“STRATOSPHERE EXPRESS”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 March 1940, Page 10

“STRATOSPHERE EXPRESS”

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. COPYRIGHT.

BY

ALROY WEST.

(Author of "Messengers of Death,” etc.)

CHAPTER XII,

(Continued}

Storm perched himself on the table. He offered Rush a cigarette, which the man took eagerly enough. Lighting his own, he puffed away at it while Rush made his confession.

"I don't suppose,” said Rush, "that, you have any idea of what halted can do to a man. It can poison nis life. It can make him stoop to the lowest things. I expect you know that I hate Bessiter. I’d like to strangle him—but I’m not big enough to do it. That’s the tragedy. We don't understand these things when they happen to others. Every fibre of one s being crying out in hatred, and yet one isn t sufficiently strong to come out and fight. Only big men can join in a struggle. I wasn’t born a big man.. “I had a son. He was a splendid fellow. And he worked for Bessiter. There was another youngster with Bessiter at the time. Malcolm Williams, Manda’s brother. Malcolm was clever. He was always inventing things. My boy,” Rush gave a wry indulgent smile, "was more for action. He loved flying. He could do anything with an aeroplane. “The two youngsters started to put their heads together. Williams had the brains to invent improvements, and my boy had the nerve for testing them. 'Together, they would have done amazing things. But both were killed. They were trying out a new machine for Bessiter. The machine was faulty. I felt certain, for some time, that Bessiter was to blame. He was impatient for results and sent that plane up before it had been overhauled. He said afterwards that it was in order, but I never believed him. There was an inquiry of course but it didn’t get very far.

“Bessiter seemed genuinely sorry about it, and when he offered me a job I took it. I felt then that Bessiter had made a mistake but was trying to make amends. He treated me in a very off-hand’ fashion, but that was just his way. “I had been working for Bessiter at the Essex Street factory for a year or so. Then he had his new place, the secret works, constructed, and informed me that he wanted me there. I was elated at the trust he was placing in me, for I had got to like him, despite the fact that he was very brusque at times.

“The very night that I received news of this change in my position Dickin called on me. He showed me some letter which, at first, 1 could not credit. But, in. the end, he managed to convince me. The death of my son had not been an accident. It was deliberate. Dickin showed me notes which had been written by my boy, who was more skilled than I had imagined. Wilfred—that was my son’s name—had mentioned about this improvement to which the notes related to Bessiter and another person. Bessiter claimed he had the right to anything worked out in his place, and that there should not be any financial reward. Wilfred refused to submit to this. The following day there was the accident.

“I call it an accident,’but it was deliberate. The only accident about it was that Malcolm Williams went up at the same time.

“I can see that you don’t credit the story. I didn’t. But how could I get away from the notes and a few letters which Dickin/ produced? I know my own son’s writing. And I was well aware of Bessiter’s writing. There wasn't much from him, and what there was didn’t prove anything—except when taken in conjunction with some letters my son had sent to Lovac regarding the sale of the invention. "Dickin realised that I was only half convinced, and he then produced a written confession from the man who had tampered with the aeroplane, and caused the smash. He stated quite definitely that Bessiter had instructed him —and had also paid him.” “The whole lot might have been faked,” Storm commented. Rush shook his head.

“There was no mistaking that the letters written by Wilfred were genuine. He had a little trick with his signature which nobody would think to imitate. I'll tell you.” He came closer to Storm and leaned forward as though confiding a great secret. \

“The dot above the ‘i’ in his Christian name was really a very small circle. One had to use a glass to make certain, because Wilfred could write a very small, fine hand. When I was shown the letters, I asked for custody of them for a few minutes. This was permitted, and I used a magnifying glass. Those letters were definitely written by my son." "From that moment I hated Bessiter. I would have done anything to destroy him. So I was perfectly willing to take up the post of the secret works and to promise to pass news on to Dickin and his friends.

“But I think that Bessiter suspected me. I never had the slightest chance of communicating with my friends. Every movement I made was watched. But 1 knew that Dickin was carrying on with his plan, because notes came through at times, always with sluff brought front the works. “I didn't know about the explosive in the case. Thai had been done quickly, and there had not been any opportunity of warning me. “Of course, I realised that Dickin was responsible for it. What t did not know was the plan adopted by Bessiter. But Manda came to me and told me that she knew I was helping those who were against Bessiter. 1

was not really surprised, because she

had come so near to catching mo redhanded on two or three occasions. It seemed that she was afraid because of what might happen to you. So I had to tell her where Dickin had his headquarters.” Storm smiled. “So she was worried, about mo?” Rush nodded his head. A twinkle came into his eyes. "She seemed very worried. We struck a bargain. She promised to keep the news to herself and not to tell Bessiter of my own duplicity. But I saw that this could not be done entirely, so we arranged that her name was to be kept out of things, but that you would have to be able to tell what you knew. I was already planning to leave the works, because I saw that I had been, forced into an impossible position.

"I managed to make my escape by night. It was not easy, and more than once I was nearly discovered. "It was only today that Dickin told me about the monoplane. He knew that there was going to be a test flight. I had told him that, of course, because 1 gave a brief outline of what had taken place at the works.

“Dickin took some other men and waited outside Larkin’s hanger. Larkin and his helpers were taken prisoners and moved away in a car. Dickin assembled the monoplane and dealt with the testing. He made sure that it was all right for taking off, but calculated that there would be an accident. when it was in the air, especially if there was a speed test.

“When I was told what had taken place, it was afr too late for me to do anything. I had an idea that Manda might take the machine up, because I knew that her brother had had something to do with inventing the wing structure. “It seemed to me that the world had come to an end. The last person I wanted to harm was Manda. I didn’t say anything to Dickin, but when h'e had gone I started to think out what I could do. There wasn’t anything. I was beaten. I'd tried to work for two sides and, in consequence, belonged to neither.

“I just sat here by the table and waited. I hoped that the police would come and take rne away —although there was no reason why they should. But I felt a criminal. "Now what are you going to do with me?” Rush stood still at last. He had been pacing up and down the tiny room while he had been making his confession. “What are you going to do with me?” he asked again. Storm didn't like to look at him. Rush was somebody very badly beaten. “I want a bit more information.” he said after a pause. “Has Lovac been at the back of Dickin all the time?” "No,” said Rush. “Dickin has always had the intention of selling out all he could discover —and he has known that Lovac was the best buyer. But Lovac came into it on his own accord. He had a man watching on the night you were captured. I don’t know how he managed it, unless he was having Dickin watched very closely and had the telephone line to the laboratory tapped.” “I expect that was it.” “That’s all I know —except about Macready.” “Yes,” said Storm slowly. “Somebody was responsible for that smash.” “Yes,” -said Rush quietly.

“Know who?” Rush shook his head. “I think we can save you, Rush," Storm said. “You have to make a choice, of course. You must finish up either for or against us. Which is it? I’m not trying to dictate. I'm trying to safeguard Manda." “I'll help to the best of my ability—if you’ll have me,” said Rush. “I've been through purgjatory, wondering what had happened to her. ’ "Right. I will tell Bessiter that you moved away because you had a line on our enemies. I will also tell him what you have discovered. And then I will see that you are reinstated.” Rush gave a shadowy smile. “I tljink I’m best kept out of it.” ne said gently. “We'll see. anyway. But I want to know one other thing.” “What?" “Where is Larkin?" Rush smiled. “I can tell you that. He is with his workmen. They're fastened up and they are inside a Co-ordinated World Transport Company's freight aeroplane at the Company's air-field. It takes off tonight and is going, to slip away without calling at the newly constructed Government. Airfield for clearance. It's bound for South America!" (To be Continued.)