“STRATOSPHERE EXPRESS”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 April 1940, Page 10

“STRATOSPHERE EXPRESS”

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. COPYRIGHT.

BY

ALROY WEST.

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

CHAPTER XV. Continuec. "When the aeroplane was taken from the Co-ordinated airfield, we knew at once that Bessiter was responsible. And it seemed Chat Rush was the only person, who would be likely to hand on information. It wouldn’t be to Bessiter, but it might be given to Miss Williams. So we came along to interview Rush. He talked. That’s all.” Storm’s eyes narrowed. "How did he come to talk?” "That primitive imagination again!” sighed Lovac. "I told him that if he didn’t give us the information, I would turn Miss Williams over to Dickin.” "You haven’t captured Miss Williams, anyway.” Lovac smiled. “I anticipated such a happening, that was all. Rush knew that Dickin was somewhat amorously disposed towards Miss Williams. Of course, the girl 1 doesn’t like him. I don’t blame her, | because 'Dickin is a fool. He should I never have let Rush overhear our I plans,"

"He’d better keep away from Miss Williams, anyway,” Storm said grimly. “Really?” Lovac smiled. "Just to set your mind at rest, then, I don’t intend to capture Miss Williams, unless, of course, future circumstances enforce me to such an action. But I was telling you about Rush. We made him talk by that slight distortion of the truth, and we realised that it would not be long before you came on the scene. So I left the note and we had a watcher at the cafe.” "The doorman?” Lovac smiled.

“That is my secret,” he explained. The cars drew up outside Bessiter’s house and Lovac moved leisurely away. The man who accompanied them in the limousine kept his weapon trained on Storm. “Do you mind if. 1 smoke?” Storm asked. “No. But I’ll just make sure that you haven’t a gun. Frisk him, Joe.” Joe was the chauffeur. “Mother doesn’t let him carry a gun," announced Joe, after passing his hands over Storm.- . The other chuckled. “I’m not badly disposed towards you, kid,” he told Storm. “So, talking as a pal, I’d advise ; ou to keep away from things. If there a girl in the case I should keep her away as well.” “What do you mean?” The man shrugged his shoulders. “Nothing—or a lot|. Work it out for yourself.” “I will,” said Storm slowly. Twenty minutes elapsed before Lovac strolled back.

“Thanks so much,” he said softly to

Storm. “What happens now?” “Nothing. You go free. So glad you were able to help me. Good night.” “Good night,” said Storm. Lovac was smiling as he turned to enter the car which Storm had just left. “I’d like to know what is amusing him," thought Storm. “Nice sort of a fool you are!" came an angry voice from the gates. Bessiter was standing there, the cigar between his lips. “I know,” said Storm, in tones of resignation. "You might have got hurt, you young fool! Why you wanted to fall for a gag like that beats me! I did think you had a certain amount of savvy. Can you picture me falling for that?" “I can picture you deliberately waiting in order to slam Lovac good and hard,” said Storm. “Maybe. But I should be expecting Rush to come in!" “I made a mess of it. But you’ll do the same some day.” “Not me! I dont make a habit of that sort of thing. When I want to do a thing I do it!" “I’ve heard that,” said Storm. As they approached the house Storm realised that Manda was standing in the doorway. He waved his hand to her. “Don’t let that girl turn your head —it’s weak enough already,” hissed Bessiter.

Storm laughed at him. "Were there any. terms for my exchange?" "No. But Lovac was anxious to get his plane back." “Does' he have it?” "Of course. I don’t want it." “What happens about Rush?” “I don’t know—and I don't care.” Manda came running to them. “Are you hurt?" she asked Storm, anxiously. "Of course he’s not hurt!" Bessiter exploded. “You couldn’t hurt him! He’s too dumb!” He strode away muttering something or other, Manda. slipped her arm into Storm’s. "It’s good to have you back. Jim.”

she said. "Mighty good to be back. I don’t like going riding with Lovac. I find you arc much better company." “No time for compliments. Wc have to be up early—and it’s morning already, you know.” “Where are we bound then?” “Larkin’s place.” Storm sighed. "One of these days," he vowed, “I'm going to have a lazy time —and in case that’s too strenuous for a fellow to do on his own. you can come along to help me.” “That’s a bargain." she said with a

laugh. Storm was thankful to turn in. but seemed that he was hardly asleep before Andrews was shaking him. "Time to get up, sir." “Good heavens! Can’t a follow ever sleep'.'”

I "You’ve slept for several hours, sir." "All right." Storm' had a quick breakfast and then joined Bessiter. who was in a car with Mackley. "Larkin went earlier," he explained to Storm. "Why the early start?" “Use your brains! I want to know why Lovac was so worried about that machine. Mackley is with us because he can tell us who the people are who turn up to fly the bus away. I suppose you haven’t changed your mind, Mackley?” The red-headed man grinned. “I’m beginning to enjoy myself, thanks I was fed to the teeth with the Co-ordinated, anyway. A fellow didn’t know what his job was for more than five minutes at a time. Lovac was always norning in and upsetting everything. Apart from that I couldn’t stand Ilroy.” “Never had a chance of getting acquainted,” said Bessiter with a grin.

! They soon reached the hangars anc I found Larkin waiting for them. The I great air-liner was still on the field “You can get a good view from the window of that small office there,' Larkin indicated. "Right.” The three of them hurried into the place, leaving Larkin to run the car into a garage and close the doors. Bessiter stood near the window. After a time he announced that he could see a car coming. It drove right up to the main building, and Larkin came out. The driver remained in the car, but the other two occupants stepped out. "Come here, Mackley,” Bessiter instructed. “Who are those fellows?” . Mackley stared at them and turned with a puzzled frown. "This seems screwy! They're Briggs and Harper—stunt pilots. Lovac generally uses them for exhibition purposes."

“Maybe they are the only ones he can trust to keep quiet about things,", Storm suggested. “Maybe," said Mackley, in the tone of one yet to be convinced. The pilot hurried over to the great plane and started to tinker with it. “Takes them long enough,” said Mackley. But at last the engines roared into life, and the great monster of the skies started to move round to come into the wind. Then it taxied forward. Nearing the far fence, it bumped up from the ground, came down, and then went up again. Next second there was a terrific crash, and the machine slumped down. One of the great wings had struck the fence! At first it seemed that the plane would turn over, but the pilot managed to straighten it. It reeled for a second, reminding Storm of a drunken man, and then crashed to the ground. There was a loud splintering sound. “Under-carriage buckled up,” commented Mackley. Men were racing across the field now, Larkin, in the lead. Bessiter. eyes narrowed, gave no indication of moving. He glanced at Mackley. "Well?" he asked, slowly. “If that wasn’t done deliberately,” said Mackley, “well, I’m no pilot!” Bessiter nodded his head slowly. “I wonder what that means." he muttered, “More trouble,” said Storm, grimly. CHAPTER XVI. Larkin crushed the butt of his cigarette in the ash-tray. “That's our problem,” he said firmly. His voice was remarkably firm, especially when one considered how small and frail he looked. "You say the assembling will take several days?” “Yes.” “And as long as the wreckage of that infernal air-liner is on the field and there is the possibility of Lovac turn-1 ing up, it will not be safe to do the j assembling in the open?” [ “Yes. I could have fixed it up nice-1 ly in the grea thangar, but it isn’t suf-1 flciently private—at the moment." Bessiter frowned. I “I don’t like delays,” he snapped. “Neither do I,” Larkin cut in quickly. “The best thing you can do is to start assembling at the works."' "1 thought the fuselage was assembled,” Storm said. Bessiter grinned at him. “What you saw," he said slowly, “was a very small portion of the stratoplane. The end portion, to be exact. That’s so, isn’t it, Larkin?’’ “Yes —but’s hardly an opportune moment to go into the details of construction.” Bessiter winked at Storm. “Quite, Larkin. Suppose you go over to the works and see what yoti you can manage." “Very good." With an abrupt inclination of his head Larkin darted from the room. “Impatient devil." said Bessiter. "Now look here. Storm. I’m going to tell you more about, this ’plane of mine. You don’t know what it looks like, do you?” "Yes. You showed me a model of it in your room." Bessiter chuckled.

“Use your head! Do you think I'm the kind of man to show all my workers just what they are making? That model was not unlike the first idea I ever had of a stratoplane, but the real thing won’t be anything like that. The wings will be little more than rudimentary, just enough to keep the machine controlled and to make it safe for landing. There will be a device, as in the model, for altering the wing surface to a certain degree. There will be four engines, outside the rock-et-like fuselage, two on each side. The aft engines will be placed a shade further out than the fore ones. Get tjiat’.’’’ "Yes." "At the back, near to the tail and the elevator, are the tubes through which the gas will escape. The machine will go through space like a rocket.” ' | (To be Continued.)