Boy's Cinema (1935-39)

Every Tuesday Ihicksft young man staiiilliiK noar llio editor's desk and looking a^ if '»' loiiUi iiuudor somoono was Timotli.y Higgiiis, spooial reporter. Higgins was u:<iially a good-naturod and genial fellow, but he had been roused. He liad parried out liis editor's wislies in lijing to exposi; the graft and corruption now rampant in tlie eity. He liad got a grand story about the paving graft scaiulal, and now tlie editor was climbing down when Martin Werther threatened to bring an action. Werther was the eontraetor in tlie ease. " I shall bring a million-dollar libel suit on belialf of my client if an immediate apology is not published in the next issue," Daniels stated. .James Witherspoon turned a watery eye on his chief reporter. Could Higgins prove his statements? Higgins shouted loudly that what he had written was the truth, but he had to admit that his proof was not very strong. At last, after a great dciiil of argu- ment, the editor turned to the young fellow with the golf club. " What.'s your opinion, Dick?" "This club's too heavy in the head," he answered, and then laughed. "Oh, I'm sorry. You mean this paving business. Personally, I think Higgins' article is correct. It's obvious that there's a distinctly bad odour to that paving deal." "Is that final?" Daniels asked, with a glance fit his chief. "Oh, no." Barton shook his head. "I was merely expressing my personal opinion. As attorney for this news- paper, I'm forced to admit that Higgins' lack of positive proof docs leave us open for a libel suit." "Now you're talking sense," muttered Martin Werther with a triumphant grin. "I'm willing to be magnanimous in this matter. I admire the attempts of the "Chronicle" to expo.se cor- ruption, hut not to blackguard innocent people like myself. Print an apology aiul there the matter will end." " You'd better get busy on anothei story." The editor looked at Higgins. "I want all those state- ments ill regard to Mr. Werther retracted. Get going, Higgins." "I'll resign. That story's true, and I'm not taking hack a word of it." Higghis was a stoi'iny petrel. "I re- sign!" He stormed out of the editor's den. "That'll be all right, Mr. Werther," the editor assured. "He'll write it. Dick, just go and havo a word with Higgins, and tell him not to be more of an idiot than he looks." It was unfortunate that Ann should choose that moment to e nter the offices of the " Chronicle " and make her way towards the desk where Higgins worked. Higgins slouched bark to his desk and flung himself into a chair. Dick Barton perched himself on a radiator and grinned at the ba'k of his friend's head. "Tim, cool off," he murmui'ed. "It's bad for your blood pressure. I know, Witherspoon knows, and lots of people know that every BOY'S CINEMA word of your story is tru<', but you hav<>n't any proof. With proof, old Withy would back you to the last cent, and so would the owners. The fact that Werther is willing to accept a retraction shows that he isn't too keen on the case going to court. I think we'd win, but it would stir up a lot of mud, so it's best for both sides to lay off." " What a spiii<»less policy !" sneered Higgins. ' Ev^ry self-respecting citizen wants to .see this l^acket smashed up, and at the first attempt we cry off. like a bunch of friglifeneil kids. Now I gotta do a lot of nui.sh about Martin Werther and eat humble pie. Say what a bad blumler I've made, and all the other papers will scream their heads off at Tim Higgins having to write an apology." "No, they won't, Tim. Tlicy know as well as you do that tlic story is on the level, and they'll be mighty sorry to see the "Chronicle" climb down,' saiil Barton. " If we could have carried on they would have tried the same line. At any rate, I don't believe in stirring up hornets' nests. Safety first is my motto." " And every day Werther and crooks like him gain in power till tliis city won't be fit for a pig," raved Higgins. "Why ■" "Excuse me." said a soft voice. Ann had grown tired of listening to their argument. She hated to hear people admit defeat. Dick Barton glanced round and saw one of the most charming girls he had ever seen. He gave her a friendly smile. "Well, what do you want?" snapped Higgins, still very ruffled. " I've come about that story you printed in the ' Chronicle,' " began Ann. "As you've exposed this paving graft I thought you might like to do something about the numbers racket, and ■"' "Lady, not another word," blazed Higgins Not anothci woid I've htaid quite enough todi\ Tbnut 15 nickels. I'm Ihrough^in fact, I've ju.-it resigni'd." "But aren't you Timothy lliggiiiN? Tlu' man who wrote " ' Yeah, I'm that unfortutiatu mortal," Higgins grinned angrily. "And if you want to know, I'vi- now got to sit down and write u retraction of evi-rytliing I ■ 1 J, J n .said. "But surely it was true what you printed ? " " What the heck difference does that make if you ain't got the proof?" lie turned to his typewriter. " l>jidy, this lad is out of the cru.sade business. My efforts to clean up the city are not appreciatetl. I'm sorry, but you've had a wasted journey." " My name is Ann Devlin, and my father owns a store." Ann looked at Barton for help. " He sells inmibers and is forced to do it. I thought that if Mr. Higgins was starting a campaign against these crooks I might be able to give information " " Which you can't prove, and get me into a worse jam than before." Higgins swung round. "I got a wife aiul two kids to think about, and I'll sure loos© my job if I try telling the truth. Lady, you're wasting all our time." " Very nice of you to come forward. Miss Devlin," politely murmured Dick Barton. " But i would advise you to forget anything you know about this numbers racket. At any rate, for the time being. Mr. Higgins may get proof that will enable him to havo another attempt at exposing the racketeers, and then he might like a talk with you. Maybe you could give him a card?" Ann took a card from her handbag and placed it on Higgins' desk— inechanioally he pocketed it. The girl looked at the two men as if she did not think very much of them. " I don't expect to hear from either of you, and I think I've wasted my time," Ann said quietly. " It seems to me that the ' Chronicle,' that has done so much boasting about it principles, is a Now will you play ball ? '_' he ground out. June IStb, 1936.