Boy's Cinema (1933)

8 "You know,*' he said, as thoy'eat to- gether in the room where he had been convalescing, "I'm beginning to get kinda. restless. I'm the sort o' fellow that has to keep movin', and besides—a man has got to earn his livin'. I've been.enough trouble to you already.' " I have a long way to go to repay what you did for me that night at San- derson's hacienda," she replied. "My men and I might have been caught if it hadn't been for you. That's what the boys don"t seem to realise." Larry broached the subject that was on his mind. " Maybe you could find me a place in your outfit," he suggested. "I'm afraid not, Larry," she said, with a shake of her head. " Stick to your cow-punching, if that's what your line is. When you're ready to go, we'll just say ' Good-bye,' for if you stayed here it would mean the law putting a price on your head." "I wouldn't worry about that," Larry told her. " You have a price on yours, but you seem to thrive on it." Joan laughed mirthlessly. "Do you think I'd choose this life?" she retorted. "Listen, there's a price on my head, but I've only got Sander- son to thank for it. His lies have branded me with every crime that has occurred here." "Well, didn't you take Sanderson's money that night when I first met you ?" Larry reminded her, trying hard to exclude any *ign of contempt from his manner.. " I have the right to take money from the man who killed my father, stole our rattle, burned our home," the girl said bitterly. "Yes, that's what Sanderson did to me, Larry." " Sure is a big grudge," Larry said guardedly, wondering if there were any truth in what she was telling him. "I leckon that would be enough to turn anybody to rustlin', thievin' and murder." He was thinking of his brother Jim as he spoke, and the last word came harshly from his lips, but as he uttered it the girl looked at him in horror. "Murder?" she exclaimed. "Not murder, Larry ! I've taken what belongs to me, but I've never countenanced any killings! Larry, surely you can't believe that of me?" Well, I was only goin' by what I heard in Sanger," Larry muttered. "There was ^onie mention made of Sam Dunning- and a Ranger by the name of -Madden." "More of Sanderson's lies!" the girl cried. "You've got. to believe that. I'd hate you to think otherwise. Listen. Id have gone to the authorities if I'd thought there was a chance of clearing If, but, after he'd branded mo in advance, how could I have hoped to nice tlieni? I'm finding it hard to nee even you." ; Was it possible that she was telling the truth? Larry was inclined to think so, for surely there could be no point in her nig her guilt when he had proposed joining her gang. He was tempted ii to introduce himself as tarry Madden, Banger, but, still un- certain of his ground, restrained the impulse and decided to hold his peace. •He strolled out of the shack a little later, and, wandering round to a corral, >6iiglit. out, his horse, a magnificent animal thai had been renowned amongst the men of Ranger Company A for its 6peed, stamina and intelligence. " Hallo, there. Flash!" Larry greeted January 14th, 1933. BOY'S CINEMA the bronc. "Say, I wish you could talk and let me know what you think o' Joan Stanton. I kinda figure there might be a lot in what she says, and if that'6 the case we're followin' a blind trail. How about gettin' outa here and oheckin' up on Sanderson, huh ?" He had spoken in a half-soliloquising tone, and now he proceeded to saddle the pony and mount him. Soon he was cantering towards the mouth of the canyon, which was blind at one end, but as he reached the only point from which an exit could be made he was held up by two men on guard there. "You can't get out of here without an order from Miss Joan," one of them stated. "Oh, that's all right, boys," Larry declared. " She's given me the freedom of the valley." "Well, I know nothin' about it," was the rejoinder. " You'd better get back to your quarters pronto." Larry shrugged helplessly, and wheeled towards the interior of the canyon again, wondering how he was to effect his design. Sentence of Death. JOAN employed a woman to clean up the outfit and cook the meals. She was a former servant of her father's, and doted on the girl, and it was shortly after Joan had left the shack following her interview with Larry that the woman came through the kitchen to sweep out the youngster's room. She was thrusting a broom under the couch on which Larry had slept when she heard a metallic tinkle, and, stoop- ing to investigate, she picked up a badge. It was Larry's, and must have slipped from his pocket while he had been lying there convalescent. The servant-woman took one look at it, and then, with con- sternation on her face, she stumbled out of the dwelling. Tex was near by, and, calling him urgently, she showed him what she had found. He stared at it for a moment, his brow darkening ominously, then de- manded to know where it had come from. " I discovered it under the couch where that stranger's bin sleepin'," the woman explained. "It's a Ranger's star, Tex, and it means " "I know what it means all right," Tex ground out, and promptly beckoned to 6ome of the boys who were standing not far away. They growled aloud at sight of the badge, and were muttering among them- selves when Larry was seen approaching in Joan'6 company. Anxious to escape from the canyon, Larry had figured out a plan and had asked the girl if she would care to take a gallop with him while he exer- cised his horse. It was a proposition to which Joan had readily agreed, and even now sho was making for the shack to change into riding-kit. Tex and his companions let Joan go inside, and then, while Larry waited for her, they surrounded the youngster. "Here's something you lost," he said, presenting the badge. Larry started, and had an impulse to break away. But he realised that they were too many for him, and he stood his ground, eyeing Tex calmly. "You're not cxpectin' any mercy, are you, Ranger?" Joan's henchman rapped out. " You came here as a spy, and wormed your way into the confidence of that girl in there—s-i** Every Tuesday "Wait a minute," Larry interru] "I guess there won't be much use in denying what you say, but I'd like to ask a favour of you. I'd be some obliged if you and these men would keep this to yourself." "Yeah?" Tex grated. "That's a funny kind o' favour, comin' from the likes of you. Our quarrel is Miss Joan's quarrel, an' it don't concern the law. But when a snooper comes in we've gotta protect her, and we aim to plug you. I've been watchin' points, Ranger, an' Miss Joan has got to be mighty fond o' you "- "That's just what I mean," Larry broke in. "I'm not asking for quarter, but this thing is gonna upset her plenty." Tex fingered his chin. "Maybe you're right," he growled. "She's had a lotta tough breaks in the last twelvemonth. Listen, we're ma km' a raid to-night on the Sanderson outfit. There'll be a shot fired, and it'll look like an accident, but it's gonna write ' finis ' to your career. That's the ex- tent o' the favour I'm givin' you, Ranger, and bear in mind that you can't get out of here without us, for there's a coupla men at the end of the canyon. Now, take his gun, fellers." Larry was disarmed and Tex and bis companions drifted off. There was no sign of them when Joan emerged from the shack. "I'm ready, Larry," she said. "Which way shall we go ?" Larry had been thinking rapidly. He was ready to believe what Joan had told him earlier in the day, and he wanted to assist her in proving her in- nocence of the crimes put down to her name, but he would never do that if the death sentence of her men were carried out. "Listen, Joan," he said. "You've started me thinking. Outside of this canyon there's a price on your head for murder, but you can clear yourself and your men, too, if you'll come away with me. I've got friends who have a lot of influence, and when they hear your story they'll do all they can for you." Joan bit her lip dubiously, but Larry argued away her misgivings. "I want to help you," he kept assur- ing her, and at last she nodded slowly, "I'll do it, Larry," she murmured, "but remember—I'm placing my life and the safety of my friends in your hands. I think we ought to let Tex know what we're going to do, too." Such a move would have wn • d Larry's plans, and he restrained her. "No, let's wait and tell him when things are settled," he urged. "Come on, we'll get started." They mounted their horses and rode to the mouth of the canyon, where the two guards looked at Larry challengingly. Joan made haste to put their minds at rest, however. "It's all right, boys," she declared, "We'll be back shortly." She and Larry rode on, but the guards were not satisfied. "I think Tex ought to know about this," one of them muttered. "You go back to the bunkhouse and see if you can find him." The other man hurried off, and within a few minutes he located Tex and the rest of the boys. "Hey, Tex," the guard announced, "Miss Joan's gone ridin' with that feller Larry. She said everything was okay, but we thought we'd let you know." Tex ripped out an oath and turned to the rest of the men.