RECOVERY
Pep, who had followed his chum, to help carry up to the machine booths
the reels of film, leaped forward as he heard Frank's words. He, too,
looked within the safe.
"Gone!" Pep cried. "The films stolen?"
"That's it," answered Frank, with a gesture of despair. "The safe has
been robbed."
"Blown open?"
"No, the combination has been worked. Either by expert burglars, or by
someone who knew the combination. I wonder----"
Frank stopped short. He was attracted by the look on Pep's face. They
had both thought of the same thing at the same time.
"We'd better tell Mr. Bullard," suggested Frank.
"Sure!" agreed Pep. "But we've got to tell the inspectors that we can't
give 'em any advance show to-day."
"We can at least prove that we are in working order," Frank suggested,
"by running off some unimportant films. They didn't take those," and
he pointed to several reels of ordinary motion pictures, which were
stacked in the safe in their fireproof iron boxes.
"The thieves picked out what they wanted," Pep went on. "They knew what
they were after."
The two young men looked about the office of their new Zone Theatre. A
little disorder was shown, as though the intruders had searched about
somewhat, hoping to find other booty after taking what they wanted from
the safe.
Hank Strapp, who, with Randy and Albert, had been in the main
auditorium, awaiting the return of Frank with the films, came into the
office.
"I say, Frank!" called the Westerner, "they're waiting for you. The
inspectors are in a hurry."
"They'll have to wait!" burst out Pep. "We've been robbed, Mr. Strapp!"
"Robbed! Well, if I get hold----"
"No use getting excited," spoke the calm voice of Frank. "I'd better
explain to the inspectors, and get them to postpone our test. I think
they will."
But Hank was more interested in inspecting the scene of the robbery
than in the formalities incident to the testing of the films. The
Westerner and Pep looked about the office while Frank went to explain
their inability to comply with the test.
"Robbed!" exclaimed Ben Jolly. "Our films taken--eh? Well, I'm glad
my pipe organ here is fastened to the floor, or they might have taken
that!"
"Are there any clues?" asked Randy, for he and his chums had had, in
times past, to do with unjust actions on the part of their enemies, and
they knew the value of clues.
"There may be some," answered Frank. "I haven't really looked yet. I
want to explain to these gentlemen why we will be unable to go on with
the test," and he went into details.
The inspectors were very nice about it. They agreed to let Frank and
his chums run off some unimportant films, which would demonstrate that
the mechanical part of their equipment was in working order. Of course
the under-ocean and jungle life films had been advertised to be shown
at the opening of the theatre.
"You will, of course, have to change your advertisement, unless you
recover the films before opening day," the head inspector said. "We
cannot permit misrepresentation, and we know you, yourselves, would
not be guilty of it. So all you will have to do will be to announce
that the presentation of those films will be postponed for a time.
Advertise something else, and we wish you luck in the recovery of those
rare ones which have been stolen."
"Will you ever get them back?" asked Albert.
"Perhaps," said Frank, with a knowing look at Pep.
The test was concluded, with the showing of ordinary films, and Ben's
playing of the pipe organ was pronounced a big improvement over the
piano ordinarily used in motion picture playhouses.
By this time Mr. Bullard had arrived, having been sent for by Frank,
and a notice had been posted stating that the showing of the advertised
films was postponed for a few days. No reason was given, however.
"Aren't you going to notify the police?" asked Hank Strapp.
"Mr. Bullard will act as a detective for us," said Frank. "It isn't
hard to guess who the thief is."
"Royston?" asked Randy.
"He, or some of his cronies," was Frank's answer.
A careful search of the office and the looted safe disclosed no clues
of consequence. The strong-box combination had been worked by some one
familiar with it, that was evident, Mr. Bullard said.
"And since you did not change it, after taking it over from Royston, it
is but natural to assume that he, or someone associated with him, had a
hand in the theft," he said. "Now the thing to do is to find Royston."
"And that may not be so easy," ventured Randy. "I wish this had never
happened. It is going to spoil our evening."
"But Royston won't dare use those films," said Pep. "If he tries to
show them or sell them he'll be found out, for they are registered."
"No, he can't use them," agreed Mr. Bullard, "and I don't believe he
intended to. He wanted to keep you from using them. But we'll get after
him. I have completed getting some of the government evidence and I can
now arrest him on other charges--if I can locate him. I'm going to set
several wheels in motion."
Frank's wisdom in calling in Mr. Bullard, rather than entrusting the
case to the city police force, was soon shown. The Secret Service man
at once started the long arm of Uncle Sam to work and in many quarters
word went out to get Royston at any cost, not only on the chums'
charge, but on more serious accusations of using the mails to defraud
innocent persons.
Then the only thing to do was to wait. And it was, perhaps, the hardest
thing the boys could have been called on to do.
There was much to be done, however, in putting the finishing touches
on their Zone Theatre. They had to prepare for the opening of the
fair, whether they had their rare films or not. Frank arranged a very
good opening program, and Ben had enough music on hand to give several
organ recitals. Hal Vincent was also sent for to add his entertaining
specialties to the enterprise.
All this while the search for Royston and his cronies was kept up.
Clues and hints came from here and there, but amounted to nothing.
Only an organization like the Secret Service of the United States was
capable of following all the loose ends, and this was done as much for
the sake of the government itself as for the chums. They were lucky to
have that aid.
It was two days before the formal opening of the fair, and Frank and
his chums were all ready to put on their show, but of course without
the big films. They were in their office, talking over their failure,
and bemoaning their hard luck.
"If I only had hold of that Royston!" exclaimed Hank Strapp. "I'd tie
him to a lariat and----"
There came a knock on the office door.
"Come in!" cried Frank, for messengers had been coming and going all
day in connection with some matters that had to be adjusted at the last
minute. A telegraph boy entered. At the sight of him the chums were all
attention.
"I wonder whom it's from?" murmured Randy.
Frank tore open the envelope, and in a glance took in the import of the
message.
"Hurray!" he cried. "It's all right. This is from Mr. Bullard. He says:
'Royston arrested. Films recovered. Go on with your big show!'"