THE OUTLAW OF THE AIR

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 160, 8 July 1922, Page 22

THE OUTLAW OF THE AIR

By JOHN L. CARTER,

Author of "Putting Off Mary," "Peggy the Aeronaut," "The Pilgrimage , of Delilah," "Nymphet," "Hi* Painted La4y," "A Honeymoon Interlude," "The WHneM," etc.

CHAPTER XII. . KEDFORD SETTLES HIS ACCOUNT. After Rob had left ncr, sheila bad remaiued kneeling there for some minutes. Slowly her sobbing quietened, and eventually ceased. Her tears, which at fir3t seemed as though they would submerge her in a flood of grief, staunched, and she fell into a quietened mood of lethargy and hopelessness. Nothing mattered, now thnt Fob had spurned her. There was nothing to li c for. Her feeling of loneliness was terrible. She had experienced a great shock. Never had she believed that Rob would fail-her. misjudge her. doubt her. She had confidently believed that all would l.c .wall, once they two met. And the shock of discovering that he distrusted her, that he would not listen to her, spcmed to have robbed her of all interest in life. She knelt there in utmost dejection and despair, a look of complete hopelessness an.-I misery upon 1 lier young face, j And then she had been roused by the', drone of the returning Anms machine, j and had to rouse herself to meet the others.

I Berl Muncen was tile first to alig'it. "What was that machine that came down a little while ago? -, lie demanded. Sheila watched him uneasily. Fob had said that he was to Greenock to fetch the police. Oh! why had he told her? She know that nothing could foreo the infonra+iiorufroni her, but she would have preferred that he had never told her. As it was. she would die before she said s word to Eerl Mune:en. . '"I was away at the time," she said. But. being unused to dorention, she said it falteringly, uneonvincingly. Mungen glared at her guspi inusly. "Come! That ta'e won't do."' he roared. "I saw someone get out, and I saw you there too. You forpet we've got that forty diameter telescope in the cabin. Come now! Tt was Rob Angus. I haven't a doubt about it. It was a two-seater Ilalker, by the look of it. and T know that Angus is using one to hunt mc down in. Come now, it was Angus?" There was a dr.nsrerous glint in his ere. Tt was very certain that he had no love for Rob. "I cannot teli you," said Sheila firmly. She was determined that she would die before she betrayed Rob. Eon might doubt bpr. roisrht have changed from loving to hating her. hut that did not affect bpr lovp. S'be loved Rob, because she oould not help loving him. She would love him for ever, in spite of everything. Mungen went up close to her," seized her b y the wrist and looked sharply into her face. There was something in her s.iddened face, her tragic eves, her still heaving breast, that roused his suspicions. "So that's it, i= it?" he cried, furious. "Angus has been here, and you're still sweet on the h.rute!" Then he flung her from him with such fury that she fell to the "And "all this while you've been fooling mc! Am I not right! You are soft on lAngus." Suddenly something happened within Sheila. She sprang to her feet and faced Mungen fiercely, defiantly. "Very well, then, you are right," she fried. "I do love him, and I hate you. I hate and loathe the very sight of your Ujrlr body. T love Rob, and I only came with vnu because I thought you had killed him. I wanted reypnge. -, Mungen laughed at that. It wae a! brutal laugh. There was an ugly note in it, which promised Sheila a very roufh time. "So that's your little gaire." be Tβtorted. "Well, you can go on playing your game, and I'll play mine I mean to break yonr will. I me.an to make you my plaything. See? Artd I mean to smash our friend Roh Angus. I will wipe him out, like the trivial affair he is. -Rob Angus is going west. I'll show no mercy to the man you prefer to mc." Sheila stood with her head proudly held in spitß of the fears that his brutal threats aroused. She could not help being afraid for Rob. Mungen meant every word. He was going to'use every means of wiping out Rob, if only for Ins pride's sake. And as yet. Sheila's anxiety over Rob wps so great that she had not b<?<run to think of what was to happen to herself. In any case, she was resolved npon one thing: nothing should force from her the fact thai Rtfb had cone to Greenock. b "We must etrike camp instantly," ordered Mungen. "Now Redford, get a mo,ve on. We start in five minutes, and we shan't come back here. We've got serious work to do within the next half-hour." Smith and Redford busied themselves transferring the tent and the rest of the camp equipment to the aeroplane. Sheila was anxiously watching Mungen. What had he meant by having serious work to do? had looked meaningly at her as he paid that. And she was suddenly flooded with fear, fear for Rob

It seemed ac though Mungcn guessed her thoughts. "And now we will ■ set arter Hob Angus," he said. "Xo, you needn't think thai I'm going to question you any more. The fact is, we watched 'him come; then we hung about and watched him go. And we foilowed him high up until he came down outside GreenocK." "Oh, God!" breathed Sheila. -Help poor Rob!" Mungen grinned maliciously. "He'll need all the help he can get," he said grimly. "We're going after him right now. And he's going to get one of ou r eighty pound bombs right in the neck." Sheila heard that with horror. And then ehe realised that Rob's life depended upon herself. She must do something. There must be something that sne could do to save Rob. Then she thought of a way. She had only to smash the petrol feed to the carburetter system in order to delay the Angus I for at least an hour, probably longer. By that time Rob would 'be safe in the air. Perhaps he would have brought the police by then. In any case it was worth a trial. With a~s"udden epring she bounded towards the Angus, intending to get up to the engine room, and with a single blow of a big wrench disable the machine. Mungen was quite unprepared for thi3, and quite hopeless of overtaking her. "Smith!" he yelled. "Stop her! She's going to run off with the Angus." Sheiia thrilled at the idea. She had not thought of that. But why should she not? Mungen and is crew would j be left stranded, at the certain mercy of the police when they arrived. The thought inspired her, sent her ahead .even more ewiftlr.

"I will!" eaid Redford, suddenly re

"And I forgive you," said Sheila

"'Still, you can repay mc. in a way." She gulped down a sob. Rob was ■ dead. Nothing could now bring about an understanding between them. She would not have taken Rob's death so bitterly, perhaps, if Rob believed in her and understood. As it was, she felt that there was nothing left in life but to punish the man who had ruined her life and killed her Rob. -

"Whatcan I do?" eagerly asked Redford. "I ewcar I will do" anything to atone for my past weakness." "Disable the engines," ghe said. "Then escape and get in touch with the police."

"Capital!" cried Red ford. '"But -what about you?"

wSheil'a laughed bitterly. "They cannot do more than kill mc, and I ran aesure you that I ehall not mind that,' , ehe said. "But. j;o immediately. Take the contact breakers off the magnetos, and throw them into the sea. Then get to the police." Just then the door opened, and Mungen entered, holding a Browning pistol. "Well, it's a pretty cute plot," he said. Redford started in horror. "Oh, what do you mean?" gasped Sheila. Mungen stood over her and glowered at her. Then he -pointed to the mouthpiece of the speaking-tube, which connected that cabin with the other. And Sheila knew what he meant. Mungen had heard every word. He was chuckling now. "Redford, my friend, you sounded like the original RedfoH once more," he sneered, "the blatant singer of the 'Red Flag.' Alas, my poor friend. I fear it was your swan song. You have ruined your chancca by this sudden mutiny. You will have to die."

"Die ?" said Redford, in a whimpering tone.

Sheila set her teeth. She was helplees, handcuffed, but she felt capable of dashing her fists in Mungen's face. That was her impulse. She quelled it, however, realising that it was cunning and not brute force that was needed.

"Smith wiil lead you to your place of execution," said Mungen, turning to Bedford. ''Get along!" And Redford went.

"As for ' you, little spitfire," said Mungen w Sheila. "If you live it is bceaiiso T permit it. I vvant you to live, and I want you for myself. But, understand mc, I wil] stand no non?enee. You can die if you like, or you cau live. It is for you to decide. But the slightest disloyalty to mc and out you go—like a snuffed candle. You understand. What is it to be? ,, .

Sheila was tempted to taunt him, and so Bring about her own, death. But there was something that A she wanted to do before that. She must live until she, had achieved her life-work in delivering this orge up to the justice that he so richly deserved. She had -told herseli that nothing mattered now that Rob was gone. But that wag not true. One thing mattered, and one thing only— she must square her account with Mungen. She must use all the cunning that she was capable of in order to deceive and outwit him. And Mungen, who was a frank materialist, would not think it surprising that she would prefer to obey him rather than die.

"You've beaten mc," sTie said. "I've not the slightest wish to die. Will you let mc have my hands free if I promise not to escaped.. ..'. . .

And then Smith appeared. He took in the situation at a glance, shambled across and stood at the foot of the Angus gangway and waited. Sheila took a great fortifying breath, and

attempted to dash past him, but. Smith, with his gorilla-like arms, seized her as she passed, jerked her oil' her feet, and coon had her in a vice-like grip. Sheila I fought. She kicked, tore with her nails, [ bit his unyielding knuckles, 'but all to Ino purpose. Without a word Smith carried her to one of the-cabin?, put ! her face downwards on the Hoor, then i knelt brutally upon her while he tied her hands behind her. Then he picked her up, seated her, and left her. Meanwhile Mungen had forced Kedford to take the pilot's seat, and the machine was now in the air heading toward-a Greenock. And within five minutes Mungen had dropped that'bomli, which had so nearly ended Kob along with his machine. Thev.>now headed north, in the hope of finding a refuge on the Mc of Lewis. Arrived there they at last discovered what seemed to be a lonely spot, suitable for their purpose: and when they settled dowii for the night Sheila was still a prisoner. Early the following morning Redford visited Sheila in her cabin. He was obviously oppressed with a deep gloom. "I'm sick of this!" he blurted. 'It's shameful! lam a thousand times more guilty than a common murderer. I do the thing from sheer cowardice. Ami, it's time I ended it all." Sheila regarded him wonderingly. She had found it difficult to understand his point of view. He appeared to be a man with ideals, with convictions, yet he connived at these crimes. It was something that she could not understand at all. To her honour was more precious than life. Apparently poor Mr. Redford was in terror of physical death, and his terror was so extreme that he would sell his honour to evade the consequence of standing out for the right.

With that he was gone.

"Look here!" he cried, at a sudden thought. "Let us two defy them. We might escape. I am sure, that with your help, I could stand out. Let mc unfasten your wrists." Sheila smiled and held out those wrists. The rope had been replaced by handcuffs of the regulation pattern. "I should only be a drag on you," she said. "Still, why should you not make the attempt to get away? Somewhere on this island there must be a village, and police, and telephones. Oh, why not? The risk would be very email. The reward would be. beyond everything, worth while. Please try it, for my sake."

solved. Then a frown clouded his face. 'I have to make a confession, Miss Lamartinc," he continued. "It wae I who drove the Angus last evening." Sheila guessed his meaning, and shook her head.

"I know," she said, with a 6igh. "but Mungen would have done it anyhow. He would have killed Rob in spite of you."

"I swear I never suspected that he would bomb him,' , protested Redford. "You do believe mc?"

"What- use will a woman be to us?" growled Smith. "If you' want someone to give us away when we least expect it, by ail means keep Sheila with us."

"What use would a woman confederate be?" cried Mungen. "Why, she would make an excellent decoy. She could get hoid of men whom we can't touch, and twist 'cm round her little finger. A handsome girl like Sheila, once she came properly in wifcb us, would be invaluable. And never you fear, she'll come all right, before long." "Well, what's the next Hem on the programme?" said Smith, -n-lio ao ardently disapproved of the idea that he resolved to ignore it, as though by doing so he would dispose of it. "What do you say to holding up the Circassian?' suggested Mungen. "It sails from Liverpool at twelve noon today. We should be able to pick it ut> off Waterford." Smith whistled. "But the Circassian is a 15,000 tonner," the objected. "How could we possibly hold her up? Her personnel alone will amount to several hundreds. Impossible!" "Nothing is impossible to a willing, heart," mockingly quoted MnngerT. "Let's get abroad and demonstrate the truth of the oM saj-ing." With that ho led the way to the Angus. During the flight South, Mungen was stricken with an idea.

"One thing is obvious," said he. "We must have a permanent headquarters. This playing hide-and-seek on the waste spots of the earth is not good enough." "T'll tell you what 1 should do," ?a id Smith. "Why not buy a place? There

Mungen laughed at that. He admired her cunning, though he had not 'the slightest intention of responding to-it.'

'•You're safest as you are,' , he said. "Now I must go and help Redford,into a better world. I reckon "Smith,'s service revolver will do the trick pretty thoroughly."

And now Sheila rose and looked out of the cabin windows. She could see Redford standing at the edge of a narrow ravine. Smith was blindfolding him, and chuckling with anticipation. At last Mungen joined them. Then it was that Sbeiia noticed that Mungen had left his Browning automatic pistol lying on one of the seats in her • cabin. She pounced upon it and took it up. Though her wrists were manacled there was nothing to present her holding and firing that pistol. Quick as thought she opened the door and clambered down. She knew that she had not much time to waste. Mungen was not the man to wait.

She came upon them from behind. Smith had put his revolver in his pocket. Mimgen was taunting Redford. Neither noticed her approach. '"Hands up. or you are dead men!" Sheila cried in her deep contralto. Mungen growled out a great oath. Smith's hand fled to his revolver instinctively. But a crack from t& e Browning and a bullet-graze upon'the back of "the hand warned him that he was playing a dangerous game, so he put up. his hands. Mungen ha A started towards Sheila, but the sight of her determined face and thai pistol made him I waver, and then brought him up dead. '•Now, don't ('.are to move!"' ordered I Sheila in tone? of steel. "Mr. Redford, ' pull that cloth oil' your eyes, then feel 'in Munu'en's pockets'for the key of these : handcuffs. Then we will set these two ! rasrals safely locked up for the night. !In t'i\r morning we will ask the police to , come along." J And Redford, electrified into eager i activity, quickly found the key in Mun- ', -f-n' 1 ! whir'con* pocket, and while ifih-eila continued to cover Mungen and j Smith with the pistol, Redford unJ fastened the handcuffs. ! "Vow Be-1 Mi:n"»n,"' cried ; Sheila. "You either allow Mr. Redford jto fit those handcuffs to your wrists or I you are a dead man. Understand, 1 J mean every word I say." CHAPTER XI n. As Redford approached Mi.tigen with the ifaandrtliTe, the giant made a show of complying, then, as the little man began to fumble at his wrists, Mungen suddenly seized him, and holding him as a shield in front of him. leapt towards Sheila, and flung the helpless RcdforJ forward against her. Sneila was taken entirely by surprise; the realisation that yhe could not five without endangering Redford seemed to I bewilder her. Then, when she saw Bedford's body hurtling towards her, she was divided between her instinct to dart aside and so save herself from injury, and a desire to do what she could to prevent him sustaining a serious injury. Thus Redford collided heavily with her, and she went to the grround: whereupon Mungen promptly seized aud hand-ciiffed her once more. Mungen then carried her into her | cabin, locked her in,'and joined Smith, '. who was holding Redford. They then ! led Redford away to a deep crevice some . distance off, shot him, and dropped his j body- into the crevice, then threw down | stones and undergrowth until no sign I was left. "And now we had better shoot Sheila," advised Smith. Munsren glared at him. "Sheila is my affair," he said. "At present I"m going to keep her alive." Smith laughed offensively. "You'll live to regret-it," he retorted. "You see if you don't." "Nonsense!" protested Mungen. "Sheila is just t)he woman to prove invaluable to mc. And now that Angus is dead, she'll soon come to her senses. Give her a month or so, and she'll throw in with us all right. I never yet met a woman who was not adaptable. You can easily mouia them. You just wait and see." i

are plenty of country estates, private parks, an"d that sort of thing for sale." Berl Mungen struck one broad fleshypalm with his other fist. "I've got it," he cried., "We must ! ha\-e a place that is out in the ivilds, and yet handy for' some big centre. 'Moscar Top,' the place next to Lady Sandley's hou?e near Tuxford. I was there pretty often when we formed the Angus Company. The whole estate is owned' Iby the Honourable Thomas Mayes, her ieonsin. He's selling out every inch of land he's got. Moscar Top has got a high stone wall all round the park. There are lawns and copses, and, by Jove! there's a disused quSrry—the ver,£ place for hiding the Angus at daytime.' "It sounds all very nice and ideal," said Smith, cynically, "but how could Berl Mungen buy su«h a place without the world knowing?" , "That's easy," retorted Berl Mungen. "We'll get a Wireless off to Jabez Manning riglit now. Hβ will have to buy it, and live in it. He can make out that ■he is a South African, and in order to do away with awkward questions he wilrpay cash." They were at the wireless installation by now, and it was not long before they ; nad got their message through. And Manning promised to got the matter through within a week. (To be continued Saturday next.)