Boy's Cinema (1935-39)

Every Tuesday that you liavo been away on a case in the Blue Mountains, ;muI that you solved the mattci- tlioiouKliIv. That has kp|)t you away for nearly (hici- nioiiUis, and in that time your connuuiuhuK odiccr lias been endeavouring to round up a gang of sinuffgk'rs. So far, he has been unsuecesiiful." "I've got Marshall on the case, and I'm expectiiiK results any moment." Captain Herbert had flushed. Kor nearly an hour the Commissioner liad been niaking life unbearable fiy de- niandinp: «hy this gang had not been BOY'S CINEMA the Commissioner," said Ca^jtain Her- V)ert. who .'dways treated his men as friends. " Frankly, this is one of the most difTieult eases with whieh 1 have had to deal. In the thre(> monlh^ llial you have been away 1 have folloucd endless trails without re.'tnlt. 'J'his gang are u slick, dangerous lot of outlaws They are wanted for robf)ery and for a iuiinl)er of killings, but so far they have been wisf iu jitioking to the law on tin:- side of the border. My hist conununie::- tion from Marshall seems to indicate that he is on to something at, last, and I suggest llia( you leave to-day for Silver Creek, which is about a daj''s ride from here " "Very good, sir." "And I can definitely assure you that if you .succeed I will see that the Com- missioner sticks to his promise." Captain Herbert shrugged. " If you fail. I see sweeping changes that may not affect you, O'Malley, but will cause the resignation of the person re- commending your promotion. I don't think I need say any more." " I -should be at Silver Creek by morning." O'Malley clicked his heels and saluted. "I will write you a note for Sergeant Wilson," statefl Captain Herbert. "He will put you in touch with Marshall." He held out liis hand. "Good iuck, O'Malley. Remember the Mountiea always get their man." "It looks lik.' men in this case, sir," grinned O'Malley. "And I trust that if I succeed I get that leave to Montreal." " Succeed and nothing shall stop yon taking leave at once,'" Captain Herbert assured him. " I will write instructions at once. Be ready to leave in half an hour." " V^ery good, sir," O'Malley answered. o Marshall Murdered MALLEY had to put up with a good lot of chaff from his com- rades over the cancelled leave, but lounded up. Now came the reason. "Something ha.^ got to be done, ."nd sharp," the C'ounnissioner announced. "Not only are tlie papers commenting on the inability of the Mounted to cap- ture this gang, but the tlovernment have been kicking up trouble. Unless something is done. Captain Herbert, I can see the Mounted bemg in disgrace and a number of sweeping changes." O'Malley felt sorry for his captain. He drew himself stillly to attention. "What is it that you require, sir?" "That's the spirit." The Com- missioner permitted himself a slight smile. " Duty first—pleasure afterwards. This gang are concerned in a number of enterprises; they work in America and then escape across the border into Canada. You can now realise why there is so much fuss at CJovernmerit headquarters. This gang lie low on this side of the liorder, so that they can- not come under the kw without definite proof. We know that they have a hide- out, and that it must be within fifty miles of the border. That hide-out must be fpund." "The Americati police must be pretty slow to let them slip through their fingers every time," said Captain Herbert. "They never know when they're going to cross the line. This gang has plenty of well-paid spies. That is why the case needs very clever handling." " I do see the papers occasionally, and read them." O'Malley turned to the Com- missioner. " I think I know the mob you mean. They sweep down on the lonely houses, isolated vil- lages, railway stations, roads, etcetera, carry out a daring raid, and then ride hard for the border." " Those are the people, O'Malley.'" the Commissioner nodded. " I want you to link up with Constable Marshall and see what you can do." He strode towards the door. " And I want results!" " Very good, sir." " I understand that you have been recom- mended for promo- tion," were the big man's parting re- marks. "Round up this gang, and I'll promise yon your ser- geant's stripes. Good- day!" "The door closed, and Captain Herbert gave a sigh of relief. "You can imagine, O'Malley, that I have not been having a .very nice time from "Dirty redcoats I " growled the captive. he took it all very well. He had got over his disappointment; it wa.% rather nice to know that the ('omtiii.-sioner and one's own captain thought .so nuich of one's s( rvices. Well, he nuist get this gang, and then, heigho for a spot ot leave! What a sensation he would bo as a sergeant. He camped out that night under tho pines close to a large lake. At dawn ho rose and cut down a branch from a young pine, and sw iftly turned it into a fishing-rod of a somewhat amateur I)attern. He always carried some line, traces, and flies. The fish were rising, and within a few minutes he had secured two beauties, which he grilled over his fire. The sun was just coming over the hills as O'Malley cantered towards tho desolate hill post of Silver Creek. He came to big lumber mills, and then the village; on the northern outskirts was tho station of the Mounted. After hitcliing his horse to tlie rail O'Malley went inside to find Sergeant Wilson. "Hillo, what bring," you up here?", said a constable, who had worked v. it It O'Malley in his early days^. "The Commissioner is a bit riled over a bunch that seemed to be causing a lot of trouble over the border and then coming back here to roost." "Then you'd best see Sergeanc WiLson," answered the constable. "He n=ade an arrest yesterday." Sergeant Wilson gave O'Malley ;i sharp glance as the constable swung- into his room. "Got a code message you were on the v,ay up," he remarked. "Sit down. O'Malley.'" He took tiic letter Captaiu Herbert had written and perused it. "Well, 1 think you've had a fruitless journey. Sorry." " Doesn't worry mo." chuckled O'Malley. "Rlaybe I can get back to that leave I should have had. Have you got the gang?"' I'd like to bash your heads in ! " January 9Ui, 1937,