“STRATOSPHERE EXPRESS”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 April 1940, Page 10

“STRATOSPHERE EXPRESS”

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. COPYRIGHT.

BY

ALROY WEST.

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

CHAPTER XVI. Continuec. "I always understood that a rocket would not work when the escaping gas has very little air against which to push.” “Then you've thought wrong!” snapped Bessiter. “It will be better because the action and the reaction are equal. The actual speed of a rocket is equal to the speed of the exhaust gas. The thicker the air, the greater the resistance to check the escaping gas.” “What do you use? I read once that liquid oxygen and petrol were required and that it was too costly.” Bessiter grinned. “That is being left to Larkin. Hell! What do you think I employ him for? And one can discover things—can’t one?” “Yes, certainly.” “Well, then shut, up!” “Actually, there will be a double shell. The intervening vacuum will be necessary for one or two reasons; but if you want to know why, or have any objections, you’d better see Larkin.” Storm grinned. “No questions,” he said. “Good. I want to talk about something else now. It seems that Lovac has got pretty well what he wants. The Co-ordinated Transport shares started creeping towards the sky. 1 put an inquiry through to my brokers this morning, and they couldn’t lay hands on a couple of shares.” “So that all is ready for the flight. 1 don’t see how you are going to beat Lovac—not with his organisation.” Bessiter glared. “I told you I was going to beat him! That ought to be enough for you. When. I set out to do a thing—l do it! But I must get my stratoplane into commission before I can tackle the Co-ordinated.” “I see. Now what is going to happen about Rush?” “Lovac promised to release him today. Originally, he made a promise to do it yesterday, but I had to give him a bit longer because of those pilots of his smashing up the air-liner.” “Which they did under Lovac’s orders,” said Storm. “I know that! Don’t keep trying to tell me the obvious. It sticks out miles. But I agreed because I wanted to see a bit more of Lovac’s game. Heavens! Don't you understand tact?" “Eh?” Bessiter glared. “One of these days I’ll fire you for being insolent,” he threatened. Storm laughed. “I’ll probably .walk out on you before that,” he declared. The door opened and Manda came into the room. . “Hasn’t Mr Rush been released yet?” she asked. Bessiter drummed his fingers on the table. “Not yet,” he said curtly. “Well. I’m going cut. I don’t want you for a time, Storm,” He glanced at the girl. “Or you,” he snapped. Storm smiled. "Thanks,’ he said. “Don’t get thanking me. I want both of you a bit later on. And because I’m leaving alone for a time, don’t get all sloppy. There's still a great deal of work.” Before Manda could protest, he had hurried from the room. “Can you beat that?" she asked Storm. “I think it might be a good idea to disobey,” he told her. She smiled. “I feel too worried at the moment. I don’t know what’s happened to Rush.” “I should think it would be all right. He isn't all that important in the game Manda ’crossed to the window. “I realise that. But Dickin might “You don’t like Dickin?” “I hate him. He’s a pig. And a dangerous pig at that.” “Yes. But I don’t think you'll have him bothering you from now on. He daren’t show his face in this region—and I expect Lovac keeps him busy. But I did feel worried yesterday. I though that you would be at the airfield with us. Bessiter didn't say much when I asked him.” Manda turned.

“That couldn’t be helped. There where one or two things to be straighted out. Bessiter had to go to the police this morning, by the way.” “About those fellows who tried to burgle the place?” “Yes. It will not be a big affair. He can’t say very much —and they are paid not to. It’s rather a farce really." “Seems so to me. But we might as well have them locked up for the time being." Storm felt suddenly uneasy. He remembered what the man had said to him when he was being guarded while Lovac talked to Bessiter. He had been warned to keep out of things and to keep any girl out of it as well. Was it bluff? Or had the man acted out of friendship? "What are you thinking about?” Manda .wanted to know. Storm smiled. “I was just thinking over the general position.” he explained.

Manda came and sat beside him. They chatted on all manner of topics for some time. Then Andrews knocked on the door. "What is it?" Storm asked. “You’re wanted on the telephone, sir." Storm hurried away. II was Bessiter speaking. “Look here. Storm, there’s been another development." Bessiter said over the line, “Rush was picked out of the canal this morning—early. Don't know if there was foul play. No —I haven't identified him.” “Shall I come along?' “No. Get one of the cars out and take that girl over to the works. I prefer to break the news to her. I don’t want her tho see anything in the papers.” “Very good."

“And don’t say anything to her yet.” "Right.” Storm put the telephone down and walked back to where ho had left Manda. He forced a smile as she glanced up at him. “Bessiter’s had another, idea," he explained. * “He want us to go to the works. He’ll join us there.” “I'm not surprised. He generally does want something.” “I'm to drive you over. How many cars has that fellow got?" Manda laughed. “I think it's a hobby with him. He has the money, you know.” “I guessed that.” “I’U slip up to my room and get ready.” Storm crossed to the window. Poor old Rush! He wondered what had happened. Was it —murder? Or had Rush got himself so entangled that it had been the only' way out? In a sense, he himself was responsible for the tragedy. It was not a pleasant thought! but he had only been doing his duty. All the same, Rush should have been given protection; would have been given it, but for the fact that there was so little time.

“I’m ready,” Manda announced from the hall. Storm drove her to the works. There was great activity in the region of the false greenhouse and frames. “A large staff of gardeners,” he whispered, as he leaned over to open the door for Manda. “He’s having every place strongly' guarded," she told him. “Expecting trouble then.” “Yes. The most trusted men are here, and he nas sent some of the Essex Street workers to Mr Larkin’s place.” “I see. What happens about Essex Street? Have you heard anything?” “There’s an inquiry. But Bessiter seems to be keeping as quiet as possible.” They hurried to the concealed lift and were soon standing in the great hall of the works, but Storm could tell that some portions had been added to it, for it looked much larger. Mackley strolled across to them. “I thought you were guarding things at Larkin’s place,” said Storm. Mackley nodded. “I was. But Lovac’s boys are still busy taking cases from the air-liner. It seems that there was a fair sized consignment apart from the human cargo.” "Have they another plane there?” “No. Doing it by lorries." “I see.” Storm noticed several long cylinders lying on the floor. “Where have those come from?” he asked. "Larkin's laboratory. We brought 'em along with us early this morning. I gather that they fit in the tubes at the end of the fuselage.” "The rocket apparatus?" “Something like that. But I don't know how it works—and Larkin isn’t exactly communicative. All he bothers about is getting the machine assembled. He’s a good man—there isn’t anybody like him over at the Co-or-dinated.” Mackley gave them a friendly nod and walked away. A few seconds later he was helping Larkin to move the cylinders nearer to the fuselage. "I think I can picture that thing better now,” Storm said slowly. "It will be wonderful.” “Yes. Do you think they will be able to assemble it all in here? You probably know more about the details than I do.”

“It can be done, but we wanted it at Larkin’s hangar. There is more room there." Storm stared about him. “This is a wonderful show." he said. “I'd like to know just how it was constructed. 1 haven't ever been over it all!" “I’ll show you some of it. You see. it was a great pit here. Bessiter had strong walls built up and massive girders spread across in a network. Then he started to get the flooring done and the various rooms constructed. I know that it took a long time. But Bessiter doesn't worry about time. He just carries on in his own grim way.” Storm paused to examine a peculiar contrivance which was on a stand. It had a brass nozzle and there was a wheel at the side of the cylindrical casing. “What’s this?” he asked. “One of Larkin's toys. I don't know what it’s for. He must have brought it over with him. I've seen it before in his laboratory." "I won't touch it, then. I don't trust these scientific people." They moved on. "Who is in charge of the metal-coat-ing process?" "Larkin." said. Manda with a smile. "He deals with nearly everything. He's Bessitcr's right-hand man.” "I see . . . . " Storm turned quickly, leaving the sentence unfinished. One of the mon working over against the fuselage had cried nut. and was staggering backwards. Another gasped and crumpled up on the floor. From one of the cylinders a thick eloudwas emerging. it rolled across the hall in great, billows. Another man went down. And another. Figures could be seen staggering in what looked like a mist. Storm turned to the girl, who was watching with horror-stricken eyes. “Quick! Get out of this. It’s poison gas!" he snapped.

(To be Continued.)