Boy's Cinema (1935-39)

Every Tuesday his ihin. ■' Tlicic's only ono thing tli;if wonios nic." "VVIiat's diat?" "These Mountics will Uv, hot on our triiil. nnd 1 wish I knew a ijooil hide out. where wo could rest uj) till these red- coats kindn lose heart or think we're acioss tlie bolder." Bud walked ri^lit into the trap. "I know the \ery jilaee. 1 vowed 1 would hold my tongii.' I'm not a squealer. These i)uddies of mine hired Mel'herson, hut now lie's turned down the case they'll not know what to do. If we can link up with them we're safe." "Are they on the level?" O'Malley asked. "There'll be a reward for our capture, and i don't trust many folk in these parts." "I swear they're on the level," Bud replied eagerly. O'Malley wisely asked no more ques- tions, and that night they set to work on the bars. By morning two more were almost filed through. Jn the afternoon Edith Hyland came to see her brother. She reported that she hiui failed with McHherson. O'JVtalley. lying in his bunk, could see the two arguing in ■whispers—the Mounties most obligingly keeping well out of earshot—and grinneti when the girl got up to leave. The brother had persuaded his sister. Edie's going to get the horses and be at the three pines at michiight with supplies," hoarsely whis)jered Bud. "She was all against a gaol-break, and ■wanted me to stand trial, but I told her I hadn't a chance." "You sure haven't. Best get some re.st. Bud." After dark they set to work again on the bars, and at last the way to free- dom lay open. After waiting to see there were no Mounties on the watch, O'Malley crawled through and dropped to the ground. In a whisper he hissed back that Bud Hyland could make the jump. The two men speil silently away from the prison and ran for about half a mile before O'Malley called a fialt. He placed his ear to the ground. "We're not being followed." he chuckled "Those Mounties won't find BOY'S CINEMA we've (li)uii till diiybreak 'J'lie poor saps." Half an hour later, after various detours, (hey reached tho three lone pines. Sure enough, there wa^ the girl with three good horses, O'Malley wat<'hed the happy reunion of the two young people, and it con- lirmed his oninion that Bud Hyland had nothing to do with the murder of Mar- shall. The girl was even prettier than O'Malley expected, and he liked the fearless way slie stared at him. Obvious that she was not very certain of him. " Edie, the Mounties will soon be after us, and we've got to lie low for a while," Bud told her. "You get back to the ranch and I'll get word to you." " I've got old Hodges and his wife to carry on," the girl stated. "I'm coming with you." "Buc you can't do that," argued the hoy. " I can ride as well as any man, and I'm not trusting you out of my sight." " You'll be up against every sort of hardship," O'Malley told her. "We'll have to ride for hour after hour, mile after mile, and over a bad trail." " I have made up my mind." The blue eyes flashed, and the small chin was full of determination. "I am going with my brother, no matter how bad the trail." She turned to her brother. "You are going to the headquarters of 'Red' Jagger, aren't you?" "Yes, he's my friend." " And all he could do for you was to get a sneaking lawyer like McPhersiyi to take up your case. That man is a bad iiiHueiice. and directly the hue-and- cry abates you're leaving that bunch and we're getting over the border l)ack to civilisation." Edith Hyland gave her orders: "Don't waste time arguing. Bud." "Your sister's right. Bud," O'Malley interposed. "Every moment is valuable. We gotta be many miles away from lierc before the jMounties find we're gone." Without further discussion. Bud Hyland headed to the north-west. Edith followed close behind, whilst O'Malley brought up the rear. Red Jagger EXCEPT for brief hall> they rode all that night and part of the morning. B^id ilyland explained that he had travelled out of their c^jui-so becaiife lio wished to throw oil' any chances of pursuit. O'Malley admired the way the grirl kept up and showefl no sign of flagging, though it was his strong hands that helped her from the saddle when they made late breakfast beside a lake. "There is a good bit of o|)eii country before us." Bud stated, as they drank steaming hot coffee. "It would be l>est if we rest in some thicket, and stall about an hour before sunset." "Why can't we make for the border?" the girl wanted to know. " Lad3', that would be asking for trouble," grinned O'Malley. "They will be watching the border for miles and miles. You can bet every station, every small town and all settlements will be warned, and they'll have an accurate description of us. North of iis lies country that seldom sees a white man. It would be very unwi.se. Miss Hyland, to travel south. We could lie hidden here for months until the winter breaks, but we ain't got any need to worry with Red Jaeger's hide-out clo.sc at hand. Bud, who is this Red Jagger?" "Horse and cattle dealer—big shot." " He's been a bad influence on my brother!" flamed the girl. "Red's a swell guy!" protested Bud. "How you come to link up with him?" O'Malley asked casually. "Oh, I chanced on him one day!" the boy answered. "I was doing swell till this happened." "Buying horses and cattle?" "I hadn't been with Red long. I helped herd the cattle and handle the horses, act as a watch-out. and " "Watch-out!" O'Malley rubl>ed his hands. "Sounds mighty like Red is a cattle rustler. Guess I might do worse than link up with Red." "My brother is not linking up with a baud of crooks if 1 can help it!" the girl cried, giving O'Alalley an indignant glance. "Why can't we stay in tho forests?" Everyone backed away from a faro table as Dan menaced them with his forty-live. January 9tli, 1937.