Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

Every Tuesday hamied an animal, yet the killing of a Kend like you wi{l give me no com- punction. Don't come any closer, Goiio, or I will shoot!" "You haven't the courage. You would not dare to shoot at me!" Again the insane laugh. "I shall kill Steve very soon—perhaps he shall choo.se his own death. Yes, I killrd King and his dumb gang—it gave mc pleasure. Put down that gun and tell me how much you admire me for my courage and daring." Though her heart was sick, the cirl's eyes ne\er wavered from the scouafeel's face. " You are the most loathsome reptile that ever existed!" she .said in hoarse tones. "'You have become crazed with power and the lust to kill. But now you must pay the penalty!" The rat-tat-tat of machine-gun fire startled them both. The attack by the ixilico had commenced. The Final Conflict. STEVE was restless and disturbed. Why hadn't Helen been round to visit him since the early hours of the morning? He had a telcjihone call put through to the flat, and learnt that she had gone out. The maid explained that it was to the Regal to see Mr. Gorio. What for ? For some while Steve had been getting suspicious of Goldie Gorio. He was still wondering when the gangster who had warned Helen was ■innouneed. In a few words he told the dread truth. '■ King knew you had been framed and went to the Regal with his fellows for a show-down. They haven't come back, and I'm certain they're all dead. Not knowing what to do, I went to see your wife, and when I came back, after seiing the rest of the gang, I found she had gone to the Regal. The maid tells me slie is packing a giin. W"hat will you do, Steve ?" "Go to her!" raved the invalid, and limped out of his chair. "Help me get out of this place. No one must stop me. I'll tell the doctor " He broke off as he heard a nurse speaking excitedly in the next room. "The ix)lice are attacking the Regal. They're after Goldie Gorio for murder!" The two men looked at each other and then ran for the door. They hurled a doctor asiile in their haste. Seconds later a liiied car was taking them towards the Regal. In a side street Steve found McBaine, and in a few words leamt of the "confession. " Give me a gun, McBalne!" 6hoi\ted Steve. "My wife's inside " "Better stay with us, Steve," cautioned McBainc; then, seeing the boy's deteiniine<l jaw. laid a hand on the young fellow's shoidder. "You can't do anything, lad. Guess Gorio won't harm your wife." "I'm not taking any chances," Steve -houted, and sped away. The police were slowly working to- wards the chief entrance of the Regal. The building was off the main thorough- fare, but all trallio down this side road had been diverted. From corners and from behind .?ome old wagons the police fired towards the great door. Already all the glass was smashed and the beautiful statues and huge palms riddled to dust and rnin. From Jiidden loopholes the gangsters returned the fire. Steve found a plain-clothes man hid- ing behind an old car. "My wife's in that hell,'* ravetl the youngster. His anger lent him strength. "You're brin^inc up racket guns—let BOY'S CINEMA me use one. I know where those skunks have their loopholes." "You go to certain death!" was the answer. Steve snapped at him. "You'll never get them out of that warren otherwise!" "Go to it, kid!" the detective nodded. "I'm taking a chance on you." Racket guns are long-barrelled machine-giins mounted on a wheeled trolly and having an armour-plated shield. The barrel goes through a hole in the shield, and it is possible for a man to crawl along, pushing the machine-gun before him. The chief danger was in Steve's leg. Through the shattered door the racket gun was slowly pushed, and be- hind the gun was Steve Carlyle. The gangsters grinned fiendislily at seeing such an easy victim. Little did they guess who manned the gun, or that he knew most of their secrets. Crack! Crack! Crack! One of the men behind the loophole gave a sobbing cry and slumped to the groinid. His companion stared in horror; then a look of agony crea.sed his face as two bullets found their mark. From the stairs a man opened fire on the protected attacker, and instantly Steve swung round to deal with this new danger. Deadly was tlie fire of Steve Carlyle, and the man came tumb- ling down the stairs to lie a crumpled heap. Two more loopholes opened fire on Steve, but they found .shooting dithcult. as bullets were now blazing through the door from two more racket guns. Then Steve Icnated the small aperture through which the gangsters' guns were spitting fire—and his weapon answeied viciouslj-. Those behind the lo<jpholc fell silent, and a ricochet smashe<l the last giui. Two men on the stairs trietl tfl hold back the attackers, but fell riddled v.ith bullets. Dashing out of hiding, Steve picked up one of the gangsters' guns and charged up the marble stairs. A bullet whined past his ear as he dodged be- hind a statue. A hand protruded hold- ing a gim—but instantly Steve fire<^l. A howl of pain was his reward. Steve's clencluHl fist flattened out the man as 27 he reached lor a gun with his unhurt hand. - He thrust the fellow gside as if he were a child. Joe tried to stop Steve, and was foolish enough to threaten. "I'm gonna kill you, Steve Carlyle!" He was as mad as his master. "Straight through the heart!" ■ A wild leap and Steve was behind a pillar. The bullets sprayed all round but lie was unhurt. He had picked up another gun, and with a cry he threw his einptied gun from him. Steve made that cry sound like one in terrible pain. It bluffed Joe—and Steve, from behind that pillar, got Joe as he half lowered his weapon. Over and over down the stairs rolled the body of Goldie Gorio's aVjlost servant. Goldie's apartments at last! A rush and they were open. Steve pulled up with a jerk. By a table stood Helen, and she stare<l down at .something that lay at her feet. The girl seenied in a trance. Comforting arms*were at once thrown about her. "Steve! Steve!" .She clung to him.' "He rushed at me and I shot him!" A head peered round the corner, took in the scene at a glance. A smile spread over the lined, grim face of McBaine. "Who kille<l Gorio?" His sharp question made them jump. "I did!" gasped Helen. "Oh, no, you didn't!" McBaino laughed as ho took the gun from the girl's nerveless fingers. "I killed Gorio."- They stared at him with dawning Jiope. "After I've been trailing him for nine months I'm not going to let a woman take him from me." He winked broadly at both of them. "This is my funeral! This show's over bar the shouting. By to-night you two kids are going to be well on your way to Florida. As far as McBaine is con- cerned you ain't ever been in this dive!" (By permission of the Producers' Dis- tributing Company. Ltd., starring Rieardo Cortcz as Goldie Gorio; Helen Twelvetrees as Helen; John Garrick as Steve Carlyle; Paul Hurst as Joe; Frank Conroy as Hartley King; Harry Carey as McBaine; Frank McHugh as Doc.) " THIS MODERN AGE." Should a daughter frive up her chance of happiness to defend her mother ? A modern story of mother- love—of a girl's sacrifice to save her mother's name. " BIG BUSINESS GIRL." H?r boss wanted to be her husband, her hus- band wanted to be her boss. Read this story and see who wins. Starring Lor- etta Young and Frank Albertson. " THE DANCING PARTNER." He posed as a dancing-paitner to test her character—this unknown girl he was to marry in a month! Star- ring William Haines ami Irene Forcell. GRAND COMPLETE FILM NOVELS. Neil Hamilton and Joan Crawford in "This Modem Age.'' Complete in this week's issue of our splendid companion paper ( 4 SCRSSN STOJRIES." On Ssue Monday, December 21st« Price 2A ■Oecember 26th, 1931.