STRATOSPHERE EXPRESS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 16, 29 October 1938, Page 9

STRATOSPHERE EXPRESS

By ALROY WEST.

A Vivid Story of Realism and Romance.

CHAPTER XV. AUDACITY TOOK THEM TO RIGHT AEROPLANE. It was not so easy as it sounded. There were several people standing near the air liner, and the pilot, together with two officials, was standing on the side nearest to them. There were one or two mechanics: wandering about, seemingly waiting for a machine still in the hangar. One of them’passed within a stone’s throw. Storm leaned forward, waited until the man was hidden behind the long shed, and then raced for the shadows. It seemed to him that everybody would hear the sound of his boots. But there were no shouts of alarm. Ho glanced over his shoulder, and was in time to see Bessiter start to run.

“First part,” announced his employer. “Now we have to lind the machine. I expect it is just beyond these hangars. Come on.” They moved forward quickly. Storm glanced at his watch, and calculated that they had about.a quarter of an hour before the plane in which Larkin was a prisoner would be starting out. Bessiter stopped at the end of the row of hangars. “This is awkward,” he muttered.

Storm, with a sinking heart, realised that it was impossible to cross the next portion without being seen, because there were powerful lamps and there were some men at work unloading a lorry. “Light a cigarette,” Bessiter commanded. Storm did this. Bessiter followed suit. “Now stroll across deep in talk.” Storm felt his brow begin to damp. It was one thing to dodge in the shadows, but to deliberately walk across practically under the noses of some of the company’s workers was another matter. Storm took a deep breath. “The rest will bo child’s play once this bit is done,” he thought. He was wrong. Worse was to follow. They stroHed forwards,, Bessiter setting the pace and even stopping to point out something on a slip of paper right under ono of the lights. But the workers' did not seepi to notice them. Not so a mechanic.

“Hey! Who are you?” he asked, just when they thought they had reached a safe part.

“Might ask you that,” said Bessiter slowly. The mechanic obviously bristled. “You’re not Company men!” he accused.

“Right first time,” said Bessiter. “We come from Mr Godfrey Lovac, being—asl you might say—private pilots to him. We are with a South American consignment. Of course, if you care to insist upon it, well, my mate and I are willing to come along with you to Mr Lovac and explain that you .stopped us.” The mechanic seemed uneasy. “Say!” he said. “I didn’t realise that. Sorry old man.” “That’s all right,” said Bessiter heartily. “But don’t make a talking picture of it. You know how Lovac smiles? Well, ho smiled at us—at my mate hero and me—and said quiet-like ‘You won’t advertise your presence too much, will you, Russell? -So if it’s printed in the newspapers to-morrow there might bo some trouble.” “I’ll keep it quiet,” the man promised. Bessiter turned to Storm.

“Como on, Davies. Wo haven’t much time you know. And Lovac does get impatient sometimes.” The mechanic passed on. “By the way,” said Bessiter, turning suddenly.

“Yes,” said tho man. “You might help us out of a little difficulty.” “What is it?” “My mate hero is rather slow on the uptake. Ho can’t remember where Lovao told him the plane would be. First be said No. 1 Hangar, and now he thinks it might have been No. 3. He thinks perhaps it was an odd number, but lie wouldn’t be sure. If it isn’t an odd one—well, it’s even!” Bessiter roared with laughter and the mechanic followed suit.

“I’ll take you to it,” lie offered. “Then your mate can’t make a mistake, can he?” “Good of you,” Bessiter said with a gring, giving Storm a quick nudge with his elbow.

“It’s way beyond No. 3 Hangar,’ - the man went on. “The Company have had a new idea about cargo planes. They take off from a separate field on the tar side of the row of hangars.” “Oli! Why’s that?”

The mau shook his head. “.Search me! I don’t know. There aro always fresh . ideas knocking around. It’s because your Mr Lovac lias got the progress ‘bug’ rather badly. Say, that fellow can’t leave anything alone for more than a few seconds.”

“Don’t I know it,” Bessiter growled. “Do you know tho fellows who are taking No. 43 out ” the mechanic asked. “No. Lovac didn’t tell us.”

“llroy is one. I think Lovac likes him because lie never has anything to say. Surly brute, if you ask me.” “I think 1 did hear Lovac say that llroy was tho best man on the field,” Storm said suddenly. “And lie also said that tho fellow named—named— named Dash! I’ve forgotten it! But anyway, lie said lie was a good mechanic, as well as being a pilot.” Their companion snorted. “I know which one. Fit partner for llroy. Hill is the name. Rotten pair, but very well in with the boss.” “Not popular then?” Storm asked. “I’ll say not. You see, those guys don’t have a regular machine or a regular beat. They just sail in at times and take over. Just Mr Lovac’s orders. ‘Red’ Mackley is in a murderous temper at tho moment. Ho should be taking -13 out to-night. This route has been in service for about three years. Mackley was the first pilot to tackle it, and lie’s kept going ever since. Wonderful record for distance flying—lie’s never been more than eight hours off schedule. That mail’s a wizard.”

They walked past the hangars and Storm could make out the immense bulk of the waiting machine. ‘‘No sign of the others,” their guide

:: (Copyright).

(Author of “Messengers cf Death,” “Hate island,” Etc).

announced. “Hello! There’s Red snooping round. There may be trouble. Do you fellows mind if I scram ? 1 don’t want to get mixed up in anything to-night. iVly wife’s over at the hospital and I don’t fancy going visiting her looking like a corpse, ‘bed’ will probably wait lor .llroy to turn up and will have a smack at him. Vile temper that pilot’s got. Keep out ol his way.” “Wo will,” Bessiter promised. When they were alone he grinned at Storm. “Well, what do you think of that? I bet I managed to scare you that time!” “You did,” Storm admitted. “You were lucky to get away with it.” Bessiter snorted. BESSITER ADMITTED HE WAS STEALING ’PLANE. “I’m always lucky,” lio announced. Storm shook his head doubtfully. It was one tling to talk about boldly walking into the jilace and flying away in the big airliner, but something vastly different when one was standing practically underneath tho machine gazing up at its immense bulk. “Our friend ‘Red’ is moving away,” Bessiter whispered. “Good job,’ 5 breathed Storm. He made me nervous, hanging around like that.”

“Don’t worry. Remember I’m oh the job. When I set out to do a thing I do it.”

“I know,” sad Storm, resignedly . They came nearer still to the machine. It differed from the normal type of air liner inasmuch as there were very few windows along the side of the fuselage. “This will bo the baggage compartment,” Bessiter said. “Aren’t you going to slip into the machino right away?” Storm asked anxiously.

“Not likely. I may have been fooled. Wait a minute.”

Bessiter leaned right up against the side of tho fuselage, and after digging into tho pockets of his leather coat produced a pipe. He knocked it against the metal of the plane and then pressed his ear against tho side. Storm glanced over Iris shoulder. He didn’t feel comfortable, and bo didn’t like Bessiter’s leisurely methods. ’They were right in the middle of an airfield belonging to Lovac, practically within call of two dozen pilots and mechanics, and .yet Bessiter was carrying on as though there were all night and the next morning to carry out their project. The pipe rapped out some message, rather liko Morse, but Storm couldn’t decipher it. Then Bessiter smiled. Ho turned to Storm, standing next to him, “They’re inside.” ‘’‘You could have found that out from inside,” Storm said. “Idiot! Don’t you realise that the cabin is lit up? We shouldn’t have a chance. They’ve got to think that we are llroy and Hill.”

Storm whistled. “You mean you’ro going to wait and deal with them before taking off?” “Of course I do. I’ll tackle tile tigger man of the two. Mind 1 you- slam into your man quickly. We don’t want an alarm raised.” Storm nodded his head.

“All right. Sounds mad to me, though. I should have felt liko getting away as quickly as possible.’ “That’s my part of the adventure,” Bessiter hissed. “I’m running this—not you. Understand?” “Quiet. Hero they come. Get down.”

Two men sauntered over the tarmac.

“1 don’t see why you should be so all-lired particular about who sees us going,” the one said in a slightly querulous voice. “Shut up! I’ve had our orders. The bus is all set for taliing-off. Tho whole thing has been fixed up.” “I know that. But Macltley is prowling round. I caught a glimpso of his face. Come on!” Bessiter moved slightly. Storm knew that ho was crouching for a spring. He suddenly forgot about the risk. There was danger near. His muscles tensed. An instant later and he was leaping at his man. Both lost their footing and tumbled to the ground. But Storm was on top, and, what was of equal importance, had a hand over the man’s mouth. It wasn’t timo for ) idglovo methods, so Storm half • used his victim and banged him down hard on the tarmac. Tho man gave a groan and beeamo limp. Vcry cautiously, Storm took his hands away. He glanced to see what had happened to Bessiter. But Bessiter was not fighting A limp figure indicated what had happened to his quarry. But there was somebody else on tho scene. A burly man with a shock of red hair. The light from the cabin just glinted on it. “What might all this be about?” the man asked in a low drawling voice. Bessiter placed his hands on his li:ps. Sorm shuffled uneasily. The’d been caught red-handed, and by Mack ley of all people. How would Bessiter deal with ’t? It seemed impossible to bluff— but it was also impossible to secure alack toy before lie called out an alarm. “I’m Bessiter. You may have heard of me. I’m stealing this machine. Any objection?” HOW BESSITEiR COT BOTH ’PLANE AND PILOT. Storm let his hands flop dow.i to his sides. “That has ripped it!” lie muttered. There wasn’t much light over against the enormous ’plane, hut he could make out Bessiter’s great form and tne faint glow from the cabin catching an answering glint in Maekley’s hair. “Have I any objection?” Maokley drawled. * “Yes. That’s what I asked.” “Suppose f hare?” “It’s going to make things awkward,” Bessiter confessed. “And you’d be a. blazing, loo! for another reason.” “What might that reason be?” “The last pilot who signed up with me to fly my super-plane had a regrettable accident. So perhaps the job’s a bit too big for you.” “Sign iip for you! What, is (iris?

Trying to pull a fast one on me." “Not in my line. You didn’t stem to realise who I am. The name’s Btssitor. Doesn’t it convey anything to you?”

“Can’t say that it does. There are probably heaps of Bessiters' in the world.”

There was deliberate challenge in tiie drawling voice. But Bessiter cut in sharply with. “I know. But there's only one !3cssiter who counts for anything. I'm that one.” “Urn.”

“Berhaps you don’t believe me,?’ Bessiter suggested grimly. “I can toll you who you are, anyway. You re Tied’ Mack ley—far and away the best pilot, on the Co-ordinated’s lines But you’re also straight, so when there’s dirty work to be done they just chuck you out and put mo ft like flroy in your place.” “Wait a minute. What dirty work?” “This machine was bound for South America?” “Yes. That’s No. Id’s usual route.” “But she wasn’t going quite the usual way about it,” said Bessiter. “She was going to sneak out. \\>u can’t very well land up at a Government clearing station with some fellows tied up in the baggage compartment.” “Tied up?” (To he continued.)