Boy's Cinema (1935-39)

Directly Philip had gone (he bcr.utiful blonde returned to life, and after looking round to see if she were observed, smiled mischievously. Noise- lessly she slipped from the couch, and from a small desk picked up a Ace\ paper-cutter that was not unlike a dagger. Several papers she scattered on the floor. When Philip came back into the room llie girl had gone. "Darn the girl," he muttered, and Jiot knowing what to do with the biandy, decided it would cheer him up to drink it. It was then that he noticed the papers by his desk. He went across. No, nothing seemed to be missing. He tried to visualise the desk before he had placed some of his papers there—how about the paper-knife that the studio staff' had given him at Christmas? Gone ! Exasperated, Philip rubbed his chin in perplexity. Ho. supposed the woman was some souvenir-hunter. He glanced up and saw a shadow on his curtains. It was a woman's shadow, and she •seemed to be holding a knife in her hand. He jumped for the cabin door and dragged it open. Sure enough there was the girl, dart- ing along the deck. The moon was shining and he saw her clearly. Most of the passengers were dining, so there was no one promenading. Philip went after her and saw her open a state-room door. He wa.s wondering what he ought to do when there came fi oin within the cabin a hoarse scream, and a moment later the door was flung open. The girl appeared, and in her hand was the knife; she ran to the I'ail and throw it overboard. He watched her run along the deck and vanish from sight. What should ho do? n He decided that he would look into State-room 41. He entered and stumbled over some object. His groping hand found a switch and snapped on the light. On the floor was stretched the body of an ugly, wizened little man. Hi's coat was open and the white shirt had an ugly red patch in the region of the heart. Philip backed away from that still figure. Ho locked the state-room door and hastened to find the captain An officer informed him that the captain was proljably at dinner. Philip hastened to the dining-saloon. Murder IN (he cock!ail bar three men wore enjoying a drink. The tall, upright man with the wcather-tamied face and pleasant smile was Captain J3roniley, the gaunt, lined man with the hard, cynical mouth was Van Mier, the financier and the big, heavy-jowled, coarse specimen in the ill-fitting dinner suit was Sergeant Donovan, detective ;ind bodyguard. "I'm trying to tell him, captain, that' it would be a whole lot better off m I lie ship's safe," argued Donovan, "than ill his pocket." "Oh, you American detectives." Van .Mier's lips curled in (ho usual sneer. "They're .sent to make you feel easy; instead they make you feel nervous." "But I was hired (o guard you, wasn't I?" The detective was quite nasty in his (one. "You should take my advice." "All light—all right," testily iinswcrcd the millionaire. "I shall do \\hatever you think best." " I think Donovan's right," spoke the laptain. "I shouldn't care to carry anything worth a fortune in my'pockot, 111 call the purser for you." "Oh, captain, may I speak to you a n:onient?" Philip met the officer as iM< was leaving the bar. AJaixh 27tli, l'J37. BOY'S CINEMA *f Donovan, leaning against the bar rail, pointed out Philip to Van Mier and explained that it was a famous film star. The captain listened with amazement to Trent's story, then he turned and beckoned. " Sergeant, come here a moment, please." Donovan turned to Van Micr. "Looks like some trouble. You stay right here. Don't go away—they're queer folk on most ships. I want to find you here when I get back." Sergeant Donovan went across and heard Trent's story, then the three men hastened away. Van Mier, who was consumed with curiosity, might have followed them if a short, thickset man had not appeared and touched his arm. " The sergeant asked you to stay here, sir," he murmured in servile tones. Van Mier glared angrily at his manservant. "All right, Williams. Listen, the man that went out with the captain is Philip Trent. My little granddaughter would lovo to have' his autograph for her album. Try and get it." "Very good, sir, certainly, sir, I'll go at once, sir." Williams backed politely. As he hurried away he bumped into Mrs Kinney and her insignificant husband. He tipset her drink: " Pardon, madam—purely an acci- dent—the ship lurched." "Don't try to make excuses," sniffed Mrs. Kinney, who had been supporting the bar too long. "You're soused." The dapper little valet glared, seemed on the point of retorting, remembered his position, and hastened away. On reaching the door of State-room 41 Philip turned to the captain. " I locked th.e door so that no one would slip in and destroy the evidence," he said, and unlocked the door. The floor of the state-room was normal; in other words the corpse had vanished. Captain Bromley listened with grave displea.5ure to Philip's frenzied state- ment that he had seen a bloodstained body on the floor. "A ship's no place to pull Hollywood jokes," he cried after a quick inspec- tion of the room. "Mr. Trelit, take my advice. Go to bed quietly and sleep this off." The officer glanced at the detective. "I'll get the purser—you go back to Van Mier." When the captain had left Donovan would have followed. " Wait, sergeant, I haven't been drink- ing. I know I saw a body." "Yeah, you're telling me!" .sneered Donovan. "Just what you do in all your pictures. Selby James, amateur detective, always kidding the force— making saps ovit of the police. Why, he's nothing but a swelled-head jackass. And you're a bigger jackass to play him." "You're completely right," Philip smiled. "But you've got the wrong man. You want Peter Dean." "Who's he?" " The nit-wit that writes that junk I've been playing. The blighter that blighted my life. A person I'd like to choke with his own whiskers." " Sony to disappoint you," interrupted a cool voice. " But I haven't any whiskers." Philip gazed round-ej'ed at the beau- tiful young woman who entered the state-room. He recognised her at once. Now her hair was brown—she had worn a blonde wig. "Who are you?" Philip managed to stammer out. "Peter Dean," was hei' answer, and the girl 'aughed merrily. "Yeah, and ho\v did you like the first chapter iii ' Murder in the Mud Bath ' ?" , Every Tuesday came a jeering, triumphant voice, and the voice belonged to Mert Morgan. Philip went very red. "I get it," he rapped out. "You two figured you could chisel me into likin.; it." "Yeah, listen to this front-pa,ce stuft"!" shouted Mert. "'Trent true tu form—screen star and author solve steamship }nystery.' " Donovan thrust himself forward. "What is this?" he demanded fiercely. "A publicity stunt?" He saw Mert'.5 grin, and he turned on Trent. "So you're up to your old tricks again, eh? Trying to make fools of the police. Why, I'd hke " Donovan gaped as a little man ap- peared from the bath-room. "Are you through with me, miss?" he asked. "Pardon mo!" laughed Peter Dean. "While I pay off the corpse." " The captain ought to have all of yon chucked off this ship!" Donovan shouted. " And I'd like to carry out the job. Pah!" " Take Cokey Joe for a drink," hinted Peter Dean to Mert. " We'll see you later." Philip Trent eyed the beautiful gir! with ill-concealed anger. Ho was just thinking of all the things he could have said if she had been a man. "Don't look so mad!" She shook with laughter. "You know you're not really mad. You're glad to find I'm a woman, but you just won't admit it. ' "You win, Pete." He held out his hand. " And I like you much bette;- with your own hair. Also I like tho way your eyes are put in, and that gown you wear. How about taking a drink." They strolled alotig the deck. "The great mystery to me"—Philip had her arm tucked through his—" is how anyone so delectable could write such tripe?" "Tripe?" "Tripe! I've been waiting for thrco years for this moment to look you ir. the eye and to tell } ou that your bool>:; are idiotic—your characters so asinine. " They've made me a lot of money, sir." "Th.it's just it. You ought to l;e ashamed to take money for anything so contrived—so grotesque and incredible. You know " A cabin door liad opened, and a little woman darted oui, causing them both to start. "Here, I say, what's the matter?" The little woman, whom (hey could see was an Oriental and wearin.g sointi sort of heavy silken garment, inushed past them A second later another woma.n darted out, and caught her near the rail. She was attired in the dre.?.-. of a servant. "Let mi go—let me go!" they heani the woman say. Then followed the servant's voice in some tongue they did not understand. The woman capitulated, and the two hastened back into the cabin, the door slammed. "Weil, how's that for mystery?" chuckled the girl. "The woman from the E.ist." " Stop it, or I'll throw you over- board," warned Philip, as they resumed their walk. "A drink is what we need, and then perhaps we might dino to- gether." Bo they wined and dined, and strolled in (he moonlight talking of themselves mostly. It grew late. "I "left my bag in your room," Peter said at last. "Let's go and get it." Arm-in-arm (hoy made their way leisurely towards his state-room. "That's funny," Philip said a few moments later. "What's funny V