Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

Every Tuesday what he had said it almost seemed that he did. "Tell me, just exactly what do you mean, O'Grady ?" "Nothing much. Only that I was after the victim and also the Midget for being concerned in your brother's death. It's a pity about Gympy, though." Pat shrugged his shoulders. "When I heard ho was going to his death I hurried along, but was too late to save him, or get the fellow who got him. Wisii I could have nabbed " "But why tell me all this?" Louie broke in impatiently. "Anyone would think " ' " As I was going to say, Louie, I wish I could have nabbed the fellow who di'ilied Gympy. You see, I'm after him as well." O'Grady jerked down his hat brim so that it almost completely screened his piercing eyes. "An lui- lucky break that. But my time will come. Hope you're not thinking of leaving town again, Louie. You see, I'm just beginning to take an interest in you all over again. Decent of me, ien't it?" "H'm!" Louie gave a reckless laugli as all his old bravado crowded back to him. Obvious now that O'Grady did suspect him as the killer of Gympy, but the knowledge, grave as it was, worried him not at all. Hadn't he on numerous occasiouB proved himself more than a match for the muddle-headed cops ? "Well, Pat, in that case I'll sure stick around for a little while longer. How does that suit you?" "Absolutely down to the ground." O'Grady turned to the door. " Well, so long, Louie. So long, MUeaway." And with a satisfied smile on hie strong features, O'Grady strode from the room. Into the Ambush. IT was shortly after nine o'clock two nights later wlien a knock came at the door of Louie's flat, and because Louie knew by the sound of it who the caller was he lost no time in opening the door. Mileaway stood outside, but instead of letting him in, Louie stepped out into the passage and drew the door to behind him. "Steve, I want you to take Doris out to dinner." Louie's voice was a mere whisper. "You see, I've got the Midget staked out for to-night." "Here, wait a minute." Mileaway caught at Louie's arm. "You'll be need- ing help. Let me come along " "No, I'm saving that skunk all for myself." Louie pushed Mileaway to the slightly open door. "You do as I tell you. Take Doris out to dinner. The usual place. I'll meet you there." Louie was already wearing his hat, and as Mileaway went into the flat he strode along the passage and descended the stairs to the street. As he came ou: on to the sidewalk he turned right, and set ofiP at a brisk pace, completely unaware that he was instantly followed by a grim-faced man who had been watching the door to the block of flats from an alleyway opposite. Some half hour later Louie came to an unlighted shop in a particularly quiet thoroughfare on the outskirts of Charles- worth upon the window of which were the words "Union Cleaners." A swift glance round to make sure he was un- observed, then he produced a bunch of keys, selected one, and unfastened the shop door. .(Vs he passed inside and closed the door behind him, the man who had been shadowing him hurried on down the road till he camo to a telephone kiosk. Into the box he dived and put a call through to police headquartea-s. Then back he went, and from the shadows of BOY'S CINEMA Oar Grand New Annual Gripping Film Stories and Pictures LJERE'S a topping gift book that will make a big hit with every boy—a world of ad- venture in pictures and stories— that's what youHl find in the BOY'S CINEMA ANNUAL, the splendid new film story book. Here you will find pages and pages of gripping film stories, numerous pictorial articles which tell you all about such interesting subjects as Film Making, Life Stories of Weil- Known Film Stcirs, Filming Wild Animals, Sports and Pas- times, and the Big Pictures of the moment. There are also three beautiful coloured plates and sixteen plates of famous film stars. If you want a tip-top gift for yourself or for a friend—the BOY'S CINEMA ANNUAL is the very book to choose. BOYS CINEMA ANNUAL At all Newsagenti K^ J and Bookstllers ^J/^ nei 17 a doorway opposite he watched the shop that Louie had entered and in which there now showed a single light. Five minutes passed, then along the road came two men who stopped as they drew level with the shop Louie had en- tered. "W^ell. here we are, Joe." It was the voice of Midget. "You can wait, [t won't take long for Largon to pay me off for those two barrels he had last week." Little dreaming of the ambush that was set for him inside—that Largon was not in his shop as he imagined—the Midget went to the door, opened it and pasEcd inside. No one to be seen, but even as he stood there expecting Largon to come out from the room at the back, the muzzle of a gun, to which had been fitted a silencer, came up over the counter, followed by a face that was distorted wdth passion. Louie's face! At sight of it the Midget's heart missed a beat and the colour rushed from his cheeks. Next second, a muttered cuise escaping his trembling lips, he made ;i frantic effort to reach his gun. "You dirty undersized rat!" Louie snarled fiercely. "Kill my brother, huh?" With the words, he fired, and even as the Midget reeled backwards, the bullet imbedded in his chest, the youngster fired again. A thud as the victim struck the floor, then the unmistakable whine of police cars racing down the street. Quickly Louie jumped for the electric light switch and plunged the shop into darkness. Were the police wise to this ambush of his ? It was quite possible that they were for he knew that Pat O'Grady had far more brains than he would have admitted to anyone. In two strides Louie was at the door, dragging it open. He stepped out on to the sidewalk. The police cars were now very near and a man was racing away down the road—the Midget's com- panion who had taken to his heels at the first approach of the police. Off Louie raced as fast as his legs would cany him, intent only on escape. And after him went the watcher from the floorway opposite. Louie quickly out- stripped the fellow, but not so the pur- suing police cars. As the first one over- took him and stopped, a figure jumped down and quicklv grasped him. It wae Pat O'Grady. "A fair cop, Louie," he exulted. "Best be sensible and come quiet- like." "Yeah! But do you think you'll be able to prove anyfiiing against me?" Louie put on a bold front. " No, Pat, you haven't got cast-iron evidence. Then again there's defending counsel; my man hasn't lost a case yet." "Is that so?" grunted Pat, and marched him to the police-car. Third Degree. MILEAWAY was somewhat puzzled that Louie did not show up at the Blue Boar Inn, but the young racketeer's absence did not pre- vent he and Doris staying there until the small hoxirs of the morning. When they eventually returned to the flat the clock ij the hall was striking three. " I wonder if anythlng's happened to him," Mileaway remarked as he followed Dorio into the darkness of the drawing-room. "Gee, it'd be swell if " He broke off as he thought he heaid a slight movement close at hand. "Probably he didn't feel like coming December 19tb, 1031. ., !l