Boy's Cinema (1935-39)

Every Tuesday hock did yonRct here? I suic though I we'd soeii'tlie Inst- "' lie saw the re'! gleiirns in liis chief's eyes. "Cut out liie talk and get bui,y." Gabby half-turned, and then his eyes peered at O'lMalley. "What's he doing here?" "Will you get going?" thundered Red. "I've seen him some place!" shrilled Oabbj d'.-fiantly. "I can't say the same for you!" laughed O'RIaliey. "Though I've been in and out of a few prisons in my life." "Yeah, maybe it was in one o' them I saw you." Gabby shuHled back to the door. "I'll go hot up the stew." "Gabby is a grand cook—he's stewea like everything he handles!" shouted Kcd. in his hearty manner. He beamed at the girl. "Very pleased to have you here with us, Miss Hyland. You'll find us a bit rough and ready, but ap- pearances are sometimes kinda decep- tive." Edith Hyland hoped so in her heart, because never had she s^en such a bunch of desperadoes. It was a relief to be out of the evil-smelling room and follow- ing the cook across dewy grass towards a distant shack. From a window Red Jagger and some of his men watched them. "How d'you figure this out?" "Well, Butch, it ain't so easy!" Red leered at the bearded rogue who was his lieutenant. "What was the idea o' sayin' we was going to attack the gaol?" asked a man, with a heavily lined face. "Lefty, you're okay with a gun, but brains ain't your strong point." Red touched his forehead. "D'you think I was gonna tell the kid we had tVamed him and we never thought he'd escape hanging, I never thought this rube ■would horn in and spoil our game." "What d'you aim to do with 'em. Red?" asked Butch. " Dan Rawlings ain't dumb like the kid." The big fellow^ went back to the table. "Why not fix him to-night and the other two?" cried Lefty. "Bud's here, and he'll do as we fell him," said Red Jagger. "And his kid sister is a swell looker. I'm kinda (iret! of Gabby's cooking, so we don't wanna be too hasty. If this Rawlings guy is all he says he is, then he's one of us." He glanced round. " That guy has nerve, and I'm getting tired of guyS" with yeller streaks." The six men stared at their leader and moistened dry lips. They knew what Red was getting at, and squirmed. In a recent raid they liad turned tail and fled when a number of deputies had appeared. Dangerous Days THE shack that had been allotted to them was in a filth.v condition, but the girl with the aid of a broom ^\orked wonders. There was one bed- loom, a kitchen and one main room. Naturally the girl had the bed-room, and the men slept on the floor of the main room. During the night, which was stormy, O'Malley awoke to hear Bud muttering in his sleep. From a few odd remarks he gathered that the boy had foolishly become linked up with the gang througli losing money at cards. A chance of paying his debts had been offered by Red Jagger if he helped them to smuggle goods over, the border. That was an offence, but Bud had not known that the goods were not always smuggled, and in most cases were stolen with vio- lence. Once involved with the gang "there was no escape. Marshall had found out about the gang's activities and BOY'S CINEMA had been murdered, .'ind Jagger, no( wanting hi.s nu'ii to be susiiected, had framed Bw\ Ilyiand. Tlie leader, realis- ing by now that the boy was far too straight to bo of much use—in fixcX, might be forced into talking—Marshall's death was one way of shutting his month. O'M.-dley clenched his fists as ho thought of Jagger's treachery, lie had promised to help Bud in retcnn for a still tongue, hoping that Bud would realise too late that there was no escap- ing the dread penalty of death. Poor Bud had swallowed the story about attacking the prison cells at Silver Greek. Kdie was much more far-seeing than her brother. The stoim was so bad that night that the bed-room windows collapsed and rain pouied into the room. Edie brought her blankets into the main room and lay down close to the lire. Somehow the presence of O'Malley gave her a feeling of security. In the early hours the storm lifted, and soon after dawn there was scarce a cloud in the sky. O'Malley had a talk with Red Jaggev, and, having an inventive brain, was able to concoct a fine tale of his adventui'ous life. Red Jagger felt .sure that Dan Rawlings was just the sort of new recruit required for their rides across the border, but the rest of the biuich, who had been listening to the nunnbling state- ments of Gabby, were not so sure, and protested strongly when later that day Red stated that Dan was chucking in his lot with them. "You mugs make me sick," Red told them, when he had listened to their protests. "If Dan ain't all he seems we'll know soon enough." "How?" they asked. "It ain't kinda wise to cross the border, so we're going to ride into Silver Creek," Red told them. "They gamble for pretty heavy stakes at the Eldorado, and " "You ain't planning to stick up the Eldorado!" cried Butch. "We've kept clear of Silver Creek, and " "■\'ou biuich of scared coyotes!" jeerecl their leader. "The Mounties will know we're in the district," jiersisted Butch. "We're riding into Silver Creek, but we won't stick up the Eldorado," l{e<l Jagger told them, and roared to fee then locms of surprise. " N on guys ain't got any more sense than a mule. Dati Raw- lings is going to .stick up the l']ldorad<< and we'll watch. That'll show \yhether he's got nerve. Brody." This to ;i gaunt man with a scared face. "Go fetch Rawlings." O'Malley listened to Red Jaggcr'.s scheme and was quite aware that the men were watching him closely. One false move and he'd be full of lead. If he refused to cany out this hold-up anything might hapijen to him, and he woidd not be able to help Bud and hi^ sister, but if he did carry it through he would be made one of the gang. "Holding up a gambling joint aiti'l. much in mv line," drawled O'Malley. "And '• ■ "You're scared!" leered Butch. " I'll take any one of you mugs out- side and knock the hide off 'em!" rasped O'Malley, his eyes gleaming. He bunched those mighty nuiscles. " Any of vou sour-faced cissies care to take me on?" "That's the talk. Dan." approved Red. and glanced round. "I'll stake ten bucks on Dan." The men muttered, but did not take up the challenge. "Having settled that matter we will now retui-n to the hold up." O'Mailey leaned forward. " When I said hold-up.i of gambling joints were not in my line I meant it, not because I was yeller, but because they're small thunder. But a.", you mugs ain't keen to fight, maybe you'd like to wager me I won't stick up the Eldorado single-handed." Again there was no response. Red Jagger grinned his approval, but his heavy face hardened when O'Malley said: I'm sorry I misjudged you," Edith whispered. Jauuarv 9lh, IftSJ.