STRATOSPHERE EXPRESS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 15, 28 October 1938, Page 3

STRATOSPHERE EXPRESS

A Vivid Story of Realism and Romance.

By ALROY WEST.

CHAPTER XIV

IT WAS A DELIBERATELY PLANNED ACCIDENT.

“Tlio very night that I received news of this change in niv position Dickin called on me. He showed mo some letters which, at first, I could not credit. But, in the end, ho managed to convince me. The death of my son had not been an accident. It was deliberate. Dickin showed me notes which had been written, by my boy, who was more skilled than I had imagined. Wilfred—that was my son’s name—had mentioned about this improvement to which the notes related to both Bessiter and another person. Bessiter claimed that he had the right to anything worked out in his own place, and that there should not be any financial reward. Wilfred refused to submit to this. The following day there was the accident. “I call it an accident, but it was deliberate. The only accident about it was that Malcolm Williams went up at the same time. “I can see that you don’t credit the story. I didn’t. But how could I get away from the notes and a few letters which Dickin produced? I know my own son’s writing. And I was well aware of Bessiter’s writing. There wasn’t much from him, and what there was didn’t prove anything—except when taken in conjunction with some letters my son had sent to Lovacregarding the sale of the invention. “Dickin realised that I was only hall convinced, and he then produced a written confession from the man who had tampered with the aeroplane, and caused the smash. He stated quite definitely that Bessiter had instructed him—and had also paid him. “The whole lot might have been faked,” Storm commented. Rush shook his head. “There was no mistaking that the letters written by Wilfred were genuine. He had a little trick with his signature which nobody would think to imitate. I’ll tell you.” He came closer to Storm and leaned ward as though confiding a great

sccrfiti “The dot above the l i’ in his Cliristian name was really a very small circle. One had to use a glass to make certain, because Wilfred could write a very small, fine hand. When I was shown the letters, I asked for custody of them for a few minutes. This was peertnitted, and I used a magnifying glass. Those letters were definite y written by my- son. “From that moment I hated Bessiter. I would have done anything to destroy him. So I was perfectly willing to take up the post of the secret works and to promise to pass news on to Dickin and his friends. “But I think that Bessiter suspected me. I never had the slightest chance of communicating with mv friends. Every movement I made was watche-i But I knew that Dickin was carrying on with his plan, because notes came through at times, always with stub brought from the works. “I didn’t know about the explosive in the case. That had been done quickly, and there had not been any opportunity of warning me. “Of course, 1 realised that Dickin was responsible for it. What I did not know was the plan adopted by Bessiter. But Manda came to me and told me that she knew I was helping those who were against Bessiter. I was not really surprised, because she had cpme so near to catching me redhanded on two or three occasions. It seemed that she was afraid because of what might happen to you. So I had to tell her where Dickin had his headquarters.” Storm smiled. “So she was worried about me? Rush nodded his head. A twinkle came into his eyes. “She seemed very worried. We struck a bargain. She promised to keep the news to herself and not to tell Bessiter of my own duplicity. But I saw that this could not be done entirely, so we arranged that her name was to bo kept out of things, but that you would have to be able to tell what you knew. I was already planning to leave the works, because I saw that I had been forced into an impossible position. , “I managed to make my escape by night. It was not easy, and more than once I was nearly discovered.” “It was only to-day that Dickin told me about the monoplane. He knew that there was going to be a tes»t flight. I had told him that, of course, because 1 gave a brief outline of what had taken place at the works. “Dickin took some other men and waited outside Larkin’s hangar. Laikin and his helpers were taken prisoners and moved away in a car. Dickin assembled the monoplane and dealt with the testing. He made sure that it was all right for taking off, but calculated that there would be an accident when it was in the air, especially if there was a speed test. “When I was told what had taken place, it was far too late for me to do anything. I bad an idea that Manda might take the machine up, because 1 knew that her brother had had something to do with inventing the wing structure. ~ , , “It seemed to me that the world had come to an end. The last person _ wanted to harm was Manda. I dicln t say anything to Dickin, but when he had gone I started to think out what. 1 could do. There wasn’t anything. 1 was beaten. I’d tried to work foi two sides and, in consequence, belonged to neither. ~ “I just, sat here by the table and waited. I hoped that the police would come a/id take me away—although there was no reason why they should. But I felt a criminal. “Now what are you going to do with me ?” Rush stood still at. last. He bad been pacing up and down the tiny room while he had been making bis confession. . , “What are you going to <u> with me?” be asked again. RUSH TELLS ALL HE KNOWS ABOUT THE PLOT. Storm didn’t like to look at him. Rush was somebody very badly beaten. “I want a bit move information,

:: (Copyright).

*-{Authorof “'Messengers cf Death,” "Hate Island,” Etc).

lie said after a pause. “Has Lovac been at the back of Dickin all the time?”

“No,” said Rush. “Dickin has always had the intention of selling out all he could discover—and lie lias known that Lovac was the best buyer. But Lovac came into it on his own accord. He bad a man watching on the night you wore captured, i don’t know how he managed it, unless he was having Dickin -watched very closely and had the telephone line to the Jaboratory tapped.” “I expect that was it.” “That’s all I know—-except about Macready.’ ’ “Yes,’’ said Storm slowly. “Somebody was responsible for that smash. ’ “Yes,” said Rush quietly. “Know who?” Rush shook his head. “I think we can savo yon, Rush, ’ Storm said. “You have to make a choice, of course. You must finish up either for or against us. Which is it? I’m not trying to dictate. I’m trying to safeguard Manda.” “].’]l help to the best oi my ability—if you’ll have me,” said Rush. “I’ve been through purgatory, wondering what has happened to her.” “Right. 1 will tell Bessiter that you moved away because, you had a line on our enemies. I will also tell him what you discovered. And then 1 will see that you are reinstated.” Rush .gave a shadowy smile. . “I think I’m best out of it,” lie said gently. “We’ll see, anyway. But I want to know one other thing.” “What?” “Where is Larkin?” Rush smiled. “I can tell you that. He is with his workmen. They’re fastened up and they are inside a Co-ordinated World Transport Company’s freight aeroplane at the Company’s air-field. It takes' off to-night and is going to slip away without calling at the newly constructed Government Airfield for clearance. It’s bound for South America!”

A DARING PLAN TO STEAL AN AIR LINER.

“The best place is along here,” Bessiter whispered. Storm glanced back at the red twinkle from the rear of the car which had brought them to the air-field. It had seemed a great adventure while they made the car journey, but now that they were right up against the wall of the Co-ordinated World Transport Company’s station, he felt that it was a preposterous affair. He had noticed several people going through the imposing gates, evidently bound for a night-flying air liner which would whisk them oyer to mid-Europe by morning. There was all the bustle and activity of a busy airport, and Bessiter proposed to walk in and: fly away with one of the giant machines. It was a bold plan—but Storm had the consolation of knowing that bold plans have a habit of being successful. He already had more than a hint of the method to be adopted, for they were both in flying kit, although his own was a sjze or so too large and correspondingly uncomfortable. Bessiter led the way.

They left the square, white building which served as the administration oifices and' passengers’ entrances. There was a smaller entrance further along for the lorries which brought goods for the freight planes. Bessiter walked past this and reached the one end of the frontage, There was a short wall along tho side, ail'd then some low hoards. When they reached a place well in the shadow ho indicated for Storm to stop, “I know this place slightly,” he said softly. “Just over the wall is a long shed used for storing things, especially goods awaiting transit. There is a watchman in a small office at the front. Nobody will notice us if we climb over here.”

He helped Storm up and then clambered after him. They both dropped without mishap to the gravel path. Keeping close to the rear of the shed, they moved along until they coiild peep round a corner of it. From this vantage point they had a good view of the tarmac, where a giant, four-en-gined air liner was full in the blaze of a powerful are lamp. To the side were numerous lights from the offices, and, a little apart, like a squat lighthouse set in a. field, from the control tower. “The hangars are straight ahead,” Bessiter whispered. “Watch your chance and then slip across.” \ (To be continued.)