Boy's Cinema (1935-39)

BOY'S CINEMA " You cowardly cur I hissed the girl. " And I thought you were his friend." "And sl;iivo (o death;" O'Malley J^^5kell quietly. "1 helped save your hiothei's neck, but 1 ain't got any desiie to wander about these pesky forests. We gotta have some dougli, and if uc throw in our lot with Kcd we can make it." ■'And benonie outlaws. Up til! now llii> Hylands have always kept, on the liyht side of the law." "Why argue, Kdie?"' said her ')rothei-. ''All that's (^hanged, and we've gotta live. Maybe Ked does rustle a lew cattle. I coidd do with .some easy money.'' ."Maybe yoti'ro used to making your money by dishonest means, but we're not," Edith told O'Malley. "And I'll ih;uik you not to try to persuade my brothel' into your villainous ways." ■'Keep quiet, JCdie!" Bud cried angrily. "You ought to be thanking JJan, not carrying on this way." "Don't you mind me!" O'Malley eliuekled, "I get a kick out of tweak- ing the nose of the law. If you two wujuia hit the trail to the border you can count on me to help you, but for fliG moment it ain't worth arguing •about. Safety lies with Red Jagger till (ho -Moimtips iiave cased up on us. 1 may link up with Jied, but I'll help you get across the border." He rose, '■"thiess we've argued long enough. We should be making tracks for the forest, and, believe me, I'm going to sleep with one eye open. Danger lurks where yixi least expect it." Some hours later they once more hit the trail and soon came to open country. O'Malley, rifling as usual in the rear, •secretly examined a map, and made liis bearings. Soon they should come to a river. They reached the river, and found tlie water not very deep. It was daik when they reached a wide valley, and Bud advised staying there the night as the undergrowth was dense. January <M\, lt>37. "It ain't wise to go prowling about Red's hide-out at night," the boy gave a shaky laugh. "He has men po.'iled, and we might get shot." It was O'AIalley who ti.xed up a rude shelter for the girl. Often he knew the girl was watching him as if she could not understand him. . At dawn the journey was contimied, and they had not proceeded far when fi'0)n some dense foliage a man sjirang out and covered them with a litic. "What you want here?" "I'm seeking Red Jagger," answered Bud. "I'm Bud Hyland." The man came closer. "Bud Hyland's in gaol." "I broke out with the help of Dan Rawlings. My sister had horses wait- ing for us." "If you're lying the worse it'll be for you," muttered the man. "Raise yer hands above yer iieads, and if yoLi try any funny stuff I'll shoot. Take the trail ahead and don't forget I'm close behind." The trail became wider, and they, had gone lialf a mile or so when it opened out on to a small plateau. Here and there were trees, a number of shacks and a considerable amount of cattle. }5ud whispered that at one time the place had been a ranch. Outside the Liggcst shack they were ordere<l to dismount. A j'Cll brought out an uglj', unshaven ras(-al, wlio seemed amazed at the sight of thiee visitors. They were ordered to enter the shack. Round a table sat a luunbor of men drinking and playing cards. O'Malley took iKirticular note of the huge man with the course features, small, beady eyes and innnenso hands. He was sure tliat this was Red Jtgger, and that this was the gang that had connnitted the outrages across the border. "Well, if it ain't Bud Hyland," ciicd the big man, lurching lo his feet and Every Tuesday nearly upsetting the rough table. "Who sprung you outa that gaol?" " My friend here—Dan Rawlings," announced Bud. "Dan Rawlings." Red Jagger fin- gered his chin and drooi^ed his heavy eyelids. "Can't say I mind that name." The eyes opened wide and studied O'Malley closely. " What's yer game, mistei-?" With hands on hip.'!, and an insolent smile on his lips, O'Malley st^ired boldly at the big ruffian. He shrugged his shoulders. " All depends on what sorta game there is to play. I met up with Bud here in Silver Creek gaol, and he looked like taking the rap for the killing of a iNlouiitie." O'Malley again shrugged his shoulders. "Not that I have any tune for them coyotes, but it seemed kinda tough that Bud should be handing in his checks for a killing that he don't seem to know much about. I've been in gaols before, and they don't hold me long." "So vou bioke out?" Red nodded his head. "Wh;Tt was you in for?" "For striking a Moimtie and resisting arrest," O'jMalley chuckled. "That don't sound nuicli, but it was plenty. I was recognised. Kinda queer that tucked away in the wilds they should Thave pictures of guys what was wanted —guys not heard of for a couple of years. That's me—I fooled 'em all that while." " They could have pinned something else on you?" questioned Red. "They were having a danged good try," O'Malley smiled round at the group. " Swell hide-out you got round here." "Why did you come here?" Red turned on Bud almost threateningly. "I knew the Mounties would soon learn of our escape and that we woulil have little chance," frankly answered Bud. " My sister had got horses, but we would have to rest them, whilst the troopers could get changes of mounts, and we wanted a jilace where we could lie low till they got tired of looking tor us. Where else should we come but here?" "Yeah, where else would you come?" Red grunted. " Sure you weren't trailed?" "I ain't been in these wilds for twenty years or so without knowing some- thing." sneered O'Malley. " We'ie kinda siispicious of new faces." Red stuck out his jaw. "You've kinda spoilt our plans. Word came to us that " He glanced round at Bud. "The lawyer guy had gone back on uts, and we had it all fixed to raid that gaol to- night." " You'd have had to ride pretty hard to make it." O'Malley calmly sat down in a chair. "Well, we seem to have saved you and your boys a lot of trouble. What's the ne.xt move?" "Have you any suggestions, mister?" "Yeah!" O'Malley yawned. "I reckon I've had about six hours' sleep in the last three days, and I know Edie and Bud are almost ready to drop. 1 Ia\ e you a spare shack where we coidd doss?" "S\irc I have." Red held out _hi3 hand. " Maybe in ihe morm'ug, Rawlings, we can have a talk." Red griimed, and then raised liis voice. " Gabby !" he yelled. From the back regions shuffled a hang- dog fellow. ]^ong, dank iron-grey hair, unshaven for dayg, l)loodshot eyes and with a filthy apron over his dirty clothes. " What d'you want, Red ?" "Take these people to that emijfy shack—give 'em blankets," the lea<ler ordered. "Take 'em over some food." "Uh!" Oabby shuffled forward and peered. "Bud Hyland! Why, how the