Air Stories — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

AIR STORIES phatically. True, some of the luckier male members of the family had met their doom in action, but quite a number of them survived to face a firing party. Then it suddenly occurred to the President that his pilot’s interest in the Rodriquez affair was extraordinary and not a little impertinent. But before his lips could frame the snub he intended to administer, Martin spoke again : ‘‘'You took me on, Mr. President, because you couldn’t trust any Boto- gonians to help you with your getaway when the time came. Wasn’t that the idea Pp ”’ ‘‘That is so,’’ replied the puzzled President, ‘‘ but-——’’ ‘‘But you thought you’d be safe enough with a Yank if you paid him good and proper and promised him a bonus, eh? Well, Mr. President, I’m afraid you overlooked just one little detail. You forgot to rake up your Yank’s past.’’ ‘‘'What do you mean? ’’ gasped the now thoroughly bewildered President. ‘‘I mean that it just didn’t strike you that your Yank mightn’t be a real one, but a Botogonian with a score to settle. It never occurred to you, for instance, that your pilot from the States might be young José Rodriquez who was at school in ’Frisco when you bumped off his father, brothers, uncles and cousins. Get me now, Mr. Presi- dent P? ’’ HE President understood, and his hand went to a coat pocket under- neath his overalls. But just at that moment Martin turned round and saw the gesture. ‘‘T took the liberty of removing your gun when I put on your parachute harness,’’ he said. ‘‘ Yeah, Mr. Presi- dent. I’m José Rodriquez right enough, and though I’ve forgotten most of my Spanish, I’ve not forgotten my family. So now I’m taking you for a ride.’’ ‘‘What are you going to doP’’ gasped the President. ‘“Jump overboard, but I shouldn’t advise you to follow me, because your parachute’s about as much use as an 28 umbrella. I took care of that. You can try it right now, if you don’t believe me.’’ Involuntarily, the President’s hand went to the ring on his parachute. He merely twitched it, but it came away in his hand, with about three inches of ripcord. The parachute was obviously useless. ‘*So you daren’t jump, eh ? ’’ sneered Rodriquez, who had been watching his action. The prospect of imminent death sharpened the President’s wits. ‘Look here, Rodriquez,’’ he pro- tested, ‘‘if I can’t bring your relations to life again, at least I can compensate you for their deaths. I promised you a bonus for this trip, and I’ve got two thousand pounds in English money on me. I'll hand it over to you right away.’’ ‘‘ Nothing doing, Mr. President.’’ ‘‘And some bearer bonds as well. I’ll give you ten thousand pounds’ worth of them.’’ There was no reply. ‘‘ Twenty thousand pounds in bearer bonds,’’ offered the President. ‘““TIf I wasn’t flying this kite I’d come over and ram ’em down your throat !’’ ‘* Fifty thousand !’’ ‘* To hell with them ! ”’ ‘A hundred thousand,’’ cried the President desperately. ‘‘ That’s all I’ve got on me. You can search me if you don’t believe me. Modriquez, it’s a good offer! One hundred thousand pounds if you’ll land me anywhere in British Guiana.’’ ‘Do you think I’ve been waiting all this time for my chance just to sell it for a hundred thousand pounds? ’’ snapped the airman. ‘‘ No, Mr. Presi- dent, you’re talking to José Rodriquez now, and he’s been waiting for this moment ever since you started planning your foolproof getaway with him. So quit howling and take what’s coming to you !’”’ ‘‘There’s more than a hundred thousand for you if you land me in British Guiana. There’s half a million for you—half my fortune. I can sell Conmicbookxs.com