THE DEATH FLIGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22210, 10 September 1935, Page 17

THE DEATH FLIGHT

SYNOPSIS ! This stirring tale ot the Royal Air Force | opens in n nighl club in Solio, where the chief attraction is a dancing attendant named Vera. Pilot-Officer Leatrange. who is obviously in love with this girl, resents the presence ot an American Jew, who is also interested in her, and their rivalry leads to an uproar, in which Lestrange is knocked unconscious, and the American is overcome by a burly Riant, who introduces himself as Charles, and who later narrowly escapts death from a bullet fired from a passing car. A gruesome interlude is then related in which Olive Lestrange, sister of the young officer, witnesses a ghastly murder She, too, is saved from further unpleasantness by the timely intervention of the burly ('ltalics. When the story returns to the H.A.F. officers whom we first met in Solio. they have returned to the aerodrome and are eagerly discussing a projected international air race to Australia. CHAPTER .111. — (Continued) He looked across to where the great man was standing in the centre of a group near the fire. A tall hook-nosed man with a double row of ribbons on his chest said something to WingCommander Jackson and strolled across to them. "The three musketeers," he smiled. "I've been hearing all about you. You're of the latest batch from Cranwell, aren't you?" He turned to Gerr.v. "1 think it was you wo saw land on the aerodrome this morning in the Hawk, was'nt it? I'm afraid we rather got in your way and put you off, my boy. In the circumstances you made a very good landing indeed." Gerry coloured to the roots of his hair. The tacit apology spoken by one of the keenest judges of men in the service went right to- his heart. "Who is he?" he asked when the three were once more alone. "He's Wing-Commander Leach," explained Morden. "Director of Intelligence. He's the fellow who s reponsible for the safety of the 'Queen of the Commonwealth,' as they're going to call the new bus." CHAPTER IV SUSPICIONS Gerry did not know whether to feel elated or downcast. He had received a summons to report himself at the Air Ministry in plain clothes at eleven o'clock in the morning. As is often the way with such communications, the writer had omitted to state who he was oi why the interview was to take place. Half an hour's wait in a barely furnished room after he reached Adastral House lowered his spirits to zero. It was in a state of acute depression that he followed the messenger who came for him along a winding corridor. The man opened a door and stood aside for him to pass. He squared his shoulders and crossed the threshold. The door closed behind him. A tall hook-nosed man rose behind a desk covered with papers. " I'm sorry 1 had to keep you waiting," smiled Wing-Commander Leach. " I was detained longer than I expected. But. take a seat." Gerry sank into the chair indicated. His mind was in a whirl. This was entirely outside his calculations. What was it Morden had said? " Wing-Coni-mander Leach is Director of Intelligence, responsible for the safety of the ' Queen of the Commonwealth.' " Could it be? Was it possible that he was to have something to do with tho Australian flight after all? His spirits soared dizzily. Leach regarded him shrewdly.

" I gather you didn't altogether expect to see me?" he deduced. " What s on your conscience? That affair at the Rag Bag?" Gerry's fears returned with a rush. The Wing-Commander's uncanny reading of his mind startled him. If he knew of that he would hardly entrust him with an important job. He braced himself for his confession. " I know it was all my fault, sir. 1 was a fool. At the time it seemed to me damnable that a girl like Vera should be at the mercy of any dago who liked to speak to her. But I suppose it's her job and I oughn't to have interfered. If you think I've let the service down. I'm very sorry, sir." Leach pursed his lips. " 1 wonder." he reflected, half to himself. Gerry coloured to the roots of his hair. Leach laughed. " I wasn't doubting your penitence," he explained. " 1 was merely wondering whether anyone quite so ingenuous as you could do the job I have in mind." • Gerry sat bolt upright on his chair. ! It must be to do with the Australian ! flight, lie decided. I " I'll carry out any instructions you I give me to the letter, sir," lie proj tested earnestly. " That's the trouble," Leach deliberated. " I don't always want my instructions carried out to the letter. I I expect people to use their brains." Gerry was temporarily nonplussed. He couldn't very well insist that ho had brains. At the same time he was becoming more and more eager for the ; Wing-Commander to give him a I chance. "Ir onlv you'll try me, sir. I'll promise not to fail you." Ho spoke simply, straight from his heart. Watching closely, Leach reached his decisiou Here was a weapon that would not turn in his hand. He smiled suddenly. "All right, Lestrange. I'll try you." His manner became brisk and businesslike. "Our business is, of course, in connection with the 'Queen of the Commonwealth.' I thought that would please you," he laughed, noting the glow of delight on Gerry's face. "It's a little difficult to explain. 1 may bo chasing a shadow. But I have a nose for these things and, with all duo modesty, my scent does not usually plav mo false." He leaned forward to give emphasis to what lie was about to say. "Fifty thousand pounds is a lot of money. It is a large enough sum to tempt a great many people from the straight and narrow path. Leaving out the actual prize, a great many bets will be laid on the result. In the strictest confidence we believe that our machine is the onlv one that can make the course. You see where all this is leading me?" Gerry nodded. "You mean it may suit someone to interfere with her." "Precisely. Suppose a tremendous number of people betted on our machine winning. It she failed their money would be lost. There is also another possibility which we must watch. One of our competitors might think it worth while to give their own bus a better chance by upsetting ours. Apart from the £50,000, victory will mean a lot to the country which is successful. A boom in their aircraft industry would undoubtedly follow." He paused and picked up a well-worn briar "The devil of it is I've got nothing | tangible tc go on. I can only suspect and take precautions. There's this man, Charles MacCallum, who went to your rescue the other evening. I've got an idea he knows something. Somebody tried to shoot him as he left the club. Of course, it may have been merely your American friend trying to get his own back, but somehow, I don't think BO."

(COPY RIGHT)

By CAPTAIN A. O. POLLARD, V.C., M.C., D.C.M, Author of " Pirdale Island," " Rum Alley," " Murder Hide-and-Seek," etc., etc.

A THRILLING STORY OF MYSTERY, LOVE AND ADVENTURE

"1 should have thought the other | follow was more likely to be a crook I than Charles," interposed Gerry. Leach looked grim. "The other fellow, your American friend, was found murdered with a knife in his hack the following morning in a corridor outside a suite of empty offices in that building over there." He pointed out of the window to the opposite side of the street. "What do you want me to do-'" asked Gerry. Leach struck a match and applied it to the pipe he had been filling. "All 1 want you to do at the moment is to cultivate MacCallum's friendship. He lives in a flat in Pall Mall." Ho picked up a paper and threw it across. "Here's the address. You might call and thank him foi the other night. Bring the conversation round to the Australian flight and note his reactions. You'll soon know whether or not he's interested. Use your common sense. You have a free hand to follow up any line you think may boar fruit. Keep in touch with me and let me know how you get on." He rose and held out his hand, Gerry took it mechanically. A few moments later ho was in the lift on the way out to the street. Outside on the pavement lie paused and considered. Lunch seemed to be indicated. He would find a place in* the Strand. It would he on his way to Pall .Mall and the meal would give him a chance to think., Simpson's was the place. But before he reached his destination ho was hailed by a familiar voice, lie swung round to confront a smiling Vera. "Hallo, Gerry! You do walk fast," she called yaily. "I've had to run to catch you." "Why, Vera. You're about the last person J expected v to see." 1 can well believe that," she retorted quickly. " You've taken jolly good care not to come anvwhere near me since that night, it' wasn't my fault, you know, Gerry." " No, i know it wasn't," lie admitted. ' Anyway, 1 haven't been up to town since. But, now we've met, let s have lunch together." An idea had suddenly formed in his mind. He would pump the girl as to how much she knew of the mysterious Charles MacCalliim. From liis knowledge of the place he had given the impression that he was a fairly freqilent visitor to the club, and Vera naturally knew all the habitues. The girl was quite agreeable to his suggestion. Hailing a taxi they drove to a little French restaurant in Soho which they had visited together several times before. The head waiter recognised them and bowed them to a secluded table set in a tinv alcove. Gerry waited until they were halfway through their moaf before he introduced the subject which was uppermost, in his mind. " Who was the big fellow who cleaned up ail the dagoes?" he asked carelessly. Vera became suddenly serious. " Honestly, Gerry, 1 don't know. He'd never been in the club before and he's not been in since. But you're the third person who's asked me about him. One the same night and nnotlur the following day. He must he a bit of a mystery. He's a man at any rato." She smiled. " Just the sort of man 1 like. But —well, 1 never!" Her exclamation was caused by the sight of two newcomers who had just entered the restaurant. One was Charles MaoCallum. Gerry turned to look at his companion. " Good Lord !" he cried. The girl whom Charles was escorting was his sister Olive. CHAPTER V PAUL VERMAND Completely unaware of her brother's surprised regard Olive smiled gaily at her vis-a-vis. "Well?" she challenged. "We're here. Now tell me everything." Charles chuckled provokinglj'. " Supposing 1 were to tell you that the reason I wrote you was that 1 wanted to see you again?" he teased. " What would you say to that?" Olive coloured faintly. " 1 should feel very honoured," she admitted. " But unfortunately 1 know that isn't the reason." " Oh, yes it is," contradicted Charles. "One of them, at any rate, f have wanted to see you again. All the same. J should have foregone my own pleasure were it not that your unfortunate adventure of the other morning looks like involving you in rather a mess." " I'm sorry if Pm causing you a lot of bother," she said demurely. " If it'll save any trouble 1 dorl't mind telling the police all about it." " If you do that, my dear, you'll put me straight in prison," remarked Charles dryly. " That would upset the apple-cart." For the thousandth time he ran over in his mind the incidents that had led up to the murder. The affair dated back to 1019. He had gone over to see his brother's grave in Flanders. His visit had included a couple of days in Brussels. It happened on the second day. He had selected for his dejeuner a gay cafe situated in the vicinity of the Square. While idly engaged with his* meal ho had happened to notice the two at an adjoining table—a man and a girl. The man was heavily built with a big red face and heavy jowl, about forty-five years of age. Except that his companion was young and chic, Charles had very little recollection of her appearance. She was merely one of a not uncommon type. The meal had reached the coffee stage. A dapper little man with bristling military moustaches entered the cafe and tapped the big man on the shoulder. There followed a short conversation carried on in undertones. Suddenly a pistol-shot rang out. 'I ho little man sank to the ground, 'the big man, gun in hand, dashed for the door. On the spur of the moment, with reckless bravery, Charles leapt after him. The man fought madly, but in vain. Charles' \outh and athletic frame carried the day. By the time the gendarmes who had been waiting outside the door arrived, it was all over. The man was disarmed and helpless. At the request of the high police official who had been shot, Charles reported himself at the Bureau. 1 here he discovered that the man he had arrested was an international spy working m the German interest. The man, who gave his name as Paul Vermand, confronted with Charles, threatened revenge. In course of time the incident gradually faded from Charles' memory. Vermand disappeared to serve a long term of imprisonment. The years passed. Then one day Charles discovered a short paragraph in his morning paper to the effect that the notorious spy Paul Vermand was released on completion of sentence. It was believed that he had gone to America. This was confirmed for Charles a few months later bv the arrival of a letter with a United States stamp. It contained a single line: " I have not forgotten," and was signed Paul Vermand. Nothing further transpired until the night of the fight in the Rag Bag Club. (To be continued daily)