“STRATOSPHERE EXPRESS”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 April 1940, Page 10

“STRATOSPHERE EXPRESS”

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. COPYRIGHT.

BY

ALROY WEST.

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

CHAPTER XVII. Continued. "Yes. You see, Wilfred tried to steal my own brother's improvement and to sell it to Lovac. The letters written by Bessiter were very disjointed and had no relation to the matter. But I couldn't tell Rush that his own son had tried to swindle his own biggest friend. Could I?” Storm bit his lip. "I don’t think, somehow, that I could have told him. But you might have mentioned it to Bessiter." "Bessiter. But you know how brutal he is. He'd have no sympathy with Rush.” She placed a hand on Storm’s shoulder. "I like Bessiter, ’ she said. "I admire him —and he's always been very good to me, despite his rough exterior. But I know his faults. He's so strong and ruthless. He doesn’t understand those who are weak — he just kicks them to one side. He treats me better than he does most people because of my brother. But 1 couldn't tell him that Rush didn’i know about what had happened t< Wilfred over" the improvements and suspected that Wilfred had been deliberately sent to his death." "I see. It's funny that Bessiter didn't saj’ anything to Rush, though, that would give things away." Manda shook her head.

"Bessiter's splendid that way,” she said. “He wouldn't go out of his way to "hurt people. But he’d be certain to clear himself of such an accusation. It would make him furious to think that anybody suspected him of working like that.” “I suppose it would." said Storm slowly. “I must be going now. I'll see you later on. Keep cheerful —and don’t think too much about Rush. J expect his troubled soul is happy at last.” Storm hurried across the great hall. Larkin was standing by the main corridor. “Have you seen Bessiter?” Storm asked him. "Yes. He used the lift. He said he'd be waiting with the car. Mackley went with him. Storm thanked him and hurried on. Bessiter was at the wheel of a touring car, and Mackley was sitting in the back. “Come on!" Bessiter roared. “How long does it take you to say •good-bye’ to a girl? Don’t you expect to see her again?” Storm jumped in beside him. “Not knowing your programme," he said deliberately, “I can't say.” The car moved forward. “There may be plenty of trouble,” said Bessiter grimly. He kept the car going at somewhere near the fifty miles an hour mark. They were soon within reach of the airfield. Mackley leaned forward. "Seems there's some trouble there!” he snapped. Bessiter’s eyes narrowed. “There’ll be more trouble in a minute!” he vowed.

Storm looked eagerly ahead. He could see the wreckage of the air-liner and the lorry belonging to the Co-or-dinated Transport Company. But these things had not attracted Mackley’s attention. There was a terrific fight going on between two large groups of men. And by the one group, which was the nearer to the wreckage and the lorry, was a green monoplane. "Lovac’s own machine,” Mackley said slowly. “We’ve got to stop it!” Bessiter snapped. “Hold tight!” The car leapt forward, Bessiter crouching at the wheel. He swung it round and the flimsy fence seemed to come over and hit them. Storm ducked. Bits of wood snapped past them, and the special glass of the windscreen was splintered. But they were through the fence, and the car was bumping and jolting across the field to the monoplane. CHAPTER XVIII. As Bessiter brought the touring car to a standstill, Mackley leapt out and charged towards the pilot of the green monoplane. Storm followed hot on his heels, but a second man, also in flying kit, tried to tackle him. Storm side-stepped and lashed out a terrificblow, which caused- the man to stumble and drop to the ground. By this time Mackley was at grips with the other pilot, slamming home punches with grim satisfaction. Bessiter sped past Storm. He was bound for the cabin of the monoplane, evidently to ensure that it would not take off. Two men were coming near, carrying a cylinder between them. Their companions were trying to ward off a hotly-pressed attack by Bessiter's men. Storm sped towards the two witli the cylinder. Seeing him coming, one of them left it and rushed at Storm.

Storm warded off a punch, and smacked in a quick blow which shook his enemy. He followed up this advantage by a quick series of jabs, but was suddenly attacked from the side and sent sprawling. It was the second pilot, who had recovered from his fall.

Storm darted up and did a rugger tackle, bringing the pilot swinging to the earth. One of the others jumped at him, but Storm was quick enough to grasp the man by the legs and fling him to the ground. The pilot staggered to his feet but went down again to a powerful punch which landed on the point of his jaw. Storm leapt back to avoid a rush from one of the others and then found himself in the midst of something which was a cross between a nightmare and a rugger scrum. It was impossible for him to distinguish between friend and foe, so he slipped past man after man until he was safe on the outskirts. Mackley. joined him. grinning broadly.

"I've just pul llroy out." ho announced. "And I've settled his partner. 1 thought it was the man I jumped the other night." "It was," said Mackley, with a chuckle. "We shall have the police here before long,” Storm remarked. “I wonder what our best move is.” But Bessiter solved this. He came running to them. “This way,” he snapped. They followed him to where a little knot of his own men had taken possession of the cylinder. “Over to the car with it,” Bessiter ordered. This move was observed by the enemy, but Mackley, aided by Storm and two others, managed to cover Bessiter, who struggled on with the heavy, burden. Once it was in the car, Bessiter took the wheel, Storm and Mackley climbed into the back. One or two attempted to stop them, but were quickly dealt with. The car rapidly increased speed and was soon back on the road. Mackley looked back at the fight. “Those boys seem to enjoying themselves." he said, with a grin. On the road, they passed a perspiring policeman on a bicycle. Bessiter roared with laughter. "I'd love to go back and see how ho handles them!" he exclaimed.

He drove straight to his home and put the touring car in the garage, while the cylinder was stored away in the greenhouse and was covered over with all manner of rubbish. “They won’t think of looking there,’ Bessiter announced with satisfaction. Manda was already there. "I feel hungry,” said Bessiter He crossed to the door and called for Andrews. "Bring some sandwiches,” he ordered. Storm and Mackley helped themselves to whisky. “What’s the next move?" the former asked as he splashed soda into his glass. Bessiter scowled. “I'm waiting for Manelli,” he said slowly. “What do you think he'll give you?" Bessiter had a drink before making any reply. “I hope he'll have unearthed just what happened to Macready,” he said. “Manelli should have been back long before now. He rang up to say that his investigation had brought to light something of great interest.” “Wouldn’t he say what it was?” Storm asked. “Not over the telephone. But he was returning right away. I think we might as well wait for him. Unless, of course ..." “You think something might, have happened?" Manda asked anxiously. Bessiter nodded. "Far too many things have been happening,” he said gloomily. "Are you investigating about Rush?" Storm asked.

“I'm putting Manelli on to that, Manelli should have been a detective.”

After a time the telephone rang. Bessiter went to answer it. He returned smiling. “The battle is over,” he said. “I believe it was very amusing towards the end. Neither party will give an explanation. I had to give instructions to that effect to one of my boys before we departed so hurriedly. And Lovac’s men are always paid to keep their mouths shut. “I'll say they are,” cut in Mackley. Storm, smiled. “I’m going to have a rest," he announced. “I feel like turning in,” said Mackley. “I’m not used to so much excitement in one day. I’ll take another drink arid some of these sandwiches to my room.” Storm and Manda were left alone. “I wonder if anything has happened to Manelli,” said the girl. "I should think he could take care of himself. But Lovac is very smart at causing trouble. I’m sure that there hasn’t been much wojk done on the stratoplane since I came into this case. I arrived just before Lovac came into the open.” Manda gave a little shiver. "That man gives me the creeps," she said. “I’m sure he isn’t human." “I feel, when 1 look at him, that I've been transported to the snake department at the Zoo," Storm confessed. About half an hour later. Manda was at the window. “Jim!” she called. He jumped up from his chair. "What?" “Here's Manelli. And he's in a hurry!"

Storm quickly crossed to where she stood. He could see the dapper figure of Manelli coining up the path. The man was not only moving quickly, but was apprehensive. He kept on glancing over his shoulder. Storm frowned. "Looks to me as though he’s expecting trouble to break from some quarter. I'd better help him. Manelli was nearer now, dodging from side to side. “Why does he do that?" Manda asked. Storm peered at the bushes nearer to the gate. ‘■Keep away from the window,” he exclaimed, giving her a push. He (lung the window up and dropped out on to the flower bed. Bending he prised a convenient piece of stone from the rockcry and then glided forward. (To be Continued.)