Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

Every Tuesday to shoot. With a forced show of bravado he leered into the Midget's face. "Do you get me. Midget?" he said mean- ingly. "Why, sure." There was a gasp of astonishment from the entire assembly as the little crook, instead of showing fierce resentment of Mileaway's threat, turned suddenly on his heel and came back to his confeder- ates who were grouped in a corner of the room. A nod of his head brought them instantly to their feet, then they followed their leader as he went towards tlie door. %, The Midget's resolve was tak(!n—he was determined that Louie Ricamo should return to Charlesworth to renew his former activities in the underworld. Tragedy. THAT night a terrible gun-battle was waged in the city between the gangs led by Slim Sullivan and the Midget. It started with Sallivan's men ambushing one of the Midget's trucks that happened to have a strong guard upon it, a dozen men who fought back grimly, wrecking havoc among the attackers. Ten minutes the fight waged before the police arrived to quell the disturbance, but by that time five men lay stretched in the road, grim testimony to the terrible nature of the conflict. There was no stopping the gang feuds now unless Louie Ricarno could be pre- vailed upon to return and take the matter in hand. Milcaway was con- vinced on that score, ana so next morn- ing he got on the long-distance telephone to Florida. He could never hope to make big money as boss of the underworld now. But there was still Louie's wealth that lie and Doris coveted. Once get the youngster back among all the turmoil and bloodshed there was every chance that that money would soon bo theirs. First he spoke to Doris, who then handed the receiver to Louie. But Louie only laughed when Milcaway im- plored him to return to quell the trouble that had broken out amongst the gangs of the city since his departure. "Nothing doing, Mileaway." There was no mistaking the finality in the youngster's voice. "If the mobs have busted up the good work I did for them BOY'S CINEMA it's not my fault. They can go to blazes!" "But, Louie," Mileaway protested, "you don't know how tough it's gcttin' around here. Wliy, some of the mobs are talking about coining down to Florida to bring you back." "Oh, are they!" There was a note of menace in Louie's voice now. "Then you tell the mob of double-crossers tliat if they think they can take me to come down here and try it. Then tell 'em that the first one that sliows his ugly face around this burg will get a load of Florida sunshine. You get me?" But Louie did not wait to hear what Mileaway had to say to that. With a violent oath he slammed the telephone receiver back on its hook, then snatehed up the lighted cigarette ho had rested in an ashtray that stood on the table beside the 'plione. "Louie, dear." Dori.s sidled up to him, placed an arm around his shoulders. Be- cause of the affection she bore Mileaway and their designs on Louie's money she was anxious for Louie to return to Gharlesworth. "You shouldn't have lost your temper that way. Mileaway is right. You belong back there, and anjway, I'm sick of this infernal place." "Oh, jou are, huh?" Angrily Louie flung free of her encircling arm and faced her with fiercely blazing eyes. "What have you got to be sick of? Arc you one of 'em, too? Have you got so much crime in you it won't come out? Well, I'm through with the game. I told you that when we got married, and nothing will make me change my mind." She opened her mouth to make some kind of protest to his venomous outburst, but before she could utter a single word he stamped from the room and slammed the door violently behind him. Meanwhile the IMidget was acting on the idea ho had conceived as a means of forcing Louie to return to control the organisation he had founded. At about the same time that the yoiing.ster was speaking to Mileaway over the tele- phone, a car wjis drawn up in the road outside the gates of the Military Academy in Fairfield. The Midget was at the wheel, while standing; beside him and leaning negligently again.st the side of the car was Rocco's undorling. Gympy. 15 Both were interestedly watching a squad of cadets who were going through a course of drill just inside the college gates. "Do you think it's safe to do it?" Gympy suddenly inquired as ho ground the butt-end of a cigarette under his heel. "Why, sure!" the Midget said im- patiently. "We ain't going to hurt the kid, are we?" "We'd better not." Gangster though ho was, Gympy had very little pluck. " I hate to think what Louie'd do ii any- thing should happen to his brother. Mileaway told me the kid's liis all—that Louie's more fond of him than life itself." "Can it, you blamed misery!" The Midget's eyes blazed angrily at Gympy. "Ain't it the only way we got of bring- ing Louie back to town? \Vo take the boy along of us, then when Louie hears he's disappeared he'll come back fast enough. I tell you it's going to be Here ! Quick ! The kids have been dis- missed. Call one of 'em and see if you can locate the kid brother. Don't forget ho goes by the name of Jackio Laniarr —that's what Milcaway told me." Gympy lounged to the academy gates and interrogated a small boy who stood just inside readjusting a puttee that had come unfastened. Of course, he knew Jackio Lamarr. He would toll him he was wanted. The youth scuttled away and Gympy returned to the car, winked at the Midget, then opened the door to the back of the vehicle. Presently Jackio appeared at the school gates, and with a puzzled frown on his good-looking little face he approached the car as Gympy beckoned. "Hallo, captain!" cried Gympy, placing an arm around the youngster's shoulders, while the Midget raised his hand in salute. "Hallo '" .Jackie responded. "You Jackie Lamarr?" inquired the Midget, with a smile that was meant to be disarming, though in point of faci; it was twisted and repulsive. The boy nodded doubtfully, for there was something about these two men that did not invito confidence. "Well, Jackie," the Midget went on, "your brother Louie sent U8 along to fetch you." " You killed Gympy and you had to get the Midget or he'd have got you I '• December 19th, 1931.