“STRATOSPHERE EXPRESS”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 April 1940, Page 10

“STRATOSPHERE EXPRESS”

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. COPYRIGHT.

BY

ALROY WEST.

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

CHAPTER XXIV. tContinued). Bessiter cautiously opened the door and peeped into the forward cabin. It as deserted, but.one of the small compartments towards the end was occupied, for the door of it was ajar. He pointed to it and Storm slipped forward, keeping close to the side. Larkin, revolver ready for instant use. followed him. Bessiter came up the centre of the cabin, ready to fire at anybody who emerged from the navigating cabin. Manda was left at the door, keeping it open so that she could communicate with Fargus, who was in the passage by the door ,of the rear cabin. Storm reached the compartment and waited. He could hear somebody moving about inside. There was also the sound of running water, for this small compartment contained a wash basin.

The man inside started to whistle and then came to the door. Storm stepped forward and took him by surprise. It was Carsom. Storm gave a grin of unholy delight and slammed hard al the squat figure. Carsom had no opportunity of giving the alarm. Before he knew what was happening something like a mule’s kick landed in the middle of his face and sent him crashing down like a felled tree. Storm rubbed his hand, which had suddenly become numbed and useless. The skin had cracked over his knuckles and there was a trickle of blood. Bessiter grinned across at him. “Make a prize fighter of you one of these days." he muttered. “What do we do next?" asked Larkin, keeping his voice low. Bessiter scowled. “We’ve got to take that navigation cabin as quickly as possible. Storm!” Storm moved asross to him. “You know those levers in the cabin?” “Yes.” “Did you notice one which is painted

red?” “I did.” “As soon as we get into the cabin I want you to rush to it. and pull it over. We’ll try to make a way for you. But do it at all costs.” “I understand.” “Splendid. Come on!" Storm was making a calculation. Carsom was knocked out, and Bliss had been stunned and tied up. Croft was in the engine room and there was certainly one man with him —probably Smith. That left Phillips, Hodge, Lester and Mort. All four were likely to be in the navigating cabin. It was rather a handful because they were all powerful men. One, though, would

be at the controls and could be counted out of things. Bessiter glanced back, saw that Manda and Fargus were all right, and then opened the door leading to the navigation cabin. He walked boldly in. "Better be reasonable!" he warned, his revolver well in evidence. Larkin jumped to his side and Storm slipped in behind them. The men were taken completely by surprise. There were four there, Hodge being at the controls. Phillips was the first to raise his hands. He looked astonished and rather foolish. Lester was sulky about it, and Mort showed an inclination to argue. Storm stepped towards the levers, thinking how simple it had all been. But he was reckoning without Hodge. He suddenly shifted the controls so that the machine jolted, dived, and came up again quickly. The jerk threw Storm to the ground. He heard a revolver fired and then a scuffle. At lightning speed he jumped up. A glance was sufficient to show him that disaster had overtaken them. Evidently both Bessiter and Larkin had been fiung to the floor. So had the others, but they had been able to attack before Bessiter and Larkin could recover the weapons which had been dropped. Storm leapt for the lever just as Mort spang at him. Ho dodged round and came at the red lever. Mort swung round and came at him again. Storm landed out a quick punch, but was not able to avoid a blow which sent him spinning to the ground. He heard the crack of a revolver from somewhere in the plane. Evidently Croft had been alarmed at the manoeuvre and was trying to make his way to the navigation cabin. Storm was up again. He darted forward, took a punch in the ribs which made him grunt, but managed to get in a quick uppercut which jolted Mort badly. Storm pressed home this advantage. He slammed three punches in quick succession so that Mort gave gave way. Instantly. Storm wrenched the red lever over. Mort, with a cry of rage, darted forward. but Storm managed to side-step and trip him. He dropped down on his man and held him. Across the cabin, Bessiter was grappling with Phillips. Larkin was sprawled out on the floor and close beside him was Lester. There were quick steps and Fargus. without his revolver, came running into the cabin. He glanced about him and then dropped down to take up the weapon which had been dropped by Larkin. As he stopped. Hodge tried to play with the controls once more, but Storm left the dazed Mort and caught his arm. Hodge slipped aside and left the controls altogether. He snatched up a wrench and struck out with it. Storm backed away. Fargus called out a warning. Hodge spun round and smashed the wrench down on the instruments Fargus fired, but the bullet went wide.

Hodge kicked down the televisor switch. “I’ve smashed the instru . ." he said, and then slumped up. Fargus had fired again, and the bullet had found a mark. Storm flicked the televisor switch back and took over the controls. It was only a matter of keeping the machine steady, for Hodge had been very thorough in destroying the delicate instruments which were so necessary for piloting the machine. Fortunately he had picked up a fair amount of information and was able to correct a lurching which was taking place. Looking aside he saw Phillips had given in. Fargus, revolver in hand, was watching him. There was no sign of Manda. Storm, called out to ask where she was. "Watching the rear cabin with my revolver,” Fargus said. "I reckoned something had gone wrong here.” "Hadn’t we . . .” "No need to worry. You know what that lever did. don’t you?” “No,” said Storm, glancing down to make sure that Mort was not likely to give any further trouble. “Closed the last portion of the plane. It’s an emergency device in case the gas should escape from any of the cylinders. We fixed it up after that poison gas attempt. The sliding doors are between the rear cabin and the engineroom.” "That’s good.” Monk joined them. He had been far too groggy to do anything, but he seemed better now, although his face was deathly pale. Bessiter straightened up. “Larkin will be all right," he said. “Help me with him. Then we’ll deal with the mutineers.” Monk moved forward to assist. Be tween them they took Larkin into the cabin. Storm heard Bessiter calling Manda.

Bessiter hurried back. "You stay on guard,” he ordered Fargus. Then he turned to Phillips. “You’ll have to be tied up for the moment,” he said. Phillips nodded his head. Bessiter secured him. and then returned for Mort. He paused to have a look at Hodge. “Dead,” he grunted. “That avenges Mackley.” “Where did they put Mackley?” Storm asked. “In the baggage compartment, next to the one where Fargus was hiding. It’s a wonder he wasn’t discovered.” “Might as well dump Hodge there,” said Fargus. "Yes. But we have to go into the cabin. Get the girl out of the way for a minute Monk. Take her with you to the radio —-see if it’s in working order.” Bessiter took up the practically unconscious Mort. “Can you manage?” he snapped at Storm. “Yes.” “Well, you needn't get cocky about

it. You ought to, after the training you had.” He departed with his prisoner and then returned for Hodge. Storm was left with Fargus; who came across to. the controls. “They made a tidy mess of the instruments,” he grumbled. “How are we going to find our way home. Storm?” Storm shrugged his shoulders. “I haven’t the slightest idea. I’m no navigator, you know. I thought you'd be able to work out something.” “I could. But the flying part isn’t easy. I'll get started as soon as Bessiter tells us that all’s clear.” It was not long before Bessiter was back. “They destroyed the radio set,” he said grimly. “Monk doesn't think there’s any chance of repairing it.” “Why should they do that?” “Just taking precautions, I expect. But why that crazy madman should bust up the instruments beats me. He didn’t know he was going to get killed/’ “What’s our next move?”

“I'll take the controls for a few minutes. You two go and get a drink. We’ve opened some brandy. Pull you round in no time. You’ve had a tough time, so you'll want it. And Storm!” “Yes.” “Make that girl of yours have a little. She's plucky, but it must have taken a lot out of her.” “She’s your secretary,” Storm reminded him. Bessiter snorted. “I never could do anything with her.” he snapped. Storm hurried after Fargus. Manda was in the cabin. “Where are the prisoners?” he asked. “We took them into the passage,” said Monk. He was drinking some brandy with very little water added. The colour was coming back to his cheeks. He emptied the glass and put it down. “I feel much better after that,” he said. “I'll go forward.” Larkin had his eyes open. “Better?” Storm asked. "A bit —but I’m too old to enjoy this sort of thing. Only youth enjoys adventure." “I think it's cured me of youthful enthusiasm," Storm admitted. "The only part I really enjoyed was slamming Carsom." "Slam's the right word," Fargus cut I in. "He hasn't come round yet." “Good!” (To be Continued).