Boy's Cinema (1935-39)

Every Tuesday "It is incredible," burst out the cirl and clang to the big man's arm. "'Can't you help him, judge?" she pleaded. "I'll see what can be done," said Lane. " Perhaps I have some influence. At all events I would do anything possible— to please you." There was no mistaking the meaning of his level glance upon her. "There is nothing I should love better," the man put in, "than to take you to Washington as my wife. Will you n...: i y me, Lettie ':" "If—if you help Captain Tex," sh< ■"- eed. "I promise at least to get the cl against him—reduced," he assured her. But the scheming judge did not kei p !,,- word. Aunt Hortense whispered to him that Lettie had fallen in love with Tex. He grasped her inference. Let Tex die ! He was to stay behind the wagi nidcr to make his "plea" to the members of the court martial, arrang- ing to ride aft< t the train on horseback. He let Lettie go with the hope that at least Tex would be saved the ultimate penalty of the traitor. And before she ascended the departing wagon -he felt the least she could do was to comfort him with the knowledge of the judgeV promise. She walked across to his prison window. "Good-bye!" -he said softly. "I'm sni rj - for everything." "Good-bye, Lettie I I did not know that you were a Morgan, or I should never have dared." "Don't!" she pleaded. "As if that mattered. But T have dime what I could. The judge has promised t' speak for you." "I shall never forget you as long- a- I live. I may say that, mayn't 1' Though that won't be for long. Good bye!" She left him and went to the wagi n. The train moved off, and Judge Lane returned to meet the men who -at in judgment on Tex of the Scouts. Had Lettie been present to hear his out ion before the military tribunal she would have shrunk for ever from the man she had promised to marry. He walked up and down the small office and talked. He told the company, in front of which Tex stood handcuffed awaiting the verdict which meant life or death to him, that he had been asked by Congress to make an unofficial inspection of the various military forts alone the Californian border. "Surely, gentlemen." said he suavely. "you would be unwilling that, I should take back a report that those in com- mand of Fort Henry feared to do their duty when a traitor stood before them." It was tantamount to telling them he expected a verdict against the prisoner nf guilty! The grave men round the table in their immaculate uniforms listened to the evidence. They read Lettie'* statement; they heard Utah Joe's assertion of Tex's connivance with the Indians, another man was found who declared that he had seen Tex open the corral gate and let. the horses out. The inference was that Tex was selling the animals to the Indians, who were I'm ever raiding the fain , murdering the inhabitants, and holding up peaceable travellers across the border. The officers were handed little pieces of paper on which to write their de- cisions. The colonel collected them, glanced through them without a trace of feeling betraying what he thought. Then he stood up, and Tex stiffened himself to hear the result. "The unanimous verdict of this court of the United States Army is that you are guilty of traitorous conduct. The BOY'S CINEMA A ■- MktMtoC * Enthralling Articles'. * *eitiat «* Hot ire s t If you're keen on the films, and like em spiced with thrills and gripping adventure —here's your book ! BOY'S CINEMA ANNUAL is a boys' book that girls will like as well. This grand new issue contains no fewer than 160 pages, packed with dozens of film features that will entertain you for many hours. There are SEVEN long, complete Film Stories of mystery, adventure and the glorious West, enthralling," newsy" articles about Filmland and the Stars, and hundreds of marvellous photographs. Buy your copy to-day ! OY'S CINEMA ANNUAL Of oil Newsagents and Booksellers - «3 O 19 sentence is death. You will be -hot at dawn." Tex had spoken no word throughout. He turned on his heel, and, with head erect, walked between his gaolers I . to the cell—the condemned cell now. Smoke Signals to the Indians THE train with Lettie. her aunt, and tlie "Show Girl" Company gone; Judge Lane hail ridden hot-foot alter them as soon as he had spoken his perfidious oration. I Joe, exultant, rode in charge i t the military escort that was to condui I I .a iv through the bad lai i Meanwhile, night had fallen, and two guards with long bayonets fixed to their carbines, pai ed slowly before the d ' of Tex'- cell. Silence fell over Fort Henry which seemed emphasised by the white moon casting long shadows from the brooi illlls. That silence was nut broken .;- .i figure crept with catlike stealthiness under the veranda where the E kepi their watch amid, a darkness that was like a pool of ink in the white night. A panther-like leap; a hand pressed vicioush over one gaoler's mouth. Tho tiny noi-e of the luiii ■ nd of a revolver coining in contact with the base ol a man's skull; the whisper of a stifled gasp. Xo sound of the falling I Frog, friend of Tex, was too prai a hand for that. The guard fell limp into his arms, and was gently Set the ground, then softly dragged behind a pillar. Meanwhile, Buffalo and the Idaho Kid. two other stalwarts erf ihe scouts, who had left tl impa \\ for this desperate venture, bad dealt in similarly biisines- like manner with the other guard. Frog was lifted on to the roof oi wooded building. For a lev breathless minutes, tt hile his comrades kept observation, he prised at the rough hoards. With a slight ripping sound one gave. Then it was simple. Inside Tex was on the qui vive, ah it at the first suggestion of outside move- ment. When the raised board revealed the pudding like face of Frog, a thrill tan through him. His nun believed in him, were ready to risk their lives for him. He knew what desperate chance this was they were taking; if dis- covered, they, too, would face the filing squad at daybreak. "Tex!" It was but a whisper. "Awake?" "Befeha, Frog." The hole widened. Tex leapt upwards to be caught in the powerful hand- of Frog. In a minute the prisoner was Out on the roof, in another he was down beside Buffalo and the Kid. and like black ghosts gliding into nothing had disappeared along the length of tho building and had won clear into the open. A dash and they were among the trees, where four horses stood ready saddled. With a sigh of relief T< \ once again found the loved body of Champion stir between his legs, and the four moved quietly off. "Where away?" asked Frog. He had no schemes; the one obiei iiv» had been to release the chief. It was for him to decide what should he i If he chose to take to the mounl and turn outlaw they would have been with him; obviously none of them could return to the fort. It would be returning to death. "After the wagon train," said Tex, without a moment's hesitation. Something called him, warned him. At all events he felt he must once again set his eyes on Lettie, though they would have to be hidden witness' s, Utah Joe had set camp in a rocky September 12th, 1936