Air Stories, April 1936 — page 60: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

AIR STORIES flying show got up for their benefit. Yes, to-morrow he’d need to be in about three places at the same time— all the blessed day. The ’phone by itself would be one man’s job. The ’phone bell rang at that moment, and he walked across to the instrument. ‘‘Quartermaster, Dayton,’’ he an- nounced to the receiver. ‘‘ Yes, there was a parcel for Squadron Leader Drummond. ... Wrong parcel, is it ? Well, whose fault’s that? ... No, of course I can’t get it back—can’t swim that fast. . . . You should have thought of that before.”’ There was a scream of brakes and skidding tyres as Bill Rogers hung up the receiver, and he walked to the door as a taxi came to a standstill. A young man in civilian clothes bounded out, suitcase in hand. ** Any news of ‘ Uproarious’ drifter, Quartermaster ?’’ he inquired in a bright voice, but with an anxious expres- sion on his face, suggesting that he feared what the answer might be. ‘‘ Been gone this fifteen minutes, sir.’’ ‘‘Hell !’’ The newcomer’s further remarks were drowned by the ’phone bell’s shrill summons. ‘Quartermaster, Dayton,’’ replied Rogers. ‘‘. .. . No, sir, drifter’s been gone this fifteen minutes... very good, sir... .’”’ ‘‘ Hang on a minute, Quartermaster,’’ exclaimed the new arrival. ‘‘ Who is it ‘‘ Lieutenant James, sir.’’ ‘‘ Where is he ? ”’ ‘* At the gates.’’ ‘‘Ask him to wait there, and say that I’ll join him in a couple of minutes —Flying Officer Spalding. ... Don’t know when’ll be the next drifter, I suppose ?’’ added Spalding, when the Q.M. had hung up the receiver. ‘“ No idea, sir.’’ ‘Then I'll just have to ring you,”’ said Spalding as he re-entered the waiting taxi. IEUTENANT JOHN JAMES was duly found waiting at the gates. He was calm and unworried, by way of contrast to the other. ‘*‘So you’ve missed it again, Pate ’’ he queried. ‘*T have,’’ agreed Spalding miserably. ‘And you needn’t look so darned cheer- ful about it ; you’re in the same boat, I take it.’’ ‘* Certainly not, my lad, my conscience is clear. I’m due on board this evening, but if there is no drifter ... well . ‘it’s O.K. with me,’ as the Yanks say. If they can’t get on without me, they know what to do about it.’’ ‘“ How long have you been away ? ’’ ‘* Fourteen days.’’ ‘‘T’ve only been ashore for twenty- four hours, but I had to catch that drifter on pain of death. Theconfounded part of it all is that I was back in Ports- mouth by midday, had lunch at the ‘Royal Lion’ . and. At the mention of that wellknown hostelry James immediately became more human. ‘‘There’s a little place just round the corner,’’ he proffered ; ‘‘ come along and I'll show you. Italian keeps it, but he’s an obliging chap, and if you treat him the right way you can get a drink any hour of the twenty-four.”’ ‘Anton Maraschi, proprietor of ‘‘ The Goat,’’ was pleased to see them. ‘‘ Come in, gentlemen,’’ he welcomed, ‘‘ and eef you wish for to talk I can advise the back parlour.’’ Ushering them into a small room marked ‘‘ Private,’’ he took their orders, and quickly returned with the drinks. ‘* Good luck,’’ said James, and raised his glass. ‘‘ Thanks,’’ replied Spalding, ‘‘ I need it!’’ And after a pause: ‘‘ Dammit, I’ve got to get to that ship somehow ! There’ll be the devil to pay otherwise. But how is it to be managed ? ”’ ‘‘It can’t be, I’m afraid, unless you can get the Gosport crowd to fly you on.”’ Spalding shook his head. ‘‘No, that’s impossible. There’s to be no flying on to ‘Uproarious’ to-day, whatever happens.’’ ‘*‘Thank God there’s still a British Navy !’’ was James’ apparently ir- relevant remark. Pat was equal to the occasion. ‘Is 346 CoOnniclooo S (Cl QO)