Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

12 holiday, and you will liave the great Goldie Gorio as your best man. 1 will stage a wedding that will make history. Think carefully before you say ' no ' to this, Steve. ' No ' would mean that bloodshed w-ould continue; you would never get your Helen, and the morgue would be very busy. A ' yes ' would be like the cooing of the dove of peace. Give me a month to stage this wedding, and it will bo the greatest ever. Fix it with your sister, King, and then send her away, in case she should hear any talk. I can see, King, you favour the plan. How about you, Steve?" There was no alternative for Steve. Besides, why should he die when a " yes " meant the cessation of gang war- fare, even if it did mean deceiving Helen ? And so the wedding was fixed for one month from that day. A month later Steve Carlyle and Helen King were made man and wife. It was the most elaborate and gorgeous wedding that Chicago had over seen. It was too gorgeous. Several times Helen wanted to know why there was all this show and pomp, and Steve cursed because his tongue was tied. Roses were thrown from windows on tho bridal procession, tho streets were decorated with bunting, the wedding was held at the chief church ; there were a dozen bridemaids, and the reception was held at the largest hotel. Hundreds of guests, grand entertainment, mar- vellous flowers, valuable presents—no expense was spared. Among the uninvited guests was a thick-set wizened-faced man. He was one of the crowd, and he chewed the end of a long cigar as he watched tho arrival of every oar at the church. " Wonder how long this is gonna last," sneered McBaino, head of the Chicago police. "Gorio reckons that, now he's in harness with King, he's got Chicago skinned. Guess he'd better take another think." "They'll bo a tough combination," murmured a trusted captain, who also wore civilian clothes. "Gorio's screwy," McBaine laughed. " One day something will send him real crazy, and then the fireworks will begin. That will bo my chance." McBaine little knew how near he was in his prophecy. Goldie Gorio had never seen Helen until she came up tho aisle on the arm of her brother. He had heard that Steve's future wife was good- looking, but Helen was the most divine creature that Gorio had ever seen. His nails dug into his hands as he watched her approach. If he had known about Helen, he would have married her himself. A queer smile twitched his lips as he glanced at the exalted Steve. "The great Goldie Gorio had made this mar- riage, and now it was too late to stop it, and the gangster wanted this girl for his own. Goi-io gave no clue to his thoughts as tho wedding proceeded, though ones Helen looked startled to find those pierc- ing black eyes watching her. And when Gorio talked to the girl at the reception afterwards his deter- mination and admiration increased. His eyes narrowed as he glanced at Steve. Perhaps there might still be some work for the morgue. The Trap. Ar.lL the while Helen and Steve were on their honeymoon Goldie Gorio's fertile brain was busy. All tho while he prepared the homo that was to be the Carlylo's. He had insisted upon finding a house for the young couple, and Steve had no option but to agree. King wished his new partner December 26tb, l»31. BOY'S CINEMA would not make such ostentatious show, but Gorio was a difficult man to deal with. Before thej' sailed for the West Indies, Gorio lavished presents on the girl, who was bewildered by all this extravagance. Her brother explained that it was Goldie's generous nature. His new busi- ness partner was as kind-hearted as he was rich. Bloodshed had not completely ceased, because a cop had been killed during the running of some illicit liquor, and McBaine had vowed to get Goi'io. Then several smuggling ventures went astray, and Gjorio began to suspect that some- one inside was in league with McBaine. This led to the master-crook planning the end of Steve Carlyle. The plan material- ised some four weeks after the return of the happy couple. The Shark was a fast river-boat that could carry passengers and freight. Besides oil engines she carried masts and sails—a useful craft for all emergencies. Engines could be heard at night. Gorio had so much money that he could buy most things—he had a city patrolman who took his money. This wa.s how he learnt that McBaine had got wind of the fact that Gorio owned the Shark. The ship was now an ambush. If Gorio attempted to take the craft on a run, then some gims would be loosened off. But the information that made those queer eyes gleam was that tho Doc. was one of McBaine's men. "Now we know why things have gone wrong of late," Goldie told his servant. "Let me bump him off!" demanded the bloodthirsty Joe. "I alius have hated that silent sucker." "The Doc. is going to be useful to me—afterwards," Goldie Gorio gave his watchdog an imderstanding wink. "I want you to bring the Doc. to me just before dusk this evening. I am going to tell him that the Shark will leave her moorings at midnight. You will follow the Doc., and when you are certaiii he has sent the message through to McBaine you can act." "Leave him to me," beamed Joe, rub- bing his hands. Two hours later Joe talked again to his master. "You was right, boss," he began; and grinned sheepishly as he saw the anger in Gorio's dark eyes. " You was right, sir. He went straight to a telephone booth and spilt the whole story." "You're sure, Joe?" "One of the boys was in the next booth!" Joe chuckled. "It made me laugh to hear that guy telling McBaine how clever he was and how you never suspected him. He was still chuckling v;hen he made to step out of that there telephone booth, only he never stepped out I gave one of them Lewis guns a try-out—acted beautifully." "You removed the body!" snapped Gorio. "Usual place in the river? Good! Now go and get Steve Carlyle on the 'phone. He's taking the Shark out to-night." "You're a genius, sir!" cried Joe. "McBaine will get Carlyle, and you'll get -" "Still your fool tongue!" Goldie swung round on his cowering servant. "Or someone else will be found in the river. Now get Steve on the 'phone, you rat!" Steve had planned an evening with Helen, and when Gorio issued orders for tho taking out of the Shark the tele- phono protested. The crook smiled covertly at Joe and spoke with an oily tongue. "I'm terribly .sorry, Steve," he apolo- gised. "First chance I've had of col- £v«ry Tuesday lecting a cargo, and there's no one 1 can trust save yourself. If there were someone else, I'd send them; in fact, I'd go myself, only this confounded indiges- tion has got me again. Tell Helen how sorry I am. I've got a Ivmcheon party arranged for her to-moiTOW, so get your job done quickly, Steve, and be back in time. Sorry—good-night " He paused to wink again at Joe. "Bon voyage!" " That was a cute one about the lun- cheon," said Joe, as Gorio put away the telephone. "Any other ordere, sir?" "Arrange about the lunch for to- morrow—I don't want the least suspicion to rest on me. Don't forget to broad- cast the news that I am indisposed. I shall stay in, eat nothing, and be very bad-tempered." He smiled. "You will know my bark is worse than my bite. Soon after midnight I shall expect news." Helen was angry with Steve when she heard he had to go out that night. What right had Gorio to send him out and about at all hours ? "I can't understand your business." She frowned and stamped her foot, "I've never heard of business men run- ning off at such ridiculous times on work. Last Sunday you were called away in the midst of our party, and now you've got to go off again. Tell Gorio you can't go." Steve fidgeted uncomfortably. What a fool he had been to ever get lured into this rotten life! Could he always go on bluffing to his wife? This sump- tuous flat was too vast and showy—why couldn't he have a quiet, homely place? Gorio's love for show robbed their fir^ home of all its charm. Steve was rest- less and disturbed, and he knew that Helen often watched him with worried eyes. She was puzzled about his busi- ness, and, worst of all, she could not stand Goldie Gorio—why couldn't he get a job with someone else? That almost made the boy go crazy, and, when she suggested a talk to her brother, he had to beg her to say nothing. This mid- night call on top of everything was just about the limit. Helen was almost in tears, but Steve did his best to comfort her. "It's a client who lives way out of town," he explained. "I must see him because another company are after him. Dry those pretty eyes and give me a smile." When Steve had gone Helen went into her husband's dressing-room. Why did she hesitate to open a certain drawer ? Why did her hand almost touch tho knob and then withdraw as if she were stung? At last the girl seemed to pluck up courage, for she wrenched open the drawer. "The revolver's gone!" came her cry, and with blanched cheeks reeled back. A week previotis she had 6e<"n that re- volver and had not plucked up courage to question her husband. Already a suspicion of the truth had come to her. "I must ring up Rex!" she told herself. "He will help me." The deck of the Shark was deadly quiet. What were those vague shapes crouching in dark corners? One moved and slithered acro.ss the deck. "He's on his way!" hissed a voice. Another shape moved across the deck and disappeared down tho companion- way. "^ "Chief," came a hoarse whisper, "he's on his way!" "This is where _ we square one account!" rasped a voice out of the dark- ness. "You know your orders." The figure disappeared, and McBaino of the police force drew a gun from