THE DEATH FLIGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22226, 28 September 1935, Page 7 (Supplement)

THE DEATH FLIGHT

CHAPTER XXVll.—(Continued) Harris was half cowed by this vehemence and half defiant. " Do you mean to say I'm to remain down there tho whole time as this chap's warder?" lie asked disgustedly. "I certainly do!" asserted Chaplin. " Why, you fool!" be went cn in a less aggressive voice. " You'd have had to leave London in any case. Now that the police have,found that wireless at Jason House, they'll bo looking for you everywhere." "Especially if they happen to connect tho affair with tho man 1 shot at Farnhaven to-night," put in Lebeuf. " I think it'll bo well if none of us are seen too much for the next couple of days." His words recalled an earlier incident of the evening to Chaplin's iniud. lie smiled in a way that suggested that a load had been lifted from his shoulders. " 1 also shot a man to-night," ho disclosed with satisfaction. " He made tho mistake of asking me questions and there was nothing else to do. In view of the fact that we've now captured his able assistant, 1 think it was a very good move in more ways than one." Harris was suddenly awe-stricken. " You don't mean. . . ?" ho began. " Yes, 1 do," interrupted Chaplin. " That interfering busybody Loach." Charles spoke for the first time since ho was overpowered. " You've murdered Wing-Coinmander LeachP" lie cried incredulously. Chaplin bent down with a snarl and struck him in tho mouth with his clenched fist. " Speak when you're spoken to!" ho snapped. Charles glared up at him fearlessly. A thin trickle of blood was running down his chin. " You'll pay for this, you swine!" Chaplin laughed harshly. " Not in your lifetime, anyhow." He turned to tho others, " We'll just leave him there for a time while wo make arrangements to get him out of London." He walked back to the table followed by tho rest. Charles, was left alone on tho floor. He tried to think but his thoughts refused to run clearly. The recent concussion he had sustained, followed by tho jarring ho had received in his struggle for freedom, had started his head aching violently. One thing kept recurring again and again in his mind. W ing-Commander Leach was dead. Ho could no longer rely on him coming to his aid. He lay for soino time with his eyes half closed. The pain in his head was almost unbearable. He had ceased to care what happened to him, and took very little notico of the two men who presently came toward' him. One of them held a handkerchief rolled into a pad over his nose and mouth. The other removed the stopper from a bottle ho was holding and began to drip the liquid it contained on to tho improvised mask. Charles smelt the sickly nauseous odour of chloroform. Instinctively ho tried to struggle. The tightness of his bonds prevented him. His senses began to leave him. He felt as though unseen hands were lifting him toward the ceiling. He looked wildlv round. Adrienne's face appeared through a mist. Her mouth was smiling. Suddenly his senses left him. CHAPTER XXVIII VERA TAKES A HAND It was a few minutes to three o'clock when Vera left tho Rag Bag Club after her night's work. She was later than usual as thero had been a gala dance. In consequence she was feeling rather tired. Tntent on getting homo to bed she skipped lightly into the street. Hero she found her way blocked by a knot of men gathered round tho oi>on door of a big saloon car which was drawn up at tho kerb a few yards from the entrance to tho club. Tho spectacle of a man apparently the worSe for drink being assisted into

;i motor-car at three o'clock in tho morning was not one which would normally attract her attention. She would have pushed through as quickly as possible and gone on her way. But there was something peculiar about this little group. She noticed it at once, unconsciously, perhaps instinctively. They were all deadly serious, so different from the type of noisily hilarious youngsters who usually stay out to that timo in tho morning. Her interest aroused, she examined them more closely, wondering whether they wore part of tho crowd who had just left tho Club. Her eyes lighted on the man who was the central figure. Sho only repressed a scream with difficulty. She knew Charles instantly, in spite of tho beard which covered his chin. Two men were supporting him to give tho impression that lie was partly capable of walking. But tho extromo pallor of his faco and tho way his head sagged to one side showed her ho was unconscious. A harsh voice brought her to herself. " Como along now, Miss. There's nothing to stare at. He's only a bit tight, that's all." The sudden emergency would have unnerved most women. Vera was fortunately ono of tho few. In a flash sho realised that if sho were to be of any help to the unfortunate Charles sho must act warily. Tossing ber head in disdain she swept past tho man who had spoken to her and walked rapidly awny down the street. Her idea was to find a policeman and invoke his assistance. Unfortunately thcro was not ono in sight. Before sho reached the corner she hoard the slam of the car j door. Tho sound of the engine acceler-

( Col> Y 111 CRT)

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

A THRILLING STORY OF MYSTERY, LOVE AND ADVENTURE

ating soon followed and she knew that she was too late.

A Rolls-Royce car was drawn up outside surrounded by admiring children. The chauffeur touched his hat and presented her with a note. She eagerly tore it open. It was brief and to the point. Wing-Commancler Leaeh wanted her to go to Scotland Yard to see if sho could identify a man who had just been arrested. Ho had sent his car specially for her. In spite of her mother's protests about her going off without having had anything to cat, she at onco put on her hat and coat. The chauffeur handed her into the car and tucked a rug about her knees. Sho leaned back on the luxurious cushions as sho was whirled smoothly through tlio streets. Her wish was being fulfilled. Her help was still needed. (To bo continued doily)

The car came rapidly down the short street. Vera stood still to watch it go by. There were two men on the front beside the driver. With a dreadful sickening of the heart she recognised the outer one. He was one of those who had been in the Club the night she took the letter fragment round to Charles' flat. It was only after the car had disappeared that it occurred to her that she might have taken its number. She nearly cried with vexation at her thoughtlessness. "Now thou, Missy! What are you hanging about here for at this time in the morning? Haven't you got anywhere to go?" Vera found herself looking up into the face of a massive policeman. The sight restored her confidence. He was the living symbol that stood for law and order and the rectitude of wrongs. Hastily she told her story, tho words tumbling over one another in her excitement. "Wo must let Wing-Commander Leach know at once!" she concluded, "lle'll know what to do. It's a matter of the utmost importance." P.C. 72 listened impassively. When she had finished, lie produced the inevitable pocket-book and pencil. Turning carefully to the first blank page, he wet the point of his pencil with his tongue. "Now, INliss, just let mo get this right." He consulted a ponderous timepiece. "At about threo a.m. on tho p" Vera realised the futility of argument and gave in. Once more she recited her story slowly and careiully, while the constable copied it down by the light from tho lamppost. At last he secured all the information sho could give him, right down to a description of the car and its occupants. He closed his book with a snap. "Come along with me, Miss. We'll just step across to the telephone at tho corner and I'll ring up the station." Ho led he way to a public call office. Vera meekly followed. She felt now that things had been- taken out of her bauds. After all, P.C. 72 would not have failed to notice the number of the car. He had impressed her with that fact by the thoroughness with which he had gone into detail. P.O. 72 made his report into the mouthpiece. The mention of "WingCommander -J reach's name instantly created an impression and he was ordered to take the young lady to the station at once. The officer in charge evidently considered the matter to bo important. Marlborough Street Police Station is only a short distance from tho Rag Bag Club. Jn a few minutes Vera was ushered in to the Inspector on duty, l'or the third time she told what she had seen. The Inspector heard her out without interruption. "You are absolutely positive that the man von saw was the one you know to bo working for Wing-Commander Leach?" ho asked when she had finished. "Oh, yes!" cried Vera in confirmation. "Absolutely 1 I should know him anywhere." The Inspector lifted the telephone receiver bv his side and called Scotland Yard, lie related the facts briefly and concisely. A few minutes later a description of the car w«»r> being circulated North, South, East and West. Vera left her name and address and went home. There was nothing more she could do. But before she went she extracted a promise from tho Inspector that ho would let her know when the car was traced. It was a little after eight o'clock when her mother awakened her from a sound sleep with the news that a policeman was asking for her at the door. Sho slipped hastilly into a dressing-gown

Pausing only to pat her hair in position and dab a touch of powder on her nose, she ran downstairs. A constable, holding his helmet in his hand, bulked hugely in the tiny hall. Faithful to his promise, the Inspector at Marlborough- Street had telophoned the local station asking tbom to send a man round. The car in which sho was interested had been traced as far as Andover. It was passing through tlio town at ton minutes to five. But all inquiries as to its subsequent movements had so far proved fruitless. Vera thanked the constablo and went upstairs to dress. Sho was far too excited to go back to bed. If only she could take some further part, however slight, in helping Charles 1 Her opportunity was not long in coming. Sho was dressed and about to sit down to a meal when another knock on tlio front door sent her flying to answer it.