Boy's Cinema (1935-39)

12 And the following day the two men set out for old Dismukes' mine in the Death Valley. Adam to the Rescue E"« VERYBODY in Tecopah and the Jj neighbourhood knew "Big Jo's " bar. It was as popular as Big Jo herself; for the latter was as big in heart and kindliness as she was in size, though the girls who worked for her— as well as the rough miners who fre- quented the saloon—knew finite well that you could play no tricks on Big Jo. Big-hearted she might be, and un- doubtedly was, but she was a very sound judge of human nature, and such a thing as fear found no place in her make-up. Ruth Virey had come in there one ilav, and, at the girl's request, Big Jo had given her a job there, for she had taken a liking to the girl at first sight, and though the latter had vouchsafed little about herself, Big Jo had sensed sc/me tragedy and had taken her on. But though she had been with her now for nearly a year, she was still puzzled about her. She could see that she was different from the other girls—quieter, more reserved, though eminently hard- working and always willing. So it was that when Dismukes was in ihe saloon one day saying that he was wanting some capable young woman ii|i at the mine to keep house, cook and ludk after himself and his men, Big Jo suggested Ruth. For she knew that the old prospector would look after her like a daughter, and she fancied that it would be a far better.life for the quiet, sensitive girl than the rough atmosphere ul her saloon. Ruth listened to the proposal, nodded her acquiescence. She declared herself quite willing to go on her present em- ployer's recommendation. But she seemed to have no enthusiasm about her, and Big Jo tackled her then. "I wish you'd tell me what all the double is, kid," she said. "You've been here for the thick end of a year, and you ain't no different now to what you were when you came. I don't want to butt in any, but maybe I could help you." The other smiled faintly. ""You've been real kind to me, Jo," she replied, "but I guess there's no one can help me." "A man?'' queried Big Jo, after a pause. The other nodded. "I may as well tell you," she said, and proceeded to tell her story. " So when my father and mother died," she went on, "I just started to wander around in the hope that one day I'd come across him. You see, he was innocent, Jo, but the sheriff was in league with his brother, and no one in Picacho dared to cross the sheriff. So Adam just had to clear out, and maybe he's still in hiding. But if I could find him I'd marry him. I love him, you see, and I told him, when we parted a year ago, that I'd never marry anyone else. And I know he won't, either." Big Jo was silent. Her experience of men was making her a bit sceptical, but she wasn't saying so. "Well, cheer up, honey," she said. " The world's a big place, and all sorts of queer things happen in it. What d'you say to bavin' a change and goin' up to this mine with old Dismukes ? He's a funny old fellow, but he's white all through, and I reckon you'll have a better deal than you get here." The next <I• iy Ruth set off for the Death Valley with the old prospector. It was hardly an accident that brought March mil, 1036. BOY'S CINEMA Adam Larey to Big Jo's bar on the following day, for things had been hap- pening to him and he was riding post- haste to old Dismukes at the Death Valley mine. And Tecopah lay in his way, and he had heard of Big Jo from the old prospector. So, hitching up his horse outside, he strode into the saloon, called for a drink, and in a very few minutes was in private conversation with Big Jo. She listened attentively to his tale, but she never doubted the truLs^of It. She could see that Adam was speaking the truth. He had told her that he had been robbed and captured by a band of desert outlaws, and, while a prisoner, had heard them planning a raid on old Dismukes' mine. "I managed to escape, fna'am," he finished, "and I'm on the way there now; but I shall want help. You're a friend of Dismukes, and he saved my life.". "Wish you'd been in here yesterday," said Big Jo. "He left for the mine with one of my girls, Ruth Virey " But that was as far as she got, for the next moment Adam had leaped to his feet, excitement in every line of his face. "Ruth Virey?" ho almost shouted. '' What's she like ? Where does she come from ? D'you mean to say " But she calmed him, told him what she knew. Though long before she'd finished he had rushed from the saloon, flung himseif on his horse and was rush- ing over the desert at a furious speed. Adam's brain was whirling as his horse bore him along Wiid delight and ex- ultation were in his heart at the thought that very soon he would be seeing Ruth onco more, even in spite of the know- ledge that with the stigma of the crime hanging over him he could never ask her to marry him. Yet, despite his ex- ultation a terrible dread was on him that the outlaws might reach the mine before he could. Then suddenly he uttered a sharp exclamation, for in the distance he could see a rider approaching him at a rapid pace, though, as the latter drew near to him fear once more leaped to his heart, for he saw in a flash that it was old Dismukes Chinese servant. "Massa, massa," exclaimed the other, "the robbers are at the mine. They've got missic and master, and I'm riding for help, and " But Adam waited for no more. With a shout to the Chinaman he set^spurs to his horse and was racing towards Death Valley, which lay only a few miles ahead. In the meanwhile (he old prospector and Ruth stood facing two outlaws. Ruth stood perfectly stiil, her calm eyes on Ben, the loader of the gang, whose gun was menacing them both. Dis- mukes' hands, holding his gun, were above his head. Then Ben spoke, and there was a cruel smile on his face. "Now then, come on, old-timer," he said. "Where have you got all your gold? Speak up, and speak quick. Otherwise you're for it." Ruth shivered involuntarily. She had heard of Ben, knew the sinister and brutal reputation ho bore. Dreadful deeds of cruelty had been whispered about him. ami she was horribly afraid. She and the old prospector wero seem- ingly all alone. There was no signs of the Chinese servant, and she wondered dully whether ho had bolted precipitately or whether die rest of the robbers hail got him. Then the heard old Dismukes speak- ing, and a thrill surged over her at the quiet, steady indifference in his voice. A E\lry Tuesday "I reckon you can find it for your- self, \ou white-livered skunk." he said. "I'm not telling you." The outlaw scowled heavily. Fury was in his eyes. "Oh. that's your tune, is it?" ho snarled. "We'll soon change it for you." He addressed the man who was at his side. "Take this girl and lash her to a post so that she can see what's goin' on," he said brutally. "If this old fool won't speak, maybe she'll speak for him very soon. I'll deal with him." The memory of what followed lived with Ruth for the rest of her life, for driven outside at the gun-point she soon found herself lashed securely to a po-u in full view of the ore-crushing machine, and her heart went down with horror as she realised what Ben was going to do. But struggle as she would when they had bound her, she knew only too well that she could never free herself. They had tied her too firmly for that. It _ was a primitive ore-crushing machine. There was a deep, circular- pool of raging water, fed by the river, which rushed down the mountain side; rocks were round it in the form of a low wall, and the grinding machinery was set in motion by nudes which were harnessed to the creaking timbers, and walked round and round the pool. But they harnessed old Dismukes this, time, jeering at him, taunting him and raining heavy blows on him as they did so. And as the machinery began to move and the grinding of the ore sounded in the roaring nool below, Ben belaboured his helpless old victim with a chain, cursing him and abusing him as ho staggered round and round. "You won't tell us where you've hidden your gold, you old fool, won't you?" he screamed. "We'll soon see whether you'll change your mind I" Ruth's head went down and she closed her eyes. Such agony was in her heart as she had never known. Above the) roaring of the water and the grinding of the rocks below she could hear tho outlaw's savage curses as he la6hed at the old man. Adam Larey did the last quarter of a mile on foot. For as he surmounted the hill and looked down on the mine he saw in a flash what was going on; and though fierce fury was in his heart he knew that only by exercising extreme caution could he hope to rescue Ruth and the old man. Actually it only took him a few minutes to worm his way among the boulders to a point immediately above the ore-crushing machine. But even while he did so his eves were roaming everywhere, and his hopes of success were growing every minute. Then, suddenly ho heard a footstep, and crouched among the boulders as he saw a man approaching him. But the man did not see him. His gun was in his hand and his eyes wero roaming tho valley left and right. Adam held his breath. He knew that what ho had to do would have to bo done quickly, and he sent up a swift prayer to Heaven that tliero should be no mistake. Out of the corners of his eye* he could see old Dismukes below coming nearer and nearer to where ho was, Ben lashing him furiously. And nearer and nearer camo the unsuspecting sentry. He leaped then, and his fist shot out, catching the man clean and true on the point of the jaw and sending him crash- ing down among the rocks to lie very still. Though Adam never waited to see (hat. In a flash he had swung round and had leaped the fifteen feet to the (Continued on page 27)