“STRATOSPHERE EXPRESS”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 April 1940, Page 10

“STRATOSPHERE EXPRESS”

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. COPYRIGHT.

BY

ALROY WEST.

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

CHAPTER XVIII. Continued. "What I did not realise was that Dickin and Purcelowe were against me —but were not working together. Both hoped to get the nice fat reward Lovac had offered. And as Dickin had been given the details of the earliest ol the three assignations, Purcelow’s arrangements were valueless. Naturally, he realised that I had become suspicious of his movements and took every precaution to appear a faithful servant.

“I rather think that Lovac, who had kept both men under close observation, realised that it was advisable to come into the open. From that time he had directed all the operations.” "Do you think he can stop us?” Storm asked. Bessiter shook his head. "Not a hope! We’re going right ahead.” "I wonder why Rush. . . .” Manda. "Do ' you?” asked Bessiter, with r twist of his lips. “It seems clear tc me. You ought to know—you alway: protected him! He used to think that [ sent that no-good son of his to his death. Maybe Dickin or Purcelow helped to give him that idea. Ah, well! He was weakling.- If I’d have told him the truth—so far as I knew it—he’d have crumpled up and died. Perhaps it would have been better that way. Even weaklings can do a fair amount of damage.”

“But you always thought it was an accident,” Storm pointed out. "Of course I did: I told Rush it was an accident. But I knew that young Rush had been trying to steal Malcolm’s invention and sell it somewhere. I'd have had proof of Lovac s complicity if the accident had not taken place. Why do you think I was holding my hand? I wanted' to clear everything up.” “And you think that Rush found out in the end that his son . . .” Manda didn’t finish her question, for Bessiter nodded his head. “That’s just what I do think,” he said, with an air of finality. Manda and Storm exchanged glances. “Manelli’s been working hard, Bessiter said suddenly. “He’s a cunningcreature. He managed to get word to Purcelow that Van Loon was doing a lot of talking. It seems that Purcelow and Dickin have been teaming up since the time it became certain that they would both get a substantial rakeoff. So Manelli tried to get the information through to Dickin—but I don’t know whether that was successful. Next, Manelli traced Van Loon’s movements since that interesting talk, and then got word to him that Purcelow was going to spill the beans. I don’t know how Manelli managed it but he unearthed the fact that Purcelow is making a getaway in a Soviet ship, the Olenek which is bound for Nova Zembla and the Kara Sea. •

"The Olenek is sailing from Long Reach, but Purcelow will be joining her not far from Saltfleet. She’s standing in to come near to the Spurn Light Vessel.” "Do we do anything about it?” Storm asked. Bessiter grinned. “What do you think?” “I’d feel easier once I knew that the fellow was being carted away,” said Storm. Then he glanced at Manda. “But 1 think that he ought to. have his wretched neck broken.” Bessiter looked at the girl. “Anything to say?" he demanded. She shook her head. Bcsiter turned to Storm. “Lovac had to go to New York, Otherwise Purcelow would have gone to him for assistance."

“Unless Lovac has dealings with the Soviet” said Storm Bessiter scowled and bit savagely on his cigar. ‘There might be something in that. Probably it is Lovac’s doing. Ayway, Manelli is trailing Purcelow and I have a machine ready, with Mackley to pilot it so that we can get across to Spurn Head pretty quickly.” ‘But we want a sea plane,” Storm declared. Bessiter gave a sigh. “One of these days I'll chuck you out,” he muttered. “Do you think that never occurred to me? I think of everything! Everything! See?" “I'm using a amphibian machine." “I see," said Sorm "By the way will the stratoplane be able to come down on water?” “Yes. Both under-carriage and floats will be retractable. Of course, the under carriage is not like the usual type.” “I see.” “Is there any danger of being struck by a meteor?" Manda asked. “The thought came to me the other night." Bessiter rubbed his chin. “There’s always that danger," he said. “A certain times of the year the earth is subject to a meteoric bombardment. The ozone layer, which is above the stratosphere, acts as a sort of shield, but the larger meteors came through this and make their way towards the earth, rapidly becoming burnt out on the journey. The higher one gets in Hying the more likely one is to encounter a meteor, although even in space beyond the various layers, the chances of such an accident are comparatively remote. Nevertheless, the danger does exist and, just as a ship at sea may be caught in a water spout, so a ship in the air may meet disaster through the medium of a meteorite travelling an incredible number of miles per second." Storm pulled a long face. “I suppose we must risk it." he announced. Bessiter snorted.

“It isn’t a matter of risking it! It's only an outside chance that such a thing may happen. Cold feet?" “Cold nothing!" snapped Storm. Bessiter chuckled, and got up from the chair.

The plane zoomed upwards. Bessiter turned to Storm and yelled: “The Olenek!" CHAPTER XX

Down again so that the waves seemed to leap up like watery fingers striving to grasp at this strange machine which carried man beyond their reach. The Olenek was left far behind. Storm, glancing back at it though the powerful glasses the smoke thicken above the funnels Perhaps the Captain was alarmed and was thinking of moving away. ‘Van Loon has stolen a launch and has put out!" Bessiter yelled The grey line of the coast was coming nearer. Mackley was piloting the plane in circles. At last Storm saw a tiny Heck of white far below. There was a thin line trailing behind it. He tapped Bessiter on me shoulder and then pointed downwards. Bessiter looked, nodded his head, and then spoke through the telephone to Mackley The machine flattened out from the erve and glided down towards the surface of the water. Storm eagerly watching, could quickly distinguish the launch and the trail of churned water in its wake. He could see the black speck at the wheel. Was it Purcelow —or Van ' Loon? | (To be Continued)

"Better get ready for the fight. Storm. I’m expecting to hear from Manelli pretty soon. He’s got a radio in his car, and was sending a message through as soon as he knew what Purcelow was doing. I’ve got Jenkins here. He’ll let me know the instant anything comes through." Bessiter hurried from the room. Manda stared down at the carpet, t “So he knew all the time,” she said huskily. “Seems that way. But don’t let that worry you. It takes the whole issue off your shoulders. If Rush had done us much damage, we have Bessiter to thank for it.” Mando looked up. “He’s a bigger man than I thought,” she confessed. “I reckoned that he would have said something to clear himself of a terrible charge like that of sending two of his own workers to their death.” Storm stretched himself. “There no knowing what Bessiter will do. But don’t you start worrying over things.” “I wonder what’s going to happen about ??’ she paused. “The swine who murdered your brother? I’ll try to drop a spanner on him from a pretty good height. The world won’t miss him. When 1 think how near he has been to me at times—well, it makes me speechless. Which, by the way, is saying a good deal. Now I'm off to dress for my turn." , He hurried away and set about getting into his flying kit. Just as he was rooting about for his helmet, Bessiter came into the room. “AH set?” he asked. “When I’ve my helmet. I don't know where I ” “Andrews!” Bessiter shouted. “Yes, sir,” came a voice from the landing. “Come along and find this fellow’s helmet. We’ll get a nurse for him next week! Can’t you ever put anything away in the proper place, Storm?” “I’m good sometimes. But I never know what you’ll be wanting next.” “That’s good training for you. You’ll be able to do things by the time I’ve finished with you.” “Here’s the helmet, sir,” said Andrews. "Thanks.”

“Don’t stand' there thanking him!” roared Bessiter from the stairs. “He’s paid to do that! Come on!” Storm raced after him, turning to wave a hand to Manda. At the car, Bessiter swung round. “Wouldn’t you like to go back and kiss her?” he asked witheringly. Storm, grinning, climbed in. The car started with a jerk. Bessiter kept the horn blaring until they were on the road. "There’s a speed limit in built-up areas,” Storm ventured to remind him. “I don’t care. I’m in a hurry. And I’m more important than the law. Those clumsy bunglers would never have got a line on to Purcelow. And I expect the big wigs of the police play bridge with Lovac and think him the nicest little boy in the Empire. Huh!” They were at Larkin’s airfield, in record time. Mackley was there, his plane ready to take off. “Don’t gape at us! We look just the same as when you last saw us!" Bessiter snapped at him. Five minutes later they were speeding on their journey, Mackley at the controls and Bessiter using the wireless set. “Manelli reports Purcelow having a speed-launch overhauled,” was Bessiter’s only comment until they had actually come in sight of the breakers assaulting the East Coast. Bessiter sent out a message, instructing Mackley to circle round until a reply was received. A second or so later they received the necessary information, and Bessiter gave further instructions to Mackley. The machine banked and then sped Northwards. Storm peered over the side. The sea seemed to be coming up towards him. They were soon sufficiently low to be able to distinguish the long, rolling waves. "Purcelow’s started!” Bessiter yelled. The plane moved steadily Northwards. still flying mw and at no great speed. Bessiter signalled to Storm to take some powerful glasses and keep a careful lookout. Waves, waves, waves. In the distance the great curve of the coastline. On the far side the distant smoke curl from a steamer. And, below, the waves. Storm felt slightly giddy. Suppose the machine lost speed and stalled. What a drop! Right into the trough of the waters. There was something relentless and sinister about the great expanse of water. Then all thought of danger was forgotten. Bessiter nudged him and pointed. On the other side, incredibly small below them, .was a steamer. Mackley had evidently had his instructions, for they swooped downwards. The vessel seemed to swing up and hit them; the sea became a moving surface working on a hidden pivot