THE DEATH FLIGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22211, 11 September 1935, Page 22

THE DEATH FLIGHT

By CAPTAIN A. O. POLLARD, V.C.. M.C., D.C.M. Author of " Plrdalo Island." " Rum Alloy," " Murder »n., etc.

SYNOPSIS i'his stirring talo of tho Koyal Air force opens in a night club in Soho, where tho chief attraction is a dancing attondant named Vera. Pilot-Officer Leatrange, who is obviously in love with this girl, resents tho presence of an American .lew, who is also interested in her, and their rivalry leads to an uproar, in which Lestrange is knocked unconscious, and the Amorican ia overcome by a burly giant, who introduces himself as Charles, and who later narrowly escaptß death from a bullet fired from a passing car. Olive Leatrange, sister of the young officer, is a witness of the next attempt on Charles' life, but the latter again escapes and the American falls a victim to the assassin's knife instead. Lestrange, meanwhile, has been made responsible for the safety of the " Queen of the Commonwealth," the plane which is to represent the R.A.F. in a projected international air race to Australia. His first task is to discover Charles' particular interest in the race, and Olive's growing friendship with Charles promises to prove useful to lier brother's mission. CHAPTER V. —(Continued) Charles immediately connected the shot from the car with Vermand. The following morning he received a telephone message asking him to call at tho office of Messrs. Loudon and Company on the second floor of Jason House. He wont, suspecting a trap. Arrived at the second floor ho found tho offices all right, but did not enter them as they were unoccupied. He concealed himself instead in the Lavatory at the end of the corridor where he had a clear view through the fanlight. Five minutes before the time fixed for his appointment ho was surprised to see tho American Jew whom ho had beaten up at tho Rag Bag creep along tho corridor into Messrs. Loudon's offices. Two or three seconds later the man staggered out with a knife ■ between his shoulder-blades. Olive ap- | peared simultaneously, i At this point his mind became con- | scious that she was regarding him with no little perplexity. " I'm most frightfully sorry," he apologised quickly. " My mind was far away. It was most awfully rude of mo." , " It's quite all right," smiled Olive. " I could see it was something pretty deep because you haven't eaten anything. But won't you tell me? I should like to help if you think I can." She spoke somewhat shyly, conscious not only of the disparity between their ages, but also of Charles's very much greater experience of the world. • " Hallo!" he exclaimed. "There are two people over there who'd be interested in knowing that the man who was killed is out of the way." Olive followed the direction of his gaze. ''lt's my brother!" she declared in surprise. " Who's the girl with him, I wonder?" " She's one of the attendants at the Rag Bag Club," explained Charles. "Her name's Vera. But they're coming across." Now he saw he had been recognised, Gerry wasted no time. He was extremely anxious to find out how his j sister came to be with the mysterious individual whom Wing-Commander ; Leach had instructed him to find. She might be able to help him secure the | necessary information. " I'd no idea you two knew one another," he remarked as he joined them. " Olive dear, 1 want to introj duce Miss Vera Armstrong." I The two girls bowed stiffly. Charles drew forward some chairs. I ' " Have some coffee or something," he invited. He addressed himself to Gerry. "So your name's Lestrange? And you're stationed at Farnhaven? If that isn't too funny!" He laughed quietly. Of course, it was obvious. The " Queen of the Commonwealth " was at Farnhaven. The boys he had rescued from the brawl at the Rag Bag Club were stationed at Farnhaven. One of them had a sister who must be the one person in the I world to stumble into the killing at Jason House. No wonder they intended to connect her with him. His mind was made up now. Of course, he would tell her everything. She would be tho finest ally possible apart from the very definite attraction he felt toward her. " Your sister and 1 are very old friends," he announced. " Let me see. I almost forget who first introduced us?" He threw the ball to Olive who skilfully caught it. She had been wondering how he intended to explain their acquaintanceship. " Wasn't it Lady Frances Errington?" she supplied. " You were still at school, Gerry. But what are you doing in town?" '* I had to report at the Air Ministry 1 Then I happened to run into Vera and " " You mean I had to run after you," interposed Vera " I still believe you were trying to get away from me." She turned to Charles. " When are you coming to the club again? Several people have been asking for you. Miss Lestrange, can't you bring him this evening? It would be awful fun." Olive had a sudden impulse to agree'. It would bo awful fun. Apart from that, it would punish Gerry for introducing her to his dancing girl. He had always refused to take her to a nightclub. He couldn't very well say anything in the circumstances. " I'll do my best," she promised. " What a pity you'll bo back at camp, Gerry.' "He won't mind that," laughed Charles. " Like all the rest, I expect he's hoping to be picked for tho Australian flight. What does the machine look like?" he asked casually. "I expect it's pretty closely watched, isn't it?" Gerry remembered his conversation with Leach. " Just the usual sort, of guard," he repliecl non-committally. " Do you take much interest in itP" " I do," interposed Vera. " I know a bookie who's giving ton to ono that the plane won't get there. I've chanced ten bob." " You'll win a fiver," prophesied Gerry. " What do you think, sir?" Charles made no reply. The girl's chance information had fired a train of thought which led to a conclusion which appalled him. CHAPTER VI THE STOHY OF A DUEL' " T am going to place my life in your hands," announced Charles quietly. He and Olive were seated tinder a tree in Hyde Park to which they had retired after leaving Gerry and Vera. . Charles dare not run tho risk of being overheard, and convention precluded him from inviting Olive to his flat. " T am going to place my life in your hands. So, if you would rather avoid tho responsibility, please say so now and I will remain mute. I have already prevented you from doing your duty with regard to one crime. Perhaps the burden of a second secret will be too much for you ?" " As it's so very important, I'm wondering whether it may not be better For me not to know it," she remarked. " Please don't think I don't want to, because I do. But, if you feel that it's in any way unsafe, I shall quite under-

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A THRILLING STORY OF MYSTERY, LOVE AND ADVENTURE

stand. Couldn't I —couldn't I—help you just as well without knowing?" " As you are already to some extent involved, it's only fair that you should know everything," explained Charles. " Then we must discuss ways and means of getting you cleared." Ho struck a match and lit his pipe. " Do you remember reading in the papers some six months ago of a duel in which both men wero killed? It made rather a splash. For one thing) duels aren't allowed; for another, ono of tho combatants was a well-known financier —Sir Herbert Singleton. " Yes, I remember quite well. It took place in the garden of an emj)ty house near Richmond." Charles nodded. " That's right. Wo drove out there from town after tho quarrel. Well, it wasn't a duel at all. It was murder and an execution." He paused as if expecting her to comment. Seeing she remained silent, he went on. " Sir Herbert Singleton was my uncle —one of the best avlio ever lived. He got mixed up with an international finance syndicate —at least, that s what they called themselves. In reality they aro a g«* n S crooks. Unfortunately, ho didn't find them out until it was too late. By then they had all his money. " I was in France at the time ho made the discovery. Whether it was telepathy, or intuition, or merely Fate, I don't know, but I had a definite con : viction that my uncle needed me. Anyhow, I borrowed an aeroplane from a friend of mine and flew oyer. I landed at dusk in a field near Staines. Leaving my bus in charge of the farmer on whose ground I had come down, I took a train to London. Whether to stretch my legs or because Fate was controlling my actions, I walked from the station, I had a key in my pocket and let myself into the house. Neither of tho two servants saw me. Their evidence at the inquest stated that no one except Woolf visited the house that evening. Woolf was the name of the other man. I had seen a light in my uncle's study from the outside. I went straight in. " Woolf was lolling in an easy chair, smoking an expensive cigar. My uncle was standing up in front of the fireplace. He was deadly pale, but quite calm and collected. I could see his nerves were on edge. He swung round testily as I opened the door. When he saw it was me, his face changed to a smile of welcome. I always remember that," he commented. "He never asked me why 1 had turned up. He just said: 'Hallo, Charles. I'm glad you've come. This snake has just told me I've lost all my money. I'm ruined. And he seems* to think I can't do anything about it.' He laughed ' then —not naturally, but wildly, as though the joke were rather a desperate one. It made Woolf sit up a bit. Woolf was the London member of the syndicate. I ought to have told you that. He was the man through whom all uncle's money was invested. I don't want to bore you with all the technicalities. It was merely that all the stock and investments were fictitious. The only real part were the cheques which uncle paid away. " It was after he had told me the main details that he suggested the duel. Woolf at first protested. But uncle covered him with an automatic and he had to agree. Uncle even after what they had done to him should have shot him like a .dog, tut he insisted on fair play. There was a pair of old duelling pistols on the study wall —mementoes of a former age. At uncle's request I got them down and cleaned them and loaded them. Then I got the car out'and drove them to Richmond. Uncle sat in the back with his automatic stuck in Woolf's ribs. Woolf was as white as a sheet in a mortal funk about what was going to happen to him. " The house where we stopped was an untenanted property of uncle's. The idea was to have the duel .on the tennis court by moonlight. At first we left the car outside and went through to the back. But it so happened that some clouds had temporarily darkened the moon Uncle told me to go off and fetch the car round so that they would havo the light from the head-lamps. I was carrying the dueling pistols. I laid them down on a bank and went off. How it happened I don't know, because 1 was some fifty yards away. My uncle must have relaxed his vigilance for a moment and given Woolf his chance. Suddenly I heard a shot. I whipped round in time to see my uncle fall. At once I ran back. Now that was where Woolf made his mistake. If ho had picked up the second duelling pistol he would have got me. Instead he went for the automatic which was still gripped in uncle's hand. 1 suppose he thought there were more rounds in the magazine in case he missed with the first. Of course, a duelling pistol only has one shot. Any- . way, that's what ho did. "He had to unclasp uncle's fingers before I could cover fifty yards. I was within ten yards of him when he stood up. He got in ono shot. I've still got the mark of it." He bent toward her and, pushing aside his thick, curly hair, showed her the scar. "Before he could fire again I was on him. He was fairly bigly built, but terribly flabby. I bent him double and laid him on the grass. Then I took the pistol away from him. My intention was to shoot him out of hand "I was within an ace of pressing the trigger when my uncle spoke. He was dying, but not quite unconscious. Keeping my eye on Woolf, I . went across to where he was lying- He asked me to give him the other duelling pistol. He pointed out that it was a duel. Woolf had got first shot in at him. It was only fair he should have a shot at Woolf. 1 thought it was a good idea. I gave him the pistol and propped him up against the bank. Then I dragged Woolf across to within twelve paces. I had to hold him upright. Ho was a complete wreck by that time. He made such an impression on me that I decided, if my uncle missed, that I would let him go. My uncle didn't miss. Woolf was killed instantly. My uncle died a few minutes later. Before he went he told me to get right away and keep out of it. "With the exception of the automatic, which I put in my pocket, I left everything just ns it was. If you remember, tho car was found in the street with the lights burning. I left it like that deliberately. I had already realised the necessity to cover up my traces if I wero to succeed in revenging my uncle by busting the syndicate: "Luck was with me. After leaving tho two of them in the way they wero found, 1 walked along tho tow-path to Staines. I slept the rest of tho night in a field. In the morning 1 had a cleanup at a barber's and then flew back to France. During the subsequent inquiry it never occurred to anybody to confirm that I was actually on the Continent that night. That is the! true story of the Richmond duel," ho concluded. Olive laid an impulsive hand on his arm. Her eyes were misty with unshed tears. "There isn't very much I can say, is thereP It must have been terrible for you. If I can help you—in any way at all —I will do so willingly.'' Charles took her hand and pressed it.