doubtful. ''Think we shall be in time?" said one of the men to Kelley. "I guess so," replied Kelley. "Tho express leaves this afternoon at one o'clock. We shall do it easily enough." "The pilot will have a gun, I sup- pose," remarket! another man. "Ain't we got guns?" growled Kelley. "Time to tell that fellow, ain't it?" .said a third man, a thin, wiry-looking individual known as "Louie." "Not yet," muttered Kelley angrily in a low tone. • "What have you got to tell me?"- asked Bob, turning round to the men. "Nothing special—yet," replied Kelley, somewhat confused. "He'll have to know, Kelley," snarled Louie, " and you might as well tell him now, or I will. We're after the dollars in the express 'plane that leaves the airport to-day, an' we're goin' to get 'em, too. You join in with us, an' get your share, Rogers." "Going to join us, Rogers?" asked Kelley, as Bob made no reply. "There's money in this job, as I told you, and you ain't going to earn much money any other way, since that jam you got into. What d'you say?" Still Bob Rogers did not speak, and the crooks felt the 'plane swinging round again towards the south. Instantly Kelley and his gang rose to their feet, their faces glaring angrily, while eacix man felt for his gun. "No, you don't!" howled Kelley, springing upon Bob and plucking him from the pilot's scat. '"Take care of him, boys." Kelley seized the controls and turned the 'plane once more towards the air- lX)rt, while Bob Rogei-s, helpless in the grip of the four angry crooks, was thrown roughly into a corner of the cabin. Louie, gun in hand, kept a wary eye upon him, and Bob lay quiet, think- ing hard. "Keep still!" growled Louie. "I'll fill you with lead if you don't." "A better way would be to drop him overboard," remarked "Blondy,"' another of the crooks. "I reckon it would be a fine sight to see a fellow, drop si.x thousand feet." "We're over the town!" cried Kelley presently, and the gangsters turned their attention for a moment from their captive. Beneath them lay the airport, and their eager gaze was at once focused on the flying field, where stood a large aeroplane round which a number of men were gathered. Bob Rogere saw his opportunity in a flash. As he lay still in the corner of the cabin, he had observed a parachute o;i the other side, and near it a small door. The moment Louie turned his head. Bob sprang to his feet, and ia one stride he had seized the parachute. Tho next second he ha<l hurled himself' through tho door, and before the aston- ished creeks had realised what ho was doing. Bob Rogers was hurtling down to earth. He had taken a chance with the para- chute, and oven as he pulled the ring he wondered whether the folds above him would open, or whether BlonJy would have his wish, and see a felloi» drop like a stone for six thousand feet. The par.ichute opened, and Bob's furious downward flight changed to a gentle glide earthwards. -.; "He's jumped for it!" howled Louie i angrily. "Swing her down, Kelley, and I'll take a shot at him." I