MAN FROM THE AIRPORT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 187, 21 May 1938, Page 9

MAN FROM THE AIRPORT

By LESLIE BERESFORD.

CHAPTED 11. GETTING “HECTIC.” Peters finished his drink, and then lighting a cigarette, laughed. “So Hughson’s feeling that way at the moment, is he?” said he. “Well, maybe It’s just as well he won’t be seeing me till to-morrow, Pierre hoy. I’d be like a red rag to a bull. But I’m duo my rest, and when that’s over he may have cooled down.” “All the same,” he added seriously, “I’m beginning to think it’s time some of us got together and recommended to Hughson that this is a commercial syndicate, and lie’s only a manager—not a dictator. Things are getting just a bit too hectic to be passed over, to my mind.” “N’om do Djeu!” the French-Cana-dian, Pierre de Brissac, shrugged. “It might he easy enough to put this Hughson in his plaee if all we pilots did get together. But—outside we threewho’s going to join in? Most of them are in dead fear of losing their jobs. When they’re not in the air, they’re on their knees licking Hughson’s boots.” “No,” he said to Peters. “Wo’vc.just got to grin and bear it, 1 guess. None of us, anyhow, get it in the neck from him quite so badly as you.” “Ah . . .” Peters, us face shrouded by a blue haze of ckarotte smoke, chuckled grimly. “There’s a very good reason for that.” “Sure, and I’ll be after telling ye what the reason is, my boy,” the Irishman, O’Corrigan, interposed laughingly. ‘ ‘lt’s because you don’t pay enough attention to that swell daughter of his. She’s a dainty piece of goods, anyhow, and it’s a bi£ surprising to me, John, that you don’t make up to hex*—

“Well, you know—both of you—that I’ve always said, so long as I’m flying, Pm not hitching my to any star in the way of women. No, sirs. And, anyhow, Rose Hughson anything to do with the trouble between her father and me. I’ve not as yet told you what it really is, but the time’s coming when I think I might as well let you boys into the truth.” “Seeing that Pierre and I have been figuring out something pretty serious is lying behind that Hughson divil’s down oix ye, and couldn’t he after understanding it at .ill, John, it’s suro time ye took us into your confidence as pals ” 7 . “Yes, but because we’re pals there s no reason you two should fall loul of Hughson as well as me. I • wouldn’t have that for the world, boys. And if I told you just what xvas behind it all —knowing you as I do—l’d be a bit scared of you wanting to go round and beat the blighter up ” “Say—it’s like that, is. it, John? asked Pierre de Brissac with a shrill littlo whistle of surprise. Peters gestured to them both. “You two help yourselves to drinks and smokes, while I get a quick tub and a change,” he said. “Then we’ll go over to the mess, and I’ll tell you the worst over a good meal—” However*, as Peters moved to go through to the bathroom, he was held up by the jangling of the telephone. He snatched it rip impatiently, spoke into it, and then listened, while the others watched him. He frowned, looked impatient, and then said, ,protestingly * “Say. I’m only just in from that last trip. I haven’t even bathed yet, let alone had any eats. I’m entitled to that much, surely——” Apparently he was interrupted sharply from the "other end of the wire, for he listened. The others saw how his face became grim and cynical. Then snappily. lie said: “I’il be right over.” ' Ho slammed down the receiver and turned to the others. “That was Hughson,” he told them. “Wants to see me straight away about important. Can’t even wait while 1 snatch a tub and a bite: Boys, I think Mr Hughson and I gre going to understand each other very definitely to-night.”

A VALUABLE SECRET. j Five minutes later, Peters was cooling his heels at the entrance lounge of the quite Ixuuriously furnished house, fitting as the residence of so important an official as the general manager of "West-Central Airways. As he waited, after quite a while, a door opened and the general manager* himself stood on the threshold of the room within. With him was his daughter, Rose, who flung a quick glance towards Peters, said something laughingly to her father, and disappeared through another doorway. Her father, a stock-ily-built man with" iron-grey hair and a close-clipped moustache, turned deepset, gleaming eyes in the direction of Peters. “Come right in,” he . stud curtly, leaving Peters to iollow mm within and close the door. The room had the appearance of an office, with modern furnishings and chromium-plated fittings. Hughson established himself at a broad wiitipgtable, on which papers were tidilyheaped, and there stood a telephonic attachment which looked complicated. “See here, Peters,” he said, throwing himself back in his chair. “I want to know ii you’ve cliu.ii£ctl ioui mind yet, over—that little matter we discussed together some weeks ago. The little matter of “No need to he definite. Ml* Hughson,” Peters interrupted tersely. “And, if you’ve only sent lor mo to ask me that question, - you’ve wasted your time and mine. You've delayed a beautiful and promising hath ” “Rath—he damned!” rattled the other, chewing the clipped ends of his grey moustache as he eyed Peters angrily, then— as though suddenly acquiring a certain unwilling respect for the other—changed expression, manner, and even the tone of his voice. “I’m sorry, Peters,” he said then. “I -ought not to have rushed you over here like this, I know. But—l had reasons. Are you suggesting to me that you really haven’t changed your mind yet about that —little matter ? “I have not, Mr Hughson. For one thing, I don’t make a habit of changing my mind. Once it’s set it stops set. For another thing ” “Won’t vou sit down, Peters? Hughson interrupted him, gesturing

(COPYRIGHT).

Flying; Adventure; Love and a Diverted Legacy. J

hospitably towards a chair near the table. Peters, however, shook Ins head.

“If you' don't mind, I’d sooner stand,” lie siiid, and laughed. “Hour upon hour of sitting in a pilot’s seat make standing a pleasure.” “Well, well!” snapped the other impatiently. “I on!y want you to understand, Peters that—we are talking this matter over in a perfectly friendly way.”

“What matter, Mr Hughson?” asked Peters with a deliberate pose of innocence, and was quickly answered by tho other.

“Come, come, Peters. You know perfectly well what I mean. The littlo matter of the invention on which you have Leon working in your spare time, and niv offer to enter into partnership with vou over its—its development.”

Peters eyed him with a grim amusement. The conceit and impudence of the man were so colossal that, to keep his temper, Peters simply had to regard him as something of a joke. The. invention of which he had spoken, and ■iideed it was not entirely an invention as yet, though it was on tho very threshold of belonging to that category, vas that of a contrivance, which if perfected and passing inevitable tests satisfactorily, would considerably revolutionise flying, especially in the matter of costs. Its development and success, therefore, ’ should bring in to the inventor a considerable sum an 1 perhaps a fortune in royalties. Hew Hughson 'had come to discover that Peters was working in secret on this, the latter had not so far discovered. He had been chary of mentioning it, except to his two immediate friends, whom he had just left. They had been bound to secrecy, and Peters knew they would not willingly have disclosed that secret to anyone else. Yet, so Peters had known for weeks past, the facts had come to the knowledge of Hughson, who had instantly realised the potential value of the thing, desiring to have a share—and possibly a lion’s share—in it. It seemed that Peter’s blunt rejection of any such idea, given now many weeks ago, had not been finally accepted by the other. A knowing and supercilious smile curled his lips as ho looked up at Peters, who stood stiffly before him.

“It’s not a bit of good, young fellow, beating about the bush,” ho was saying. “That invention of yours—” “No use discussing it, Mr Hughson,” Peters interrupted him coldly. “I gave you my decision tho last time we talked about it. And I’ve no intention whatever of altering that decision. Indeed, I’m surprised you seem to think you have the slightest right to discuss it.” J

“I’Ve this much right,” snapped the other. “You’ro a servant of the WestCentral Syndicate, and the whole of your time is at their disposal. You admit having spent a great deal of spare time on experiments and calculatiqns over this business. If I liked to disclose the facts to the directors, they can legally claim, the results of that time ”

“Do so, Mr Hughson, by all means,” Peters shrugged and laughed. “There is, however, one thing you and they cannot do. Force me to disclose any details of tho invention, 'or hand over any plans and designs I may have made. Sooner than that, I’d destroy all papers, and drop the thing entirely.”

“Now, listen, Peters. . Hughson could see lie must change his tactics, and again he assumed an air of friendliness.

“I’ve no intention of saying anything to anyone,” he went on. “I’ll be perfectly frank and put all my cards on the table. For certain reasons, I’m in need of money. Well, you’re ’out to make money, too, and no doubt that invention will rake it in for you. But there are snags about that, too. Before your invention is worth anything at all, money has to be put into is, as you know.” “"Where are you going to get that financial support?” lxe asked. “It may not be so easy as you imagine. In your position, what financier is likely to be interested In you? Now, that is where I corno in. Take me’in with you, and the rest is going to he easy. I can do a lot for you, while helping myself as well.”

“Possibly,” Peters admitted. “Unfortunately for you, I don’t want you to do anything for me. Nor can I see why you should help yourself by pick ing my brains. No, Mr Hughson. If that’s all you want with me, you’re wasting your time and mine.” “SOMETHING TO YOUR ADVANTAGE. As he turned to go, Hughson rose to his feet. He still had a conciliatory pose, his voice pleasantly persuasive. “One moment, Peters,” lie said. “Is it really such waste of time? You and I might, through that invention of yours, become directors of this syndicate, and that would mean a great deal. Why not think the matter over? You mentioned that you haven’t as yet dined.* Do so with Rose and myself. I know, only too well, that Rose would give you a hearty welcome. I’m afraid Peters, you’ve made a ueep and lasting impression cn my little girl.” Peters heard this in dumb amazement. He did not doubt that Huglison know quite well, of Rose’s misguided infatuation for him. But, that the man should trade on tins to persuade him into a partnership swept Peters with, a feeling of nausea. “I’m afraid, Mi* Hughson, that the impression is one-sided,” he said. “It’s very unfortunate, but—as a matter of fact—l’ve been obliged, only this evening, to express my regret to Miss Rose that—”

“So 1! Hughson interrupted him fiercely, his face crimsoning with fury. “And that’s your last word, is it?” “I’m sorry ” Peters shrugged.

“You can bo sorry for yourself,’* the other raged, quite openly now. “I’ve made you a fair offer, and you’ve seen lit to turn-it down, Viol!. I’ll make you sit up for that, Peters. I can—and you know it. I’ve given you a taste of lnv authority already, to try and bring you to your senses. 11l give you hell from now on •”

“No, you won’t Mr Hughson, I’m resigning hero and now. My letter will be in your hands in tlio morning.”

Hughson was dearly taken aback

but tried not to show it. “I should think twice about that, if I were you,” lie threatened, “Pilots, these days, are twenty a penny, and you’ll look for a new berth with no letter of recommendation from this syndicate. On the contrary—l warn you—l’ll do my damnedest to queer your pitch for you ” “Good for you, Mr Hughson!” Peters laughed, and made for tile door, which ho held open, turning for one last word with the other, who hunched—an imago of nielevolent fury—at his table. “I should get on with.the dirty work if I were you,” said Peters. “It’s right up your street, if I’m any judge of you; and it won’t worry me any.” All the same, Peters was worried. As he passed out through the entrancelounge, he caught a glimpse of Rose Hughson in a doorway, doubtless hoping the interview would have ended differently. No doubt whatever, sue had been behind her father's fresh attempt to-night to force the issue. In forcing Peters to sudden resignation, ho had gone further tlmn the latter had intended.

He might indeed find difficulty in securing a fresh berth, for those days an increasing air-mindedness had multiplied pilots, recruited now from all classes, the job being no longer so specialised as it had been. So- Peters went out into the hot night in no happy frame of mind.

He was turning to Tuliil his promise and join his two friends at the pilots’ mess, when he discovered that they were standing just outside the Hughson’s house, obviously on the look-out for him. He joined them with a dry little laugh.

“The fat’s well in the lire, boys.” lie said. “Hughson ami I have had the gloves off and fought to a finish. Ho wins, if it can bo called a win. Anyhow, West-Central won’t have me as a pilot after to-night.” “What—he’s been after firing you, the damned blighter?” exclaimed ,0 ’Corrigan.

“Not he. I’ve fired myself,” Peters explained, and was about to add more when Pierre de Erissac laid a hand on his arm.

“Let that wait, mon ami,” he interrupted. “You can tell us the whole story afterwards. Wp came along to look for you, because—just after you left us—a gu*' came asking for you Says it’s important he should see you at once. So——”

For the first time, Peters realised that they were not alone. A smallmade and lean man hovered in the darkness of the background. Peters saw as he now stepped lorward into the glow of an arc-light, that his wizeiffecl little face had an expression combining eagerness and cunning. •‘You’re Mr John xeters, I understand,” ho said. “Well, sir, I’ve come a mng way to see you. For why? I’ve something to tell you which is to your advantage,” (To be Continued). The characters in this story are entirely imaginary. No 'reference is intended to any living person or to any public or private company.