Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

Every Tuesday "Nor's shootin' a woman," replicrl Buck. "Come on, now—I'm waitin' !" Gorman stajed close to the wall, making no attempt to move. Buck waited for a few moments longer, then became impatient. "All right," ho said finally. "You've had }our chance. Now I'll force it out of you." He made a move towards where the whip hung-, and his action compelled Gorman into movement. The assistant- foreman, taking advantage of Buck's temporary lack of watchfulness, ^ok .1 rjuick pace forward, and swung Tip the chair in front of the sheriff's table. Buck swung round to meet the attack, and bent low to take the weight of the ciiair on his back. It landed with a sickening crash and splintered, but witliout doing much damage. Buck straightened himself abruptly, lunging upwards with his fist as he did sc. The blow took Gorman under the ciiin, sendmg him staggering back- wards a second time. The next moment Buck had the whip in his hand. " For the last time, Gorman " he began, and broke off as Gorman, desperate, leapt at him. He cannoned into Buck, and the two clinched, fighting hard for possession of the whip. They swayed backwards and forwards, crashing into the rough furni- ture about the office, oiich maintaining a firm hold of the other for fear of losing the advantage. One of Gorman's heavy riding-boots caught Buck on the shin, making him wince with pain. His leg began to go numb, and he realised that he could not hold on much longer. He twisted sharply in Gorman's grip as the boot landed again, this time with a glancing kick. Jerking backwards. he brought his knee upwards and drove it hard into the pit of his adver- sary's stomoen. Gorman rela.xed his hold and began to gasp for breath. Buck tore himiclf clear, and raised the whip. "Now, Gorman," ho said, "arc you goin' to speak?" Gorman's eyes glinted, and i he made to rush again. Buck brought the whip down across his shoulders heavily, and the contact of the lash made a noise like a pistol-shot. "Ah!" shouted Gorman in agony. " VVho shot Madge, Gorman?" Buck demanded. Gorman's eyes roved aliout the office treacherously, and picked upon a leg of the broken chair lying on the floor not a pace away, llo dived for it quickly. Again the lash whined througli tlie air, and landed .across his shoulders. He fouglit back the weakness the pain caused, and picked the chair leg up. Crack ! Gorman let out a howl, and dropped the chair leg. He staggered to a corner, and crouched into it in an effort to avoid the deadly thong that bit into In flesh. Buck followed, and stood over him. "Ready to talk yet. Gorman?" "No," gasped Gorman weakly. The whip descended once more, making a. vivid red weal across his chest. He cried out again, and sank to his knees, whimpering. Buck raised the whip yet again. Gorman's face went dead white, and BOY'S CINEMA he put up his arms in a vain effort to shield himself. "Buck—no—no!" he implored. Buck checked his arm. "Who shot Madge?" he asked relent- lessly. "I did. Put up that whip." Buck turned and went to the door. He flung it open, and found Kane out- side, leaning against a corral-posl, thoughtfully chewing his eternal pea- nuts. "All right, Kane, " Buck said. " We've agreed." Kane nodded amiably, and followed Buck back into the oflice. lie looked at Gorman, and did his best to stop liim- self from grinning. " Fine !" ho said enthusiastically. "Now you've agreed, perhaps I can get the information I want. How about it, Gorman?" "I shot Madge," Gorman whined. "I shot her accideutallv, trvin' to capture Buck." "H'm!" Kane considered the point. " Well, I calculate that don't sound much like the truth—especially after what Madge told me—but it'll have to do for the time being." "I swear it." "Don't swear. Be a gentleman," said Kane. "Now tell me something else. Who held up that pay-roll car and plugged Bill Dakers?" "I don't know." Kane glanced at Buck, and Buck raised the whip again. "I don't know, 1 tell you I'' screamed Gorman. "You can cut me to ribbons, but I can't tell you something I know nothing about." Kane put out his hand and checked Buck. 19 "W'ell, maylje you don't want to tell me," lie s,aitl. "It would only mean using you as State evidence, and that would mean <i lighter sentence. I reckon I can find out without your help " Ho grinned, and turned his back oil Buck, intending to help Gorman to his feet. Buck flung down the whip and, with a lightning movement, jerked the gun from Kane's hiji. "Stick 'cm up!" he said sharply. Kane obeyed slowly, and turned with a look of reproach in his eyes. " Saj-, Buck, I've been tryin' to help you," he said. "You ain't goin' to break gaol on mo, are you?" "Don't argue, Kane," Buck replied. "Do what you're told, an' no harm'll come to you." He reached to a nail on the wall, and pulled down a pair of handcuffs. "Chain your two selves to the bars of the lockup, and be quick aboir it. I m not riskin' pursuit." " Bur, look here " "Get busy !" Kane got busy, but the order did not rufSe his placidness of temper. He took Gorman to the lock-up, passed the chain of the handcuffs behind one of tho bars, and fastened on<> end to his own wrist and the other end to the wrist of Gorman. Buck backed to the door, and gained the open. The next minute he was astride one of the horses that stood against the corral-post, and galloping down the street in full flight. A Warning. TEN minutes later ho halted in front of Duke Porter's house, and dis- mounted. In his approach he made as little noise as possible, &ud bow he Buck closed with him and forced his gun hand high into the air as he pressed the trigger. December 26th. 193U