“STRATOSPHERE EXPRESS”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 April 1940, Page 10

“STRATOSPHERE EXPRESS”

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. COPYRIGHT.

BY

ALROY WEST.

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

CHAPTER XXIII. (Continued). "Seems we are,” said Larkin gloomily. “I didn't have a chance. The televisor thing came on, and ] could see Croft’s face. I thought maybe he’d taken over the controls, just to get his hand in. Then I was seized from behind and trussed up before I could even start to struggle. ’ “It seems that Lovac managed to buy the whole pack of them." Bessiter grunted savagely. "Not Mackley?” Storm asked. “No, not Mackley. That was the shot we heard.” Manda bit her lip. "I wish we could get free!” she gasped. Storm was staring at her torn blouse. She glanced at him, and the colour rose in her cheeks. She turned awaj slightly. “Did they hurt you?” Storm asked bis voice very calm. “Not much. I gave one of them a good scratch and managed to do a bi. of kicking. Only they kicked back.” "You can show me the man,” said Storm grimly. “It was Carson,” Bessiter said. Storm’s eyes narrowed. "When I get free ...” he began. “It's going to be a job," said Larkin. "They know how to tie knots all right.” “They do," Manda agreed. "My arms feel cut io bits." "What say edging across and having a go at releasing one another?" Storm suggested. “Not a hope at the moment." Bessiter advised. "They keep on passing through. We’ll let ’em think that we're done in." “I see. They seem to be flying the ’plane quite well.” "They ought to,” said Larkin bitterly. “I taught them." “Somebody coming.” Bessite warned. It was Carson. He was a powerful, squat man. with very little neck and a coarse mouth. He never shaved properly, so that his chin was always bristly. He walked along and leered at Manda. “Good mind to teach you a lesson,” he said. She looked at him disdainfully. “Give me the cold shoulder, would you?” Carsom stepped nearer to her and raised his hand as though to strike her.

Manda didn’t flinch. Storm tensed himself and tried to bunch his legs for a sudden kick, but the need didn’t arise. “Cut that out!” came a harsh command. Carsom lowered his hand. It was Croft. “I was only——" he began. < “If you lay hands on her you’ll have Mr Dickin wanting your hide—and Mr Dickin can be a very unpleasant man." “All right,” grumbled Carsom, moving away. “Mr Dickin is giving the little lady a chance of freedom,” Croft went on. He came along the cabin and looked down at Bessiter. “I don’t know what happens to you,” he said, “and I’m not sure that I care. All I think of is number one —in otuer words, myself. I’m picking up a nice packet oyer this. You’ll just be handed over to Mr Lovac—and that’s where I fade out of the picture." He glanced at Manda. “Not being a married man I wouldn't have minded taking her myself. But I expect that. I shall be J able to find somebody to console me. Dickin, though, wants to. do the right thing by her, so you needn’t worry. He’s going to marry her.” "You seem to know a lot about Dickin,” said Bessiter. “Ought to. I was with him for a time—until he forged ahead of me. I used to be rather stupid when I was younger. Bothered about morals and that sort of thing. Dickin never did. That's how he managed to get along so wonderfully.” “And suppose I refuse to marry him?” Manda asked.

Croft shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t rightly know what happens. I can’t, somehow, see him letting the others kill you. Because, of course, the stratoplane will be lost with all hands. Ain’t that pathetic? But you’ll readily ■ understand that Mr Lovac doesn't want anybody experimenting along those lines. The loss of this machine will be a sort of object lesson. A few daring people may have a shot at it but the disaster will put the general public off, and it will not be a workable commercial proposition.” “Croft,” said Bessiter, “you're a scoundrel." “I suppose I am. But I’ve always found that it’s not such a bad thing to look after myself." “I could have paid you well." Bessiter reminded him. Croft thrust his hands into his pockets. “I admit that.” he said. "But you couldn’t pay what Lovac can." “How do you know he will?" Croft smiled. “Reckon I do, that's all," he said. “Now I must leave you. I advise you not to start any funny business. I'm sorry that the little lady has to be tied. If she's willing to be locked in one of the small compartments, I'll undertake to free her." Manda shook her head. ‘I prefer to stay here." she said. “Thanks all die same." “That's all right," said Croft. “I'm not such a bad man at heart, you know. It's just that I look after myself." He went cut whistling. Storm looked across at Bessiter as soon as they were alone once more, j "I can't say that I think much of your choice of a crew." he said bitter-

Bessiter shrugged his shoulders. “Easy’ enough to be right afterwards,” he declared. “And there wasn’t much time. You can’t get airmen so easily in these days. Since that sudden vogue for short distance airway companies and the increase in the military services, most of the pilots have been swallowed up." "A great number went abroad, you know," Larkin reminded Storm. "One or two countries wanted instructors for civilian flying —and wanted them badly. As usual, they picked on British. Can’t beat the Home and Dominions’ breed, you know." “I suppose that is it,” Storm admitted. “I had to take men on their capabilities. not on their looks or culture," Bessiter said. “Well," Storm declared. “We certainly seemed to be up to our necks in the soup. How do we get out of his hole? I can’t do much thinking. My head feels like a battered can. Bessiter scowled. “I’ll think of something,” he said. “I've never been beaten yet—and I'm not going to be! See?” Bessiter edged nearer to Larkin. “How are your hands fastened?” he asked. “Same as your own, I expect," said Larkin gloomily. “Put back to back and with string tied round the fingers. I can hardly move them.” Bessiter nodded. “Your hands like that. Manda?" he asked. "Yes.” He swore. “I thought they might not have been so thorough with you. I'll try and get across to Monk. He may have been ‘overlooked, owing to being knocked out.” It was not easy going, but Bessiter managed it. “His fingers are free," he declared. 'He nudged against the inert figure, but nothing happened. “Looks like he’ll be out for hours,” said Larkin. “It does seem that way.” Bessiter returned to his original position. Manda came nearer to Storm and smiled bravely at him. “Head any better?” she asked. “It’s not so bad. I wish I could get you free. They are swine trussing you up like that." “I can bear it—for a bit longer, anyway.” Storm started to struggle with his bonds, but the thin string cut into his fingers abominably.

“It’s no good, I’m afraid,” he said sadly.

Hours seemed to pass. He was gradually becoming numbed. Time after time Carsom passed through. Storm appealed to him to loosen the bonds round Manda, but the fellow only stood over the suffering girl and grinned at her.

"I tied her up like that,” he boasted. “Work of art, wasn’t it? Of course, I told Croft that I went easy. But the little cat tried to bite me. I believe in getting my own. back—see?” He gave Storm a kick in the ribs and moved onwards.

The door leading from the narrow dividing passage opened after a time. It opened cautiously and somebody slipped into the cabin, quickly closing the door again. It was Fargus, and he was holding an open, knife in his sound arm. Darting to Bessiter, he quickly cut through the ropes which bound him. “There’s a revolver,” he said softly. "Keep watch on the doors while I free the others.” Bessiter struggled to his feet and started to rub himself, keeping a good lookout all the time. Fargus reached Larkin, but he nodded towards Manda. “The girl,” he said wearily. “She's all in.” Manda shook her head and started to protest, but Fargus was beside her busy with the knife. She tried to stand, but could not manage' it and just rolled over with a groan of agony. Larkin was freed and then Storm. Fargus handed Larkin a second revolver. “I could only lay my hands on two," he said. “And I couldn’t get here sooner because there were so many of them about all the time. I came the instant it was safe." "Good work," said Bessiter. Fargus bent over Monk and released him, while Storm attended to the girl and tried to rub the use back into her limbs. There were tears in her eyes at the agony, and Storm resolved that Carsom was going to have a very unpleasant time in the near future. After a time, Monk stirred feebly. Bessiter took up a position by the one door and Larkin, stood at the other. Both had regained the use of their muscles and looked decidedly grim. Manda managed to struggle up and limped over to a chair. Storm set about rubbing his arms. “Somebody coming," warned Bessiter. slipping to the side. The door opened and a man entered, to go down right away as Bessiter. using the revolver as a chib, struck him on the head. They quickly tied the man up. Bessiter made the welcome discovery of a revolver in their prisoner's coat pocket. “Give it to Fargus,” said Storm grimly. "I rather think that 1 shall be more elTective with my lists.” Bessiter grinned. “I understand.” He turned to Fargus. “You guard the door. I think we'll take the navigation cabin first. If you are rushed you can slip through and we can hold the forward cabin. We’ll leave the engine room until the last." i

“Why not tackle that right away?" Storm asked. “H’s the nearest." “Because I know where there are some more weapons." said Bessiter. “What about Monk'.’" Larkin asked. Monk struggled to his feet. “I’ll come along," lie said weakly. They opened the door and trooped out into the dividing passage. Here Fargus took his stand, so that he could open (ire on anybody coming from the engine room into the rear cabin. Bessiter crossed to the door of the forward cabin. “Ready?" lie asked.

(To be Continued).